Swayze Danced Right Into My Heart!!!

Ahhhh …Dirty Dancing Probably one of my all-time favourite movies. I have probably watched this more times than I can count. It came out in 1987, I was 10 heehee! I fell in love with this movie then and still love it today. I decided to pull it out of my movie collection and watch…just so I could write an epinion for you all!

Enter Baby (Jennifer Grey) riding in the backseat of her family’s car back in the 60’s on their way to Kellerman’s, a some what ritzy mountain resort. Big Girls Don’t Cry bops on the radio, as they enter the parking lot to the hustle and bustle of the new arrivals.

Baby adores her father, and doesn’t think any man could compare to him, her mom is somewhat in the background in this movie. Her sister Lisa, is the typical conceited snob, who is more worried about what she looks like, than the more conservative, world saving Baby.

Shortly after arriving at the resort, Baby takes off to “look around” at the main lodge and comes upon Mr. Kellerman giving his waiters orders. He tells them to sweet talk the daughters, show them around, show them a good time “all the daughters, even the dogs!” In walks Johnny Castle (Patrick Swayze *swoon*), and you can see Baby’s temperature rise. Heck, so did mine, what a hunky man!

Baby is introduced to Mr. Kellerman’s dork grandson, Neil, the epitome of dorkiness, at the opening night dance, I felt so sorry for poor Baby trying to dance and make conversation with him. In comes Johnny and his dance partner Penny (Cynthia Rhodes) to shake things up for everyone. And shake things up they do! What dancing, you can feel the rhythm of the music in your bones, even if you don’t like this kind of music you will enjoy the spectacular dancing!

Baby also befriends Johnny’s cousin and makes her way to a “staff” party where we finally get to see the real Dirty Dancing!! Woohoo! Basically it’s just the ole gyrating of the pelvis, but “grinding” together, like everyone doesn’t already know this..heehe! This is where she meets the ever-handsome Johnny. He shows her some basic dance moves, and then leaves her spinning on the dance floor.

Baby tends to be a bit of a daddy’s girl and a nosey one at that. When Penny runs in to some trouble she tries to help out, and ends up volunteering to dance in Penny’s spot. Which means, oh yes ladies and gentlemen, dance lessons with Johnny. As you can imagine Baby has two left feet, and she takes a lot of work to teach dancing. This is one of the most fun parts of the movie, watching her learn while trying not to stare at Johnny, and his “right here, look in my eyes” *sigh* !

The night arrives, she fills in for Penny at another hotel dancing with Johnny, and doesn’t do too bad, minus of course the infamous “lift”! She looks really sleazy with all the make up and the bare all dress, I wasn’t impressed with this part of the movie, just didn’t seem to go well I guess.

After the performance, when Johnny and Baby return, there is an Emergency with Penny and Baby fetches her father, who, after treating Penny, snubs Johnny! He gives Baby holy heck for looking the way she does and warns her to stay away from Johnny.

Yeah right! Not a chance! She goes to his cabin that same night to apologize for the way her father treated him. And yes you guessed it, the love affair starts with the most romantic dance scene! From then on they are inseparable, but she is unwilling to tell her father about Johnny. They have many close calls with both her father and the Management at Kellerman’s because Johnny has been warned not to touch any of the girls, teach the mambo, the fox trot but keep his hands off! Whoops don’t think he listens to well!

When Johnny is accused of stealing from one very important customer, Baby stands up for him, and Johnny gets fired, and has to leave Kellerman’s.

What will happen between Baby and Johnny? Will they ever see each other again, well if you’ve seen this movie you know the answer, if not, you will have to see it! I guarantee you won’t be disappointed.

I know this is a movie from the ‘80’s but it is one of my favourite movies. I enjoy it every time I pop it into the VCR. The music is upbeat and nice to listen to, and the dancing is definitely unique. I know you will enjoy it if you haven’t seen it yet!

Thanks for reading!