Dirty Dancing

Cast: Patrick Swayze, Jennifer Grey, Cynthia Rhodes, Jerry Orbach, Jack Weston and Kelly Bishop.

Director: Emile Ardolino

Release Date: 1987

Running Time: 1hr 36 minutes

Genre: Drama/Romance

Rating: 12

Format: Amazon Prime UK

Synopsis:

Frances "Baby" Houseman goes to spend the summer with her family at Catskills resort, Frances finds herself falling in love with the camps instructor Johnny Castle.

Set in 1963, Frances "Baby" Houseman is daddy's little girl, in hope that one day she will find a man just as good as he is. Whilst on vacation with her family at a resort in New York's Catskill mountains, Baby finds herself infatuated with with the camp's dance instructor Johnny Castle, a man who leads a very different life from her own. Baby, however lands herself in trouble when she lies to her father to get some money to help Johnny's partner have an illegal abortion. Baby, then finds herself filling in for Johnny's dance partner, and thus falling in love with him rehearsing a famous dance routine.

Starring eighties heartthrob the late Patrick Swayze as dance instructor Johnny Castle (Swayze), a dancer on the resort to keep the guests entertained along with his dance partner Penny Johnson (Rhodes), Baby and Castle however don't hit it off like you might first think. No understanding for why she is following him around. After finding that Penny needs to have an illegal abortion, Baby offers to fill in for her.

Director Emile Ardolino's film debut. Ardolino went onto to director hit eighties films such as "Sister Act" and "Three men and a little lady", for someone who had only really previously directed TV movies, this is an exceptionally well directed film. Swayze delivers a magnificent performance as dance instructor Johnny Castle. A strict man who knows his subject. Jennifer Grey is fantastic as leading lady Frances "Baby" Houseman. A timid girl who soons learns confidence to dance alongside Johnny, believing that she is doing the right thing by helping Penny.

The storyline is very good focusing not only on dancing, but very real problems too. Abortion. Something that was frowned upon in the sixties and considered illegal. The film is very much a drama as much as it is a romance. Swayze and Grey both deliver spectacular dance sequences through out the film. Especially the famous "dance routine", alongside Billy Medley's "I've had the time of my life" an excellent scene that is most certain to stick with you.

Set in gorgeous North Carolina and Virginia. The setting sits superbly alongside the storyline and the characters. The lighting really adds to the theme of the film, really creating an atmosphere for the dancers. A tremendous soundtrack that works beautifully alongside the story and the dance sequences. A film that brings the true meaning to kindness, courage and entertainment. Excellent.

4/5 stars