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As a lifelong fan of chick flicks, I’ve found that modern offerings just don’t seem to live up to the classics. In an attempt to keep up with the boys, today’s girl movies are raunchier and more outrageous than ever. And while that can be okay—if it’s done well—it makes me miss the old-fashioned romance of movies like Dirty Dancing.
This classic ‘80s drama stars Jennifer Grey as Frances “Baby” Houseman, a sweet and naive teenager who travels to a resort in the Catskills to vacation with her family during the summer of 1963. But what should be a peaceful time of dance classes and family dinners is soon filled with drama, romance, and dance routines after Baby starts making friends with the staff.
In an attempt to help Penny (Cynthia Rhodes), a troubled dancer, Baby teams with resident bad boy Johnny Castle (Patrick Swayze) to perform a dance number at a neighboring resort. And as he rushes to teach her the moves, Baby finds herself falling in love.
The nostalgia factor is high with this beloved chick flick. For any woman of a certain age, it’s a time-honored classic—the center of countless teenage sleepovers and girls’ movie nights through the years. But, nostalgia aside, it’s still a lovable, musical, heart-swelling kind of romance—a classic period drama that’s stood the test of time.
Part of the film’s charm comes from its period setting—from its ‘60s music, its ‘60s style, and the rather romantic notion of quaint family holidays in the mountains. There’s just something about this fabulous Catskills resort that will make you wish that you were the child of a doctor in the ‘60s, spending summers swimming and dancing and rolling your eyes at your parents and getting into trouble with the staff.
But, really, Dirty Dancing is all about the characters. It’s about naive but well-meaning Baby, the suburban everygirl who manages to attract the attention of the coolest guy at the resort. And, of course, it’s about tough but tender Johnny—who, for many of us, was (and, in a way, will always be) the ideal man. Handsome and more than a little edgy, he may look like a bad boy, but he’s sweet and respectful and loyal—and he’s got some impressive dance moves, too.
If you haven’t seen Dirty Dancing in a while, this unforgettable chick flick is sure to take you back to the good old days. You’ll sing along with the songs and pretend that you can do the mambo. No matter how old you are, you’ll still relate to Baby. You’ll fall in love with Johnny all over again—and, at the same time, you’ll feel a pang of sadness over the untimely loss of Patrick Swayze.
Call me old-fashioned. Call me just plain old. But I’ll still insist that they just don’t make chick flicks like they used to. So if you’re missing the days when romances were just plain charming, it’s time to replace your well-worn VHS copy of Dirty Dancing with a shiny new Blu-ray, so you’ll have it handy for movie nights with the girls.
