Dirty Dancing (1987)

My Review

“Dirty Dancing” is a romantic musical film about a young woman who reluctantly goes to a vacation resort with her parents and subsequently becomes involved with the hotel’s dance instructor. What transpires is a mundane coming-of-age drama drowned out by loud rock-and-roll music and goofy dance contests. Sluggish direction by Emil Ardolino and terrible writing by Eleanor Bergstein are at fault.

The cast includes Patrick Swayze, Jennifer Grey (daughter of Joel Grey), Jerry Orbach, Cynthia Rhodes, Jack Weston, Kelly Bishop, Paula Trueman, Wayne Knight (before his breakout role as Newman on TV’s “Seinfeld” (1992-1998), and Matthew Broderick.

“Dirty Dancing” was a huge success at the box office for Vestron Pictures and Great American Films Limited Partnership. The movie’s theme song, “I’ve Had The Time of My Life,” performed by Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes, won the Oscar for Best Original Song and the Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocals. It was filmed in North Carolina and Virginia.