MovieChat Forums > Dirty Dancing (1987) Discussion > I know this film has its place in pop cu...

I know this film has its place in pop culture but...

posted 9 years ago by mrrockey
22 replies | jump to latest

Honestly, I don't think it's a very good movie. It's not a horrible film, but the story is predictable and cheesy, Johnny is an inconsistent character(hotheaded douchebag one minute then loving partner the next), and even Jennifer Grey's kinda bland in the film. As someone who doesn't have much interest in dancing, having a film be all about those scenes just doesn't appeal to me and honestly, they weren't that spectacular.

Now listen, I get that there are a lot of people who love this movie and I won't tell them not to, but I just don't think this is a very good movie from a critical point of view. Simple as. Anyone agree with me here or am I gonna be put in a corner?

Discuss...

[–] Howlin Wolf 9 years ago

It's not a 'good' movie; it's just a film that has plenty of memorable moments (and tunes)

If I did guilt, then it would be a 'guilty pleasure'; instead, it's a movie that I like in spite of itself, rather than because it does everything right.

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"Your mother puts license plates in your underwear? How do you sit?!"

[–] furienna 9 years ago

I really don't think "Dirty Dancing" was trying to be more than a cheesy "chick flick". And that is also what it would become, and a successful one at that. It has never been a favorite with the high-brow movie critics, but it was a big hit with teenage girls.

Intelligence and purity.

[–] mrrockey 9 years ago

Well, even by "chick flick" standards, I thought this was quite weak. As Doug Walker pointed out in his review of Mamma Mia, chick flicks can be legitimately good movies, this was not, at least in my opinion.

[–] furienna 9 years ago

But that is only your opinion, and a lot of other people (even if they mostly have been teenage girls) have adored this movie over the years. And if you're a straight male with no particular interest in dancing or 80s culture, you have to understand that you hardly are this movie's target audience anyway...

Intelligence and purity.

[–] mrrockey 9 years ago

Well, just 'cause I'm not in the target audience, doesn't mean I couldn't have enjoyed it. There's lots of movies about subjects I'm not particularly interested in that I still enjoy. This just wasn't one of them. To me, it's just a cheesy, badly scripted movie that's only famous for that one scene(which honestly, isn't even that amazing).

[–] ecuelles 9 years ago

Well.... it's just so much fun. Lots of good eighties memories although the movie is about the sixties. And Patrick Swayze was just so good to look at. ..gorgeous. ..

[–] mrrockey 9 years ago

Well, as someone who doesn't have much care for dancing and isn't born in the 80's, I didn't get that sense of fun at all. It wasn't boring, but I hardly have the desire to watch it ever again. And I'm straight so hot guys won't do much for me.

[–] MsSpiderGrrl 9 years ago

Yes MrRocky, we get it. But you're a straight male born in the 90s, 00s, whichever? Of course you won't like this movie. You have no context of the time when it was released, at the height of the 80s dance craziness of all genres, and a resurgance of classic style rock that eventually led to grunge and emo and others.

And it's kids born in the 70s, not the 80s, who were the bulk of this movie's fan base. And we have a very, very different take on music and what this movie meant at it's time-- a bridge from the 60s to the 80s music-and-dance wise, in a time when kids actually did *dances*, that had names and steps. People don't so much dance like that anymore.

It was just the right movie for its time. Zeitgeist. You shoulda been there, it was an awesome summer. I was 15. Lol

[–] mrrockey 9 years ago

Well, a good movie is something that can stand the test of time and be enjoyed no matter when you watch it. I shouldn't need to rely on nostalgia to like a movie.

[–] MsSpiderGrrl 9 years ago

That's not "nostalgia". It's "context". Not to mention that plenty of movies rely on calling up nostalgic feelings -- incl this one, though of the early 60s. And I wasn't born then either but still get it.

You are judging/questioning a movie that has to be considered along with the feeling of the time in which it was made. Even so, with no other reference, it has stood the test of time, and is still very popular with new generations watching it.

And perhaps it's dicta, but I would venture to say that's also why the Footloose and Miami Vice reboots flopped. Some movies are great because they were of their time.

[–] mrrockey 9 years ago

You are judging/questioning a movie that has to be considered along with the feeling of the time in which it was made.

Well, that just means it's a badly dated movie, doesn't it? There's lots of legitimately good movies from the past that I enjoy without having to think of the time period it was made in. I love Star Wars, but whenever I think of it, I just think of it as a great movie, not a 70's movie. If you need to think of the time period it was made in to appreciate it, then it probably just means the movie hasn't aged very well.

Even so, with no other reference, it has stood the test of time, and is still very popular with new generations watching it.

Well, aren't the new fans just teenage girls who have the hots for Patrick Swayze(who, by the way, isn't the best actor from what I've seen)? I say this because I rarely see anyone talk about this movie without going beyond how "hot" the guy was. I don't mind a little eye candy in my entertainment(Jennifer Grey was enough to keep me watching), but I favor a good script over sex appeal any day.

Some movies are great because they were of their time.

There's some movies that were successful because they came out at the right time, sure. But the genuinely good/great movies are the ones people watch decades later and still recognize for their quality, not "because they were of their time". I know this movie has a solid fanbase to this day and I can't try to sway anyone's opinions but honestly, it seems like half the fanbase are just people having nostalgia for it or are just girls attracted to Patrick Swayze.

[–] moosefeathers 9 years ago

It was a low budget flim which turned out to be a sleeper.

Swing away, Merrill....Merrill, swing away...

[–] 9 years ago

[deleted]

[–] wylierichardson-966-922691 8 years ago

OK, and exactly where in this movie does Patrick Swayze act like a 'hotheaded douche'? Can you name even one scene?

[–] 8 years ago

[deleted]

[–] ncdwbmk6 8 years ago

You don't call the police if you're locked out of your car, you call an auto shop or a locksmith. That would probably cost more than fixing a broken window yourself.

---
Fowler's knots? Did you say ... fowler's knots?

[–] Picnic10 8 years ago

You've arguably made a mistake in thinking that this film is meant to have spectacular dancing or even largely be about dancing despite its name . The real 'dancing' Johnny Castle craves is between the sheets but in a loving way. He tells Baby that rich women have used him. He wants to be respected and loved just like Baby does. The film's true relationship to dancing is in the retro appeal of such names as 'The Mash Potato', that kitsch, summer camp, quality. These entertainers have very different lives from most people. In retrospect, it can be seen that they were curiously quaint ambassadors of keeping the flame of lipcurling Bobby Darrin meets Elvis Presley wholesome-ish sex appeal alive. Castle was an endangered species. For me, as a male, the film has particular poignancy as an examination of how rootless, sensitive, males like Castle are treat like dumb performing monkies.

[–] mrrockey 8 years ago

Well, for a movie with the word "dancing" in the title, I expect some solid dancing. Having a nuanced script is certainly appreciated but for me, the bare minimum for a film like this is just to be entertaining, which I didn't find it to be. It does sound at least that the film is a little smarter than I gave it credit for, but that's not enough for me to immediately dismiss the bland performances of the two leads, the predictable story, and the unlikable characterization of Johnny.

[–] Ithilfaen 8 years ago

lol for someone who doesn't want to tell people not to love the movie, you sure spend a lot of time arguing against every argument people advance regarding the reason they love the movie.

Live and let live. You'll live longer.

For every lie I unlearn I learn something new - Ani Difranco

[–] mrrockey 8 years ago

Just 'cause I won't stop people from enjoying this film doesn't mean I'm just gonna bend over backwards and suck up all the reasons as to why they think it's a good movie. There's a difference between saying why you don't like a movie in contrast to someone saying they liked it and forcing others not to enjoy it. If I were doing the latter, I'd be far harsher and much more of a twat than I am right now.

And to say "live and let live" to imply that I don't have a life and spend all day arguing about this film is just childish and ignorant. I do a lot of things with my life, and making a few arguments here and there as to why I don't like a certain movie is hardly taking up much of my time. If you think that a guy who shares his opinion every once in a while on the Internet has no life, then I'd like to know how awesome and fantastic your life is in comparison. Probably not much different from mine, right? Waking up, brushing your teeth, going to work or school, coming home, eating dinner, and going to bed only to repeat that cycle till one of us can retire someday. So please, *beep* off.

[–] MyloMan30 8 years ago

Just watched it again.

Great movie.