In 1987, "Dirty Dancing" came out and grabbed the hearts of many. Throughout the years, it has become a classic "chick flick" - one that every girl has seen multiple times, and most guys have had to see at least once. Now, 17 years later, "Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights" takes the romantic dancing movie to a new level.
In the exotic backdrop of 1958 Cuba, "Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights" brings added flair with cultural and historical context compared to the original "Dirty Dancing."
In her senior year of high school, 18-year-old Katey Miller (Romola Garai) is forced to move to Cuba with her family when her dad accepts a promotion at Ford Motor Co. Initially very upset and reluctant, Miller begins to see past the fancy hotels and country clubs to see the real Cuba through its people dancing on the streets and in night clubs.
She befriends Javier Suarez (Diego Luna), a waiter at the hotel. Fascinated with Javier and his Cuban dancing, Katey joins a dancing competition with him. The two go through much of what Johnny and Baby experience in the original "Dirty Dancing," a hard time in the beginning that eventually leads to love and professional-caliber dancing.
This is where it looks a lot like the original "Dirty Dancing."
An instrumental version of "(I've Had) the Time of My Life," the song from the 1987 flick, plays in the background when the couple practices. Patrick Swayze, star of the original film, makes an appearance as his dance teacher character, and shows Katey a few steps.
It was actually quite humorous to see 52-year-old Swayze gel his hair up and get his groove on yet again.
The setting makes this film different and more interesting than the original. Cuba was in the midst of a revolution in 1958, a factor that plays an important role in the film. The director, Guy Ferland, does a realistic job in portraying the culture and history of Cuba while still keeping it modern. The story, with the exception of the revolution, is really a timeless one. It tells of the struggles and pleasures of two young people from different cultures coming together to create a beautiful relationship.
Although it follows a basic love story/chick flick plot, the film is based on a true story.
The film's choreographer, JoAnn Fregalette Jansen, is the inspiration for the story. She moved to Cuba as a teen in 1958 and fell in love with a Cuban boy. Her story brings credibility to the movie and shows that things like this happen in real life, not just in the movies.
The movie certainly wasn't perfect, though, with its share of bad acting and corny moments.
The music and dance scenes were impressive though as they take the audience straight to a Cuban nightclub, incorporating traditional Latino beats and steps with more modern artists and moves.
Before even seeing the film, many people were criticizing it, thinking it was just another failed, cliché attempt to remake a classic. Even with Swayze's cheesy return, "Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights" broke though the stereotype of the typical cash-in Hollywood remake and created a whole new addition to a female favorite.
If you liked this, you might like "Save the Last Dance."
