Remake ‘Dirty Dancing?’ What were they thinking?
Anne-Ryan Heatwole / Reviewer
The modern remake of the 1987 hit movie “Dirty
Dancing” fails to recreate the magic of the original.
Set in Cuba in 1958, “Dirty Dancing Havana
Nights” tells the story of an American girl, Katey
Miller, played by Romola Garai, who comes to Cuba with her
family after her father receives a job promotion that
requires him to be transferred. While living in a posh
Cuban hotel, she meets Javier, a waiter (Diego Luna), who she
befriends after another American treats him badly. After
Javier gets fired, Katey decides to help him earn money by
convincing him to join a dance contest with her that offers a
grand prize of $5,000 and a trip to America for the winners.
The movie lags at first, opening with a corny voice over,
spoken by Garai, mixed in with several awkward cuts to random
shots of the ocean. The movie is at its best only
during the dance sequences. Watching Katey mix her
traditional rigid ballroom style with Javier’s free and
spontaneous Latin dance moves results in several truly
amazing dance routines. As one would expect from a
movie with the word “dancing” in its title,
“Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights” has its best
moment during the dance contest – everything about this
scene is perfect, down to the gorgeous costumes and
background music.
Although Diego Luna, of “Y Tu Mamá
También” fame, shines in his first leading
English- speaking role, Romola Garai’s acting is wooden
and passionless. Luna expresses the inner turmoil of a
young man torn between his family, his country and his first
love beautifully, whereas Garai was clearly chosen for the
part because of her dancing talents and pretty face.
Filmed in Puerto Rico, the background and sets really bring
a spark of life to “Dirty Dancing Havana
Nights.” From the sparkling white beaches, to the
underground salsa clubs, to the “Cuban” streets,
Puerto Rico makes the movie come alive by infusing the scenes
with a true Latin flavor.
I would recommend that you wait to rent “Dirty
Dancing: Havana Nights.” Although its filming
location and costumes were beautiful and the soundtrack was
full of fun, Latin-inspired beats, a weak script and poor
acting from the leading actress make this film not worth the
seven dollar admission fee. This is one re-make that
just can’t live up to the original.
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Photo courtesy of movies.com
Romola Garai and Diego Luna (above) have big dancing shoes
to fill as they star in the re-make of the film “Dirty
Dancing.”
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