The original “Dirty Dancing” wasn’t my cup of tea. Despite its massive box office success back in 1987, I found myself unconvinced. While acknowledging the undeniable talent of Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey as dancers, the plot felt like a patchwork of clichés, predictable and uninspired. The characters’ actions, particularly the parents, seemed predetermined, lacking any real surprise or depth.
Now, we have “[Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights]”. The premise is strikingly similar: same story beats, analogous characters, but with a change of scenery. We’re transported to 1958 Havana, where the affluent Miller family from St. Louis arrives, daughter Katey (Romola Garai) in tow. She attracts the attention of James Phelps (Jonathan Jackson), the son of a wealthy family – because apparently, in movies, no one named Phelps can be poor. However, Katey’s world shifts when she encounters Javier Suarez (Diego Luna), a charming Cuban waiter her age, who unfortunately loses his job due to her clumsiness. But, of course, fate has other plans.
Familiar Moves, New Setting
Predictably, Katey finds the privileged Phelps dull and Javier genuinely appealing. While Javier might not exude the same overt sexuality as Swayze’s character, his passion ignites when he dances. Katey is then faced with a choice: the stuffy, formal balls of her social circle or the electrifying atmosphere of La Rosa Negra, the club where Javier and his friends dance – a place echoing the vibrant energy of the disco from “Saturday Night Fever.”
Alt text: Romola Garai as Katey Miller and Diego Luna as Javier Suarez share a passionate dance in a scene from Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights, bathed in warm Havana club lighting.
Can this sheltered American teenager find her rhythm? Naturally. Javier becomes her dance mentor, guiding her in the ocean, teaching her to feel the rhythm of the waves, to let her body move with the music. Meanwhile, they rehearse increasingly complex choreography, the kind that might have even challenged a seasoned dancer like Rita Moreno in her prime.
Predictable Plot and Unnecessary Subplot
Is it a surprise when Katey and Javier inevitably decide to defy social norms and enter the dance competition? Not really. And are we shocked when Mr. and Mrs. Miller show up at the competition and are astonished to see their daughter on stage? Of course not. They are initially taken aback, but soon swell with pride. Mrs. Miller (Sela Ward), a former dancer herself, realizes that talent is hereditary and Katey is simply following her passion, embracing her gift, and going for it.
Alt text: Mrs. Miller, played by Sela Ward, looks on with a mixture of surprise and burgeoning pride as she watches her daughter Katey perform in the climactic dance competition of Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights.
Adding another layer, the backdrop of the Cuban revolution, with Fidel Castro preparing his revolution against the Batista regime, feels somewhat forced. While a revolution could inject drama, as seen in movies like “Havana” or “The Godfather” saga, its inclusion in a “Dirty Dancing” retread feels questionable. The obligatory scenes of unrest, separation, and street chaos don’t build tension; they mostly induce tedium. It’s hard to get invested in action that feels tangential to the core story. One can’t help but wonder if Castro might have spiced things up more by, say, crashing the dance contest in disguise, a la Douglas Fairbanks.
Visual Appeal and Charismatic Leads
So why does this movie earn two stars compared to the original’s one? Perhaps a touch of mellowing with age plays a part. But more likely, it’s the simple pleasure of cinema as visual spectacle. Like infants drawn to bright, shiny objects, we are drawn to pretty pictures. And “[Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights]” is visually appealing. The portrayal of 1950s Havana (actually filmed in San Juan, Puerto Rico, with vintage cars) is captivating. The dance sequences are well-executed, the music is catchy and commercially viable, and crucially…
The film benefits immensely from Romola Garai and Diego Luna. Luna, known from “Y Tu Mama Tambien,” once again displays his quirky and irresistible charm. Garai, a beauty and a talented comedic actress, known for roles in “Nicholas Nickleby” and “I Capture the Castle,” brings both presence and charisma to “Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights.” Their performances, combined with the film’s overall ambiance, compensate somewhat for the predictable storyline.
Final Verdict: A Visual Treat, But…
Ultimately, “[Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights]” is a visually pleasing movie with enjoyable dance sequences and charismatic leads. However, it suffers from a derivative and predictable plot. Instead of watching this, a better option might be to revisit “[Y Tu Mama Tambien],” “[Nicholas Nickleby],” and “[I Capture the Castle]” and skip the cinematic middleman altogether.
