Nobody Puts Baby in a Corner!

There is not a girl in the world that didn’t get chills when Johnny Castle uttered those eternal words, “Nobody puts Baby in a corner.” "Dirty Dancing" (1987) is definitely a classic that among the company of "Breakfast Club," "Sixteen Candles," and "Footloose." To me these movies helped to form a generation. These movies showed us teen angst from every angle. Love, detention, and "damn the man," it was all covered through light hearted lovable characters who remain icons to many of us who grew up in that era. Unfortunately someone in Hollywood has decided to twist, distort, and “update” some of these classics. 

Last week on a trip to the movies I had the unfortunate experience of seeing a trailer for a "Footloose" remake. I sat in the theatre, jaw dropped and in actually physical pain from how bad they have ruined and wrecked this classic. "Footloose" is Kevin Bacon running into a gym yelling “Let’s dance” while the lovable cast of characters breaks into a light hearted dance number that makes you chuckle.  "Footloose" is not a half naked blonde “fighting the power” to grind on guy.

It frustrates me to no end to know that there will be a whole generation of kids who think this is what "Footloose" should be! They have taken everything that is good and pure from the 80’s and slapped some dance music and minnie skirts in it and they are calling it a remake. Whatever happened to if it isn't broke don't fix it!

This brings me to my saddest discovery. I recently heard of a "Dirty Dancing" remake in the works. The first thing that popped into my head was, “what, no one can write good movies anymore so they have to rip off the best of the 80’s.” First "Footloose" and now "Dirty Dancing!" Come on; is nothing sacred? There is only one Baby (Jennifer Grey) and only one Johnny Castle (Patrick Swayze). No one in Hollywood today will be able to match the chemistry that came through on the big screen with Swayze and Grey. 

There are just certain things that should be off limits and the characters of Baby and Johnny definitely fall into that category.   I mean can you imagine Zac Efron or any of the “hot young actors” being Johnny Castle? No one will ever be able to play that role like Swayze did and Hollywood should honor him by leaving it alone. 

I think it is up to us as consumers and movie goers to make sure we do not indulge Hollywood. They cannot continue to take something that was great and ruin it to cater to the masses. I for one will not be spending a dime on the travesty that is the remake of "Footloose" or "Dirty Dancing" and I hope many of you will join me.  Let’s just hope they don’t go after my favorite, "Sixteen Candles," because if that were to happen picket lines may be involved!