Movie #63 - Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights
Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights is the sequel to Dirty Dancing. Kate, a high school senior from America, is forced to move to Cuba when her father's job relocates. She is thrown into a world she doesn't know, right in the middle of a revolution. She meets a boy named Javier, whom she accidentally gets fired from his job at the country club because he was caught talking to her. To make it up to him, she offers to be his partner in a latin ballroom dance competition. Javier needs the money, so he agrees. Through their dance lessons and countless hours spent together, they fall for each other. Their secret dance sessions and relationship are revealed to all at the latin ballroom dance competition. Katie's parents are not happy with her choices, which drives her even further into Javier's arms. On the eve of the new year, Javier and Katie compete in the latin ballroom dance finals. In the middle of the competition, Javier's brothers pull guns on the soldiers attending the event and mass chaos breaks out. That night, the people of Cuba discover that Batista, the tyrannical leader, has fled the country, and they are now free. This means that all of the American companies in Cuba will close down, and Katie and her family will move back home. Katie and Javier have their final goodbye on the dance floor and vow to see each other again.
This movie is fantastic. It is such a great follow-up to Dirty Dancing. Even though it's not technically a sequel, other than Patrick Swayze having a minor cameo in the film. It follows basically the same story line as the first film, but it very easily could've stood on its own - giving it an alternate title, other than Dirty Dancing. The mixture of American and Cuban in this film is a great change. The emotions that latin dancing evoke in its dancers really made the chemistry between Katie and Javier real. Javier kept saying to "feel" the music - not to focus on what you look like or what steps you're doing. To me, that was a metaphor for Katie's entire life. She needed to let go and experience life. When she finally did let go, she was able to completely open herself up to Javier, and she became a better person because of it.
The ONLY thing I don't like about this movie is that Katie and Javier don't end up together. At least in the original Dirty Dancing, Baby and Johnny ended up getting her father's blessing and being able to keep up their relationship. In Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights, they end with a cheesy monologue from Katie talking about knowing this wasn't going to be the last time they saw each other but...blah, blah, blah. NO! You don't have them survive the Cuban Revolution together and NOT end up together. Work some stuff out, people. Seriously. Katie's due to go to college next year, so why not go to Cuba? I'm sure they have some sort of school system, right? I mean, it's not Harvard or Yale, but at least she'd be with Javier. Wasn't that the whole lesson of the movie? Step up out of your comfort zone and live life? Come on, Katie! Live a little. Have you not fully looked at Javier? He's gorgeous. I'd relocate for him.
Last, but not least, the song "Dance Like This" as it was supposed to be heard...without Shakira. This song was around WAY before Shakira's stupid hips ruined it.
Overall, I give Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights 4 out of 5 stars.
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