DVD Review - Dirty Dancing

So I was bored this weekend and hit the mall, something I rarely do.  I thought I'd head into the local video store to see what I could find.

I came across  2 for $20 section and found the 20th anniversary edition of Dirty Dancing and since I know my wife loved the movie I thought I'd pick it up.

It had been a few years since we watched this movie so I thought it would be a good way to spend a Saturday evening.

We put the DVD in and right away it seemed different - I didn't remember it starting the way the DVD does.

The movie, in case you haven't heard of it, is about a 1960's family which goes on vacation to a summer resort in upstate New York's Catskill Mountains.  It focuses mostly on the youngest child, nicknamed "Baby", played by Jennifer Grey.

She is opposed to the idea of a family vacation but soon gets over it when she sees the resort's dance instructor Johnny (Patrick Swayze).

Through a series of events she Baby ends up in a dance contest with Johnny and it is through the practice and preparations for the dance competition that they fall for each other.

Baby's father finds out about the affair and forbids Baby to see Johnny again, and shortly after Johnny is fired from his position for a crime he didn't commit (stealing people's wallets). 

In the end, though, Johnny returns for one last dance with Baby at the final event of the resort's season.

One thing I've always thought is that music is the unsung supporting character in most movies.  The movie's soundtrack can make or break a movie.

With this one, the music definetly helped it along.  If you are a fan of late 50's and early 60's music then you will like this movie (if you haven't already seen it that is).

And to me, that's the best part of this movie.  Don't get me wrong, the movie is alright, but the music is the best part.  I mean, it's a dance movie, and the dancing is good, the acting is ok, but it's the music which really sets up this movie.

And since this is a 20th anniversary edition, it is longer and comes packed with a bunch of bonus features.  For example the bonus disk has a bunch of deleted scenes including a few scenes which were removed from the beginning of the movie.

It also has some of the screen tests done by actors in the movie and has a pretty good clip with what looks to be a fairly recent interview with Patrick Swayze.

Should you watch this movie?  Well if you haven't seen it then probably. If you are looking for a "chick flick" to impress your girlfriend or wife, yet want something you too can watch then most definitely watch this.