I think there's something interesting to be done with it if they were doing something more radical (gender-reverse it and cast Heather Morris as the dance instructor, or make it same-sex), or even a little bit radical (set it in the present day rather than keeping it in the 60s), but this seems like as bad an idea as "Gus van Sant's Psycho."
I've never watched Dirty Dancing, but my impression is that the just kind of caught lightning in the bottle -- that that was not a movie that would have succeeded if you changed any of the principal elements, including cast, timing, and soundtrack.
The problem with these remakes is that they will cast the current flash-in-the-pan pop stars as the leads which, as soon as their fame dies, so does any interest in the movie. No staying power, no re-watchability.
Agreed. If they are going to remake, it needs to be a reboot/retelling, not an exact remake. Also, I honestly can't imagine a movie aimed at teens today having a back alley abortion plot point.
You make it competitive between couples. Have a challenge taken from the film to give people immunity or select a bottom group (e.g., Watermelon relay race, dancing/balancing on a log bridge, perform sketches for a talent show), and then a dance-off to determine elimination.
There's no way they can remake "Dirty Dancing" and make it in any way comparable to the original. I have no desire to see the "Footloose" remake, and there's no way in hell I'll ever see the remake. When, do you suppose, we'll hear about a "Ferris Bueller" remake?
Look, we all know the only good point of the original was Jerry Orbach, right? So unless we can improve the script (as in write a decent one this time around), get better leads AND find the 2012 equivalant of Jerry, what's the point?
I actually have never seen it start to finish, and I'm 26. It's partly because I grew up in a pretty strict household, to the point where my mom would talk to the other moms about whatever movies we were watching at a sleepover, (for some reason, Jaws was ok, but this was not) and somehow kept missing it, or only catching snippets of the ending- or just saw a million spoofs of the dance scene on TV shows/movies, which I guess made me feel like I already saw it? At any rate, is it too late to bother?
I likewise have probably seen pretty much all of it, but never in a sit down, watch start to finish, sort of scenario. (Another movie that falls into that category for me--The Breakfast Club.)
And then there's Footloose, which I've never seen at all.
Ahem, Kelly Bishop played Jerry Ohrbach's wife. Kelly Bishop is perfect in every way and thus Ohrbach was one of at least TWO great things in the original.
Besides, the whole point of the original movie is the Hawaiian song Lisa sings for the talent show. I really waaaanaaaaaa! I really waaaaanaaaaaa!
I was wondering how they'd handle an ongoing series that's set during a summer vacation, and, um, this Wiki description does not help:
"<span>The television series followed the same basic premise of the movie, with only a few variations. The series was still set at Kellerman's during the summer of 1963, but instead of being the daughter of a resort guest, Baby became the daughter of Max Kellerman (in the film, Baby's last name was Houseman), and she was put in charge of Johnny as Kellerman's talent director. Also like the movie, Baby noted that she intended to attend Mount Holyoke in the fall, so it was not clear how the series would continue once the summer ended. Much like the movie, Baby and Johnny had an adversarial relationship, but eventually came to respect each other. As this was a weekly series, Baby and Johnny did not fall in love immediately, but as the series progressed, their feelings grew."</span>
No different than any show set in a school handles it. Each season is one summer. Assuming this were decent in the first place (a huge assumption), it could be very interesting to show the start of their relationship, then she goes off to college, and we pick up in season 2 with her much more worldly, and him in the exact same place he was before. You do this as a dramedy and there's some real potential there. It's not that far off from Dean and Rory.
No one will see this, because the post is from days ago, but I had to share it here: http://kellyoxford.tumblr.com/post/8764479031/sal-age-10-and-i-age-33-watch-dirty-dancing
A contrary opinion: I don't care if they remake Dirty Dancing. The remake isn't going to tarnish the original, just as it doesn't hurt Harry Potter to see it translated into a movie. I think the original stands on its own, regardless of how many remakes there are. And I like Kenny Ortega, and would be interested in any dance movie he makes.
WHY GOD WHY. Quit trampling on my goofy pre-adolescent memories, dammit!
ReplyDeleteNo. Just no.
ReplyDeleteI think there's something interesting to be done with it if they were doing something more radical (gender-reverse it and cast Heather Morris as the dance instructor, or make it same-sex), or even a little bit radical (set it in the present day rather than keeping it in the 60s), but this seems like as bad an idea as "Gus van Sant's Psycho."
ReplyDeleteI've never watched Dirty Dancing, but my impression is that the just kind of caught lightning in the bottle -- that that was not a movie that would have succeeded if you changed any of the principal elements, including cast, timing, and soundtrack.
ReplyDeleteI agree.
ReplyDeleteThe problem with these remakes is that they will cast the current flash-in-the-pan pop stars as the leads which, as soon as their fame dies, so does any interest in the movie. No staying power, no re-watchability.
You just know Demi Lovato is going to star in this.
ReplyDeleteRegardless of who they cast, I cannot imagine why I would see this.
Heresy.
ReplyDeleteOnly if they went with Matt's Heather Morris idea.
ReplyDeleteAgreed. If they are going to remake, it needs to be a reboot/retelling, not an exact remake. Also, I honestly can't imagine a movie aimed at teens today having a back alley abortion plot point.
ReplyDeleteThere's no way.
ReplyDeleteAlso, it wouldn't work.
ReplyDelete"Nobody puts Baby in a Corner- again."
ReplyDeleteAlso, check out the AV Club's article on this subject for the opening credits to the Dirty Dancing TV series. Staring Melora Hardin! and Paul Feig!
Of course if they made a Dirty Dancing TV series now, it would have to be a reality show. Which sounds like a much better idea than this remake.
Melora Hardin also starred in Lambada: The Forbidden Movie.
ReplyDeleteYou can't do a reality series around Dirty Dancing because the Borscht Belt resort scene died by the late 1990s.
You make it competitive between couples. Have a challenge taken from the film to give people immunity or select a bottom group (e.g., Watermelon relay race, dancing/balancing on a log bridge, perform sketches for a talent show), and then a dance-off to determine elimination.
ReplyDeleteNo Swayze, no wayze.
ReplyDeleteI'm so mad.
This hurts me.
ReplyDeleteThere's no way they can remake "Dirty Dancing" and make it in any way comparable to the original. I have no desire to see the "Footloose" remake, and there's no way in hell I'll ever see the remake. When, do you suppose, we'll hear about a "Ferris Bueller" remake?
I refuse to believe that it's possible that anyone between the ages of 25 and 45 who has access to a television has never watched Dirty Dancing.
ReplyDeleteNot a remake; how about an update? Ferris and Cameron working boring corporate jobs in the Loop, and for old times sake they decide to play hooky?
ReplyDeleteWhy not? I don't think Broderick or Ruck are involved in things they can't get out of. And Charlie Sheen's certainly free...
ReplyDeleteLook, we all know the only good point of the original was Jerry Orbach, right? So unless we can improve the script (as in write a decent one this time around), get better leads AND find the 2012 equivalant of Jerry, what's the point?
ReplyDeleteAdam, I imagine you're looking for a slightly more upbeat version than this one? http://www.atom.com/funny_videos/sidecar_ferris/
ReplyDeleteI actually have never seen it start to finish, and I'm 26. It's partly because I grew up in a pretty strict household, to the point where my mom would talk to the other moms about whatever movies we were watching at a sleepover, (for some reason, Jaws was ok, but this was not) and somehow kept missing it, or only catching snippets of the ending- or just saw a million spoofs of the dance scene on TV shows/movies, which I guess made me feel like I already saw it? At any rate, is it too late to bother?
ReplyDeleteI likewise have probably seen pretty much all of it, but never in a sit down, watch start to finish, sort of scenario. (Another movie that falls into that category for me--The Breakfast Club.)
ReplyDeleteAnd then there's Footloose, which I've never seen at all.
I refuse to believe that spacewoman has gotten through a decade+ of marriage without her husband having seen Dirty Dancing.
ReplyDeleteMatt, I've never seen Footloose either.
ReplyDeleteThose credits are awesome! Constance Marie! MACLEAN STEVENSON!!!!!
ReplyDeleteAhem, Kelly Bishop played Jerry Ohrbach's wife. Kelly Bishop is perfect in every way and thus Ohrbach was one of at least TWO great things in the original.
ReplyDeleteBesides, the whole point of the original movie is the Hawaiian song Lisa sings for the talent show. I really waaaanaaaaaa! I really waaaaanaaaaaa!
I was wondering how they'd handle an ongoing series that's set during a summer vacation, and, um, this Wiki description does not help:
ReplyDelete"<span>The television series followed the same basic premise of the movie, with only a few variations. The series was still set at Kellerman's during the summer of 1963, but instead of being the daughter of a resort guest, Baby became the daughter of Max Kellerman (in the film, Baby's last name was Houseman), and she was put in charge of Johnny as Kellerman's talent director. Also like the movie, Baby noted that she intended to attend Mount Holyoke in the fall, so it was not clear how the series would continue once the summer ended. Much like the movie, Baby and Johnny had an adversarial relationship, but eventually came to respect each other. As this was a weekly series, Baby and Johnny did not fall in love immediately, but as the series progressed, their feelings grew."</span>
No different than any show set in a school handles it. Each season is one summer. Assuming this were decent in the first place (a huge assumption), it could be very interesting to show the start of their relationship, then she goes off to college, and we pick up in season 2 with her much more worldly, and him in the exact same place he was before. You do this as a dramedy and there's some real potential there. It's not that far off from Dean and Rory.
ReplyDeleteWipeout.
ReplyDeleteNo one will see this, because the post is from days ago, but I had to share it here: http://kellyoxford.tumblr.com/post/8764479031/sal-age-10-and-i-age-33-watch-dirty-dancing
ReplyDeleteA contrary opinion: I don't care if they remake Dirty Dancing. The remake isn't going to tarnish the original, just as it doesn't hurt Harry Potter to see it translated into a movie. I think the original stands on its own, regardless of how many remakes there are. And I like Kenny Ortega, and would be interested in any dance movie he makes.
ReplyDelete