(no subject)

[geebs]

TV commentary:

Dirty Dancing- Finally got around to seeing this. Its weird that ABC chose this as their musical event, since its not an actual musical. Its basically an updated version of the movie, but weirder, because apparently this is really a musical future Baby is watching in 1975, but about the events that happened to her when she was younger? I am not sure why they added that conceit.

Like, the soundtrack is a mix of classic hits and highlights from the movie soundtrack, except people are randomly singing them, instead of being in the background. But, its not like the movie is set up like a musical, so like I said, its like the actual movie, except with more singing.

Also, Little Miss Sunshine and the guy playing Johnny have no chemistry. Like I don't remember if he was such a dick to her in the original movie, but he's such an a-hole to her in the beginning I can't believe why she'd continue to hang out with him.

Comments

[isabel79]

Ew... You actually turned me off from watching this. I had it saved on my DVR. Probably just delete it and watch it onDemand if I'm bored.

[geebs]

Its not great. And actually, I wasn't entirely accurate when I said its like the movie, but sometimes they sing. Because they are actually singing some times, but other times, the music is in the background, but its still being sung by the actors playing the characters. Which is kinda confusing.

They also add some subplots that may or not have been in the original, but since I don't remember the movie that well, they might have been there and I just forgot. Like they have Johnny giving private "dance lessons" to Peggy Bundy. And the sister befriends a black guy (gasp!) who teaches her how to play the ukulele for the talent show but Lando Calrissian is telling him he has to be careful, he doesn't want to be seen hanging out with one of the white girl guests lest he get fired. And there's also a subplot where Baby's parents are having marital problems, where the mom wants a divorce because the father isn't paying enough attention to her.

Heh, I actually haven't finished yet, I'm still watching because its like three hours. I heard people thought the ending is terrible though. So I'm trying to figure out what it is. Like the point I am, Baby had just slept with Johnny, and she's all "What are you doing here, you should be on Broadway!" So given the movie starts with her going to see the show on Broadway, I'm theorizing he's the star of the show and she's going to see him after however many years. We'll see!

[geebs]

Okay, ha, finally got to the ending. And I was right! Johnny apparently made a musical of that summer. After its over, Baby is still waiting in her seat, looking wistful. Then Johnny sees her and is all, "Hey!" And I was thinking, maybe they went their separate ways after that summer, and she's there to rekindle things now that she's done with medical school and he's a Broadway star.

Nope! She not only has a daughter (who is far too young to be Johnny's), but a husband! So like, they don't end up together?! I mean, he's actually excited to see her, but she shows up all, "You changed my life! Oh, sorry if you were expecting something to happen, but I'm happily married with a kid!"

[isabel79]

OMG! It's almost lame-tastic!

Yeah there was that "private lesson" thing in the original. The sister walks in on Robbie and an older lady.. But yeah, the only relationship the sister had was with him.

Was there the abortion storyline?

[geebs]

Of course, its one of the key plot points of the story! Like Johnny not correcting Baby's dad when he thinks Penny's baby was Johnny's, and then the dad finding out it was the one jerk guy. So Johnny proves he's an upstanding guy. Which makes the ending even dumber that they don't end up together! Like what's the point of showing he is a good guy for Baby if they don't end up together?!