“˜Havana Nights’ missteps fusion of dance, political beats

“Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights”
Directed by Guy Ferland
Miramax Films

I am sad to say I didn’t have the time of my life “¦
again with “Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights.”

While the film slavishly follows the formula of the original
“Dirty Dancing,” all of the familiarity that hooked
audiences in the original rendition is rushed through without a
second thought in the remake.

First there is the overriding story of Katey Miller (Romola
Garai), and her entrance into the decadent life of Havana, at least
from the standpoint of white affluence. Dismayed by the snooty
attitudes of her fellow rich socialites, Katey finds comfort in the
hotel waiter, Javier (Diego Luna), who also happens to grind and
shake with the best of them.

After getting caught associating with Katey, Javier is laid off.
Ridden with guilt, Katey enlists Javier’s skills in a dance
competition that, if they perform well, their winnings could
financially benefit his family. Katey’s stiff ballroom number
routines encounter undiscovered territory against Javier’s
impassioned body rhythms.

Also interlaced with this story is the subplot of the Cuban
revolution taking place at the same time. The revolution is brushed
up and sanitized to the point where it seems unnecessary. The
film’s short interjections of political strife do not do
justice to the real events. The political references throughout the
film are pretty naïve and serve merely to romanticize the
events and its participants.

“Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights” seemed to be two
movies rolled into one, as director Guy Ferland didn’t really
pick between a love story about dancing or a movie about the
revolution. The chemistry between Katey and Javier is continuously
interrupted for the sake of political commentary. Regardless, both
storylines are weak and half-heartedly undertaken.

Normally, a film involving romance and a revolution would be
fine in a drama. But since this is a “Dirty Dancing”
movie, there automatically exists a sense of frivolousness that
comes with the territory. After all, the dancing is supposed to be
the film’s main focus. Disappointingly, the famous final
dance, known for the moment when the protagonist sheds her uptight
persona, is cut short for political reasons.

If the decision was made to separate “Dirty Dancing:
Havana Nights” from the original, the choice could be
excusable. But apparently, they aren’t separate movies
because Patrick Swayze shows up playing his character from the
original “Dirty Dancing,” Johnny Castle.

Here’s the odd thing: “Dirty Dancing” is set
in the 1960s and was filmed in 1987, wherein Swayze was in his
mid-30s playing a guy in his 20s. “Dirty Dancing: Havana
Nights” is set in 1958 and was filmed in 2003; thus Swayze is
in his fifties playing a guy in his teens.

And it shows.

– Laurie Lo