The Basics Title: Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights Rating: PG-13
Overall rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars
Best for Ages: 15+
Ages 3 - 7: Red
Ages 8 - 12: Red
Ages 13 - 17: Yellow
Violence Amount: Green
Violence Portrayal:
Green
Fear: Green
Illegal / Harmful: Green
Language: Yellow
Nudity: Green
Sex: Yellow
Review:
Katey Miller (Romola Garai) and her family
move to Havana, Cuba right before Katey's
last year of high school in 1958. She is expected
to befriend other American teenagers at the
exclusive Oceana Hotel. Katey does not like
the attitude of the other teens towards the
Cubans. She accidentally sees Xavier (Diego
Luna), a waiter from the hotel, dancing in
the square with other locals and is fascinated
by the music and the sensuality of the dancing.
She decides that she wants to learn how to
dance and enter a national contest with Xavier
as her partner. They meet in secret and practice
for hours. Xavier wants to win the prize money
to take his family to America. We can see
their passion growing as their dancing becomes
more provocative. The night of the contest,
Fidel Castro's Cuban revolution erupts into
violence on the streets of Havana. Katey and
Xavier do not find out the results of the
contest because they must flee the violence
and end up spending the night together on
the beach. Characters drink and smoke at younger
ages than is allowed in the U.S. and there
is some violence related to the revolution.
There is some mild language and a racial epithet.
The sensuality of the dancing may be more
than some parents want their children to see.
Also, we are not sure if these teenagers have
sex during their night on the beach. Katey
lies to her parents to see Xavier because
he would not be acceptable to them. She also
blackmails an American boy (Jonathan Jackson)
into lying for her to her parents. Families
could discuss this lack of trust in her parents
and her parent's attitude towards the Cubans.
Patrick Swayze, from the original film "Dirty
Dancing", makes a cameo appearance as
a dance instructor at the hotel. The original
movie had a better plot line and better acting.
You should rent it if you enjoy "Dirty
Dancing: Havana Nights".
Linda
Thomas is a native Minnesotan. She
graduated from the University of
Minnesota with a double major in
sociology and psychology. Married
with a family, she has remained
in the Minneapolis area.
Linda has been a lover of movies
since she was a small child. This
love of film eventually brought
her to the point in life where
she is now, a film critic. She
was featured on WCCO radio for
three years on the “Dark
in the Morning” show with
Dark Star.
In December of 2001, Linda became
the film critic for the syndicated
“Ruth Koscielak Show”.
Linda sees over 150 movies a
year and has had the opportunity
to interview a number of directors
and actors when they are in town.
She has also appeared on a public
access show called the "Cinema
Judge" and has ventured into
writing for "Cinestar"
magazine in September 2002. The
Twin Cities movie magazine is
available, for free, at most local
Blockbuster's and local movie
cheaters.
As one of the few female reviewers
in the Twin Cities area, she brings
a unique point of view to her
reviews. Linda has raised two
children, a boy and a girl, and
knows what they like in movies
and what is appropriate. Hopefully,
her reviews will help your family
in choosing where to next spend
your movie-going dollar.
Linda
Thomas is a native Minnesotan. She
graduated from the University of
Minnesota with a double major in
sociology and psychology. Married
with a family, she has remained
in the Minneapolis area.