I was never that much of a fan of this movie when it came out, despite it being a late 80s phenomenon, but it really holds up. Jennifer Grey's performance is genuinely good, and makes one frustrated she didn't get better parts later (or refuse to take them) and got her nose done; Patrick Swayze is charismatic, not as good but he is meant to be an object of desire, and he is a good dancer - it makes one frustrated he didn't do a few more musicals.
I'd forgotten the importance of the support cast, for this isn't a star vehicle, and others were allowed to shine: warm Cynthia Rhodes as the nice if "fast" girl (part of the brilliantly successful wish fulfilment aspect of this movie was that Baby didn't just get the guy, and to be the star of the show, she also got to be friends with the cool girl); Jerry Orbach as Baby's father, strict but decent and loving and strong (she still gets his approval at the end); Jane Brunker as the daggy sister.
The dancing is exciting, the tunes are well done (even if not very period), the script may have its cliches but its full of heart and there's not a wasted scene in the whole film. It is a genuine crowd pleaser, something nearly impossible to achieve, and it has aged well.
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