Dirty Dancing (1987)

Benson finds the film smart, funny, touching, and deeply involving. She especially praises the dancing and the believable performances that make its characters’ growth resonate.

The critic finds the film immensely charming and enduringly appealing. Its cheesy, quotable dialogue and euphoric final dance are singled out as key pleasures.

The capsule celebrates the film as a lively teen movie that still works. It singles out the dancing, rock-and-soul music, and storytelling for praise.

Heal finds that the film works a curious, charismatic magic and that the central relationship never feels false. She especially praises the fabulous, highly erotic dancing.

The page identifies the film as a review, but the review text is unavailable. Its metadata highlights the romance and Patrick Swayze’s dancing while noting the film’s return for its thirtieth anniversary.

Bradshaw finds the film amiable and sees it as embodying the purest spirit of the 1980s. He singles out its defining decade-era spirit for praise.

Variety finds the film skin-deep but inoffensive and more than watchable. It praises Jennifer Grey’s likable performance and the dance sequences, while finding Swayze’s character unconvincing.

The issue identifies this as Pauline Kael’s review of “Dirty Dancing,” but the review text is unavailable. The archive listing does not reveal her verdict or what she singles out for praise or complaint.

Humanick finds the film formulaic and visually lazy, despite its earnestness and charm. He singles out the animated quality of its characters as the main thing keeping it from feeling like a clichéd romance.

The critic finds the film cheesy but well constructed, with enduring qualities despite its lack of greatness. They single out the stars’ dancing, especially Patrick Swayze’s riveting performance, for praise.