Noémie Schwander provides a brief introduction to movie sequels that may not have matched their predecessors’ success, but still deserve their moment in the spotlight.
We all, hopefully, have a notion of the plot of Dirty Dancing. I understand that the movie came out some 40 years ago, but the story of a young girl’s (Jennifer Grey) summer quest to have the time of her life with professional dancer, skinny jeans wearer, and mullet-redeemer Patrick Swayze is pretty world-renowned. Similarly, Footloose is a young boy’s school-year pursuit to overthrow a rural town’s theocratic government through the power of hip shaking and back-flipping, while wearing skinny jeans. Finally, who could forget the award-winning, classic tale of Grease, that of the oldest looking young people, as they set out in search of high school romance, whose pinnacle is achieved once the protagonist embraces the power of (skinny) leather pants. Now, what do these movies have in common? Is it their timeless fashion choices? Their worldwide and everlasting commercial success? Their deeply held belief that no trouble is so big that it can’t be resolved through the power of dance?
Actually, the only common aspect worth mentioning is that they all bore astonishingly unheard of sequels, with varying levels of quality, coherence, and public reverence. So, if you’re looking for a way to welcome summer break but are tired of the same old classics being pushed down your screen, allow me to very briefly introduce you to these hidden gems that might just make their way onto your watchlist.
Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights (2004)
I initially wrote this entire article just so I could tell more people about this movie. It. Is. Amazing. Although there is of course, a similar narrative where this one fish out of water has to learn how to dance from an expert in the field, Havana Nights stands proudly on its own, led by the incredibly endearing and at times simply magnetic Diego Luna (yes, from Andor!). The chemistry between the two leads is palpable and greatly aided by the amazing dancing. The setting in late 1950s Cuba also brings a refreshing atmosphere to the trope. In terms of music, there is not a single skip on the soundtrack, and if by the end of the movie you’re not at least looking up salsa dancing lessons near you, then I fear there is nothing else I can do. There isn’t much more to say about this movie, it is a sleepover must-watch, an honour I do not bestow lightly.
Footloose (2011)
Okay I might have lied a little bit, this is not a sequel per se, rather a reboot of the original 1984 classic, made with looser jeans (I know I keep mentioning them but my goodness how were 80’s teens walking anywhere in these pants). The remake pairs himbo Miles Teller with a ‘country’ angle that isn’t as off-putting as you might expect. The story is exactly the same, with some shots recreated almost frame for frame. Watched back to back, the 2011 movie feels like a director’s desperate attempt to make his pop culture references relevant to a younger audience. However, when the movie parts from its source material, it does so in an incredibly satisfying manner. The remake features fresher, crisper cinematography, a blend of the original soundtrack and newer music, and most importantly, a novel approach to the dancing, which, as you can imagine, is central to the plot. The choreography is both smooth and joyful, and while there is no escaping the uncomfortable solo dancing sessions of the protagonist (which is a common trait in both movies), the dance battles and the line dancing sequences genuinely feel like they were taken from the most fun night out ever. Did I mention Miles Teller playing a southern himbo that has to learn how to dance to impress his girl? Just thought I’d leave that there.
Grease 2: More Grease (1982)
No joke, this was actually the original title of the 1982 movie. And that is a rather appropriate description of the plot, which mirrors its more successful 1978 sibling. In Grease 2, the bad boy is a bad girl, and the preppy, wide-eyed, blonde Australian girl is a preppy, wide-eyed blonde British boy (yay, progress?). The tone of the movie stays relatively identical, blending camp and cliché teenage characters into the colorful, occasionally eye-roll-inducing ‘cult classic’ that none other than Andrew Garfield still praises to this day. I understand that its commercial flop might intimidate you, but if you need one reason to watch this movie, do it for Michelle Pfeiffer in her first leading role, bringing us attitude, a whole lotta hair, and rowdy musical performances like the much acclaimed “Cool Rider”, a performance that is impossible not to mention when discussing Grease 2.
Hopefully this list has given you some inspiration for future themed movie nights with your friends and family, whether that means nostalgic rewatches, guilty pleasures, or discovering something surprisingly brilliant. As for me, I’ll be struggling through more terrible sequels in the hopes of turning up a few more gems just like these.