Jennifer Grey reacts to 'Dirty Dancing' remake
Fans of the 1987 film aren’t happy about the upcoming remake, but the movie’s original star is perfectly content with the idea of an update.
Jennifer Grey, who played Baby, the teenage girl falling in love at a Catskills camp, tweeted her response Tuesday: "I love @Kennyortega and trust that he will do something special #DirtyDancingRemake."
Grey has a good reason to have faith in Ortega: He was the choreographer on the original film.
Lionsgate announced the remake plans and choice of director on Monday, according to The Hollywood Reporter. “The opportunity to direct ‘Dirty Dancing’ is like returning home for me," said Ortega, who directed “High School Musical 3,” “Newsies,” “Hocus Pocus” and the Michael Jackson documentary “This Is It.”
“Patrick Swayze set the bar for men dancing in the movies,” Ortega added of the movie’s late male lead. “I can’t wait to begin the process of discovering the next breakout triple-threats.”
The original film earned $214 million worldwide, and in the 24 years since its release has sold more than 10 million copies on DVD. The 2004 sequel, "Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights," flopped at the box office.
I meant it. Stop it.
They are almost always pointless. They are almost never as good as the original. And did we mention they're mostly pointless?
The latest reboot to come down the Hollywood movie-manufacturing line is "Dirty Dancing." Kenny Ortega, who served as the choreographer on the 1987 original, has been set to re-envision the film about a pampered rich girl (Jennifer Grey) who goes to a ritzy summer camp and falls for the hunky dance instructor played by Patrick Swayze.
Grey Tweeted she was excited about the project. I respect her opinion but could not disagree more.
While "Dirty Dancing" isn't as iconic as say "Casablanca," it is still charming and sweet and should be left alone.
Plus, didn't "Dirty Dancing Havana Nights" do enough damage? And The AV Club dug deep in the vault to unearthed a TV show based on "Dirty Dancing" that never made it past two episodes.
So there. It's been remade. Abort mission.
Obviously we like to leave the critical, thoughtful reactions to last night's 'Dancing with the Stars' finale to our friends over at TV Squad, but you movie fans will get a bit of a kick out of seeing Jennifer Greyfinally return to her 'Dirty Dancing' roots for her final dance of the evening before voting opened up.
Grey, a clear favorite to win the entire competition (seriously - if you thought they were using camera tricks or body doubles in 'Dirty Dancing', think again -- this chick can dance), has been amazing to watch each week, especially considering the multiple neck surgeries she's had over the years to help correct an injury she sustained during a car accident awhile back. For her final dance last night with partner Derek Hough (channeling the late Patrick Swayze in a cool white t-shirt and blue jeans), the two danced to a version of 'Do You Love Me', which began with Grey holding a watermelon in what looked to be the exact outfit she wore in that iconic scene.
Which iconic scene? Well if you don't know by now, then we're totally sticking you in the corner (but don't worry, we posted it after the jump as a reminder). When asked why she didn't choose 'I've Had the Time of My Life' for her final dance, Grey simply said the song was reserved only for her and Swayze. Check out her final DWTS dance, and the scene from 'Dirty Dancing' that inspired it, after the jump.
