Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights (2004)

Total Reviews: 32

Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights
Artisan Entertainment / Miramax Films

Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights

Romance

MPAA RATING
PG-13 for sensuality

105 minutes | Color
USA

WRITTEN BY
Victoria Arch, Ronald Bass,
Jonathan Bernstein, Mark Blackwell,
Pamela Gray, James Greer,
Christina Wayne and Boaz Yakin

DIRECTED BY
Guy Ferland

THEATRICAL RELEASE
Feb 27, 2004

FILM:
Dirty Dancing

Internet Movie Database

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Official Studio Site

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Starring Mika Boorem, Polly Cusumano, Romola Garai, Jonathan Jackson, January Jones, René Lavan, Diego Luna, and Mya

Set against the decadent glamour and escalating danger of revolution-eve Cuba, Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights re-imagines the 1987 film phenomenon from an exciting new perspective. This is a timeless story of a young woman's discovery of love, sensuality and independence - but with a sizzling style and rhythm all its own. (Lions Gate Films)

Chicago Tribune / Allison Benedikt :
A pelvis-gyrating, ponytail-releasing, shirt-unbuttoning good time.

Los Angeles Times / Kevin Thomas:
Sufficiently original and engaging to be called merely "Havana Nights" but will no doubt get a boost by the reference to the popular 1987 "Dirty Dancing."

Newsweek / David Ansen:
This sweet, sometimes clunky chick flick is a likable teen romance, but not likely to arouse the giddy swoons Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey generated back in ’87.

Variety / David Rooney:
Superficial but entertaining new pic offers equal parts freshness and kitsch appeal set to a pulsating Latin soundtrack.

Seattle Post-Intelligencer / Sean Axmaker:
Even as the prosaic script gets lost in the intoxicating fantasy of the bloodless revolution, the hot heartbeat of the music drives the film with pure energy.

Austin Chronicle / Marjorie Baumgarten:
Not a sequel, not a prequel, but a "reimagining" as the producers say. And they're basically correct, although I wouldn't put any real emphasis on the "imagination" aspect of that term.

Boston Globe / Wesley Morris:
Bland though it is, "Havana Nights" could be the start of a globe-bettering franchise -- and across history, too: "Dirty Dancing: Monticello Mornings"; "Dirty Dancing: Gaza Strip Afternoons."

Charlotte Observer / Lawrence Toppman:
The plot of "Nights" will occupy only 10 or 12 brain cells.

Chicago Reader / J.R. Jones:
The movie's mix of erotic Latin dance and vaguely liberal politics should have young girls swooning in the aisles.

Chicago Sun-Times / Roger Ebert:
[Garai and Luna] must be given credit for their presence and charisma in Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights, and together with the film's general ambiance, they do a lot to make amends for the lockstep plot.

Entertainment Weekly / Owen Gleiberman:
There are two sparks of light amid the trifling dialogue and bad faux-'80s love-on-the-beach montages in Havana Nights, and they are the film's costars.

The Onion (A.V. Club) / Scott Tobias:
Contains all the elements of a satisfying teen genre picture, but they've been compromised out of existence.

ReelViews / James Berardinelli:
It's only possible to have the time of your life once, and, for this franchise, that was in 1987.

Rolling Stone / Guy Ferland:
Luna and Garai struggle to look like they're having the time of their life. But the movie, more wan than wicked, proves you can't go home again.

Salon.com / Charles Taylor:
The plot construction here is especially lazy. The whole movie is built toward the dance competition.

San Francisco Chronicle / Carla Meyer:
Swayze's presence crosses the line from curious to bizarre and adds a heavy layer of cheese to Havana Nights.

TV Guide / Angel Cohn:
Katey and Javier's dramatically expedient relationship is nowhere near as interesting as the Cuban Revolution, which is relegated to window dressing.

Washington Post / Ann Hornaday:
Has its modest charms.

Portland Oregonian / Barry Johnson:
At its best during the anachronistic nightclub scenes and anytime prolonged dancing is on screen. It's mostly music video stuff, but the young actors are likable enough, and the film works up just enough momentum to give it some significance.

The Hollywood Reporter / Kirk Honeycutt:
It's disappointing the film is so sketchy and underdeveloped. The filmmakers may have sold their story short.

LA Weekly / Scott Foundas:
The dance sequences might have saved it, were it not for the fact that director Guy Ferland seems to have learned everything he knows about (over) shooting and (blindly) cutting such scenes from watching "Moulin Rouge" and "Chicago."

The Globe and Mail (Toronto) / Jennie Punter:
Despite being set in 1958 Cuba, Havana Nights sticks to the formula. This would be perfectly acceptable if the dancing was "dirtier" and if there was a spark between the young couple.

Miami Herald / Rene Rodriguez:
In the end, they are only moments, and even at a merciful 86 minutes, Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights feels formidably long.

New York Post / Jonathan Foreman:
About three-quarters of the way through, Havana Nights suddenly becomes laugh-out-loud awful, with dreadful, lame lines delivered painfully badly - as if a different screenwriter and director had taken over for the movie's final act.

USA Today / Mike Clark:
If you can't find a more scintillating brand of dirty to enjoy during your own nights (Helena or Hoboken), you're not trying very hard.

Dallas Observer / Melissa Levine:
Silly, misguided, formulaic and largely a piece of trash, but it's not quite a disaster. There's the dancing and the music and the sunlight.

Film Threat / Kevin Carr:
This cinematic train wreck reminds me of when Hollywood decided to cash in on the success of “Chinatown” by making a sequel...

New York Times / Elvis Mitchell:
It's one of the rare films for which a blooper reel would be redundant.

Washington Post / Mark Jenkins:
The movie is still a routine Hollywood high school morality play.

Christian Science Monitor / David Sterrit:
This belated "reimagining" is as beguiling as a dried-out palm tree.

New York Daily News / Jami Bernard:
Has some good music and hot dancing -- filmed choppily -- but it completely lacks the magic of its predecessor.

Village Voice / Tricia Romano:
Havana Nights es mucho frío -- the only titter of excitement comes in a cameo from a strangely reptilian Patrick Swayze.

All scores given by critics have been converted to a 100-point scale in the table above. When a critic does not provide a score in his/her review, we have assigned one based on the general impression given by the review.
Learn more...

The average user rating for this film is
5.2 out of 10 (18 Votes).
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Discuss This Movie In Our Forums!

Wendel C. gave it a 1:
Crapola!

Alessandra S. gave it an 8:
Ok, so the movie was a little corny and very similar to the original "Dirty Dancing." However, there is no doubt that one leaves the theater in a good mood, ready to go out and dance. Garai & Luna no doubt have great chemistry. The dancing is fabulous and the music may be even better.

Elana L. gave it a 10:
Diego Luna was so hot, i couldnt contain myself, the music was great and so was the dancing...:)

J. Cinnante gave it a 0:
Crapola at its worst. Its sacreligious to mention Dirty Dancing with this garbage.

Audriana G. gave it a 10:
This movie was the best movie ever...Diego Luna was so hot in it......this movie rocks.

Courtney M gave it a 7:
Unoriginal, cheesy, and saved only by Garai, Luna, and the saucy dance numbers. Not as good as it should be, but perfect for a daydreamy teenager looking for an eighty-six-minute-long trip to Havana (or Puerto Rico, as the case may be).

Jamie R. gave it a 9:
The movie was great... Really SWEET.

David P. gave it a 0:
Dirty Dancing they wish? Just dismal.

O R gave it a 10:
Great dancing! Great acting! Makes one crave for that “perfect first love”. Critics may say they didn't like the plot or that they were bored. They are obviously not dancer or young lovers. However, any dancer, or person in love or wanting love will go see this movie over and over again. Oh yes, the steps may have been the same (I hope so, the steps are unchangeable), but the choreography was very original and sensual from the 1st DD. The dancing and the music of this movie were inspiring! The dancers themselves were incredible, exciting many to strive and be better dancer and lovers!

Colm gave it a 0:
What no baby in the corner????!!!!

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Discuss This Movie In Our Forums!

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