Last summer, while helping my dad and stepmom move, my younger brother and I had the task of sorting through their attic. Among the boxes filled with forgotten notebooks, letters, old school projects, and dusty books, I stumbled upon a VHS tape of Dirty Dancing.
“Look what I found! My Dirty Dancing tape!” I said excitedly.
“Um, that’s mine,” my brother replied.
“No way! I used to watch it every day after school. You were too little back then.”
“Well, eventually you lost interest, and I picked it up,” he countered.
After a brief back-and-forth, we reached a compromise, and I managed to sneak it back home (the perks of being the older sibling!). I’m undoubtedly a fan of the film—the iconic cutoff shorts, the secret summer nights spent dancing (which felt scandalous to my 11-year-old self), and the passionate romance between Baby and Johnny. With a fantastic soundtrack, it was a quintessential movie for those of us who came of age in the ’80s.
Since Patrick Swayze’s passing, there’s been a wave of nostalgia surrounding the film. Many of us remember him as the strong, captivating Johnny, and it still feels surreal to think he’s gone.
When I first heard about the remake, I felt a rush of excitement. Nostalgia is always welcome, right? But as I learned more about the new version, a sense of age crept in.
For starters, the cast is largely unfamiliar to me. Abigail Breslin, taking on the role of Baby, is someone I vaguely recognize from Little Miss Sunshine back in the 2000s, prior to having kids. But the rest of the cast? Not a clue. Colt Prattes, who plays Johnny, certainly looks appealing, but it’s hard to fathom anyone stepping into Patrick Swayze’s shoes. No offense to Prattes, a talented Broadway performer, but he has some enormous expectations to meet.
There is one familiar face: Debra Messing, known from Will & Grace, but guess who she portrays? Baby’s mother. Yes, in just a few years, I’ll be navigating the challenges of parenting a teenager, much like Mrs. Houseman, left wondering where my child has vanished to—hopefully not engaging in anything as scandalous as dirty dancing.
The remake is set to air on network television (ABC), which I find pleasantly nostalgic since made-for-TV movies were a staple of my childhood. Yet, there’s a catch: when will I find the time to watch it? Between my kids’ bedtime routines and the reality of adult responsibilities (and yes, I know about DVR, but our budget is tight due to the demands of parenting), fitting in a three-hour movie seems nearly impossible.
It’s become clear that this remake targets a younger audience, which is great for the next generation to discover this classic. Still, it serves as a reminder of how much older I feel than I did just yesterday. Given that the original Dirty Dancing debuted in 1987, I realize it’s been quite a while since I hurried home from school to watch Johnny effortlessly lift Baby without a hitch. So, I’m officially acknowledging that I am, in fact, getting older.
Despite this realization, I am looking forward to the remake and plan to watch it when I can. However, I’ll also be revisiting my old VHS copy of the original, snuggling up with my partner after the kids are asleep, and reliving those cherished tween memories all over again.
(Yes, we still have a VHS player and a collection of tapes—did I mention we’re old?)
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In summary, the upcoming remake of Dirty Dancing has ignited feelings of nostalgia and the realization of how time flies. As I prepare to watch the new version, I’ll also cherish the original that holds a special place in my heart, all while acknowledging the passage of time.