‘Dirty Dancing’ Getting Remade by ‘This Is It’ Director

Tim Grierson
·Editor
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When "Dirty Dancing" got a special 20th anniversary re-release in 2007, we were kinda surprised. Really, "Dirty Dancing"? Who remembers that movie? It was then that we realized just how off the wavelength of the Patrick Swayze/Jennifer Grey romantic drama we were. Turns out just about every woman we know loves that movie, no matter how girlie-girl they may or may not be. (True story: A friend who's a Cardinal fan and a second unit film director once made us replicate the log-dance scene with her when we were hiking through Yosemite. Seriously, everybody loves "Dirty Dancing.")

So we shouldn't be surprised a remake is coming. If anything, it's amazing it's only now gaining steam.

Lionsgate has been developing a new version of the period drama for a few years, but Variety today reports that Kenny Ortega, the director and choreographer perhaps best known for Michael Jackson's "This Is It," has signed up for the movie. That's not a big shock: He was the choreographer on the original film, which was directed by Emile Ardolino, who also made "Sister Act." No word on casting yet, but that's not a major concern considering that just about no major dance-themed film of the last 30 years has really been star-driven. The dancing is the star -- as well as the brand name in this case. (Although that doesn't always guarantee a hit. "Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights" tanked.)

The timing of this news would seem to coincide with the release of "Crazy, Stupid, Love." In that movie, there's a rather lame homage to the big dance finale from "Dirty Dancing," which we don't think is nearly as clever as the characters do. Beside, it's not even the best recent "Dirty Dancing" reference at the movies. That would go to 2010's "Heartbreaker," a charming French comedy in which professional heartbreaker Romain Duris woos Vanessa Paradis by learning the moves to her favorite film, "Dirty Dancing." We hope the new "Dirty Dancing" is this charming and fun:

Kenny Ortega Hired to Re-Do 'Dirty Dancing' [Showblitz/Variety]