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The article, “’Dirty Dancing”’ 25 Years Later: 9 Reasons The Dance Movie Is So Iconic” by Emma Gray posted in the Huffington Post, covers different events in the movie Dirty Dancing and how they are still entertaining today’s population. 

            The first reason to why the film is still so popular today is because of the line, “Nobody puts Baby in the corner.”  Gray goes on to explain that wallflowers everywhere have always wished of this scenario happening to them.  Viewers can live through Baby as Johnny pulls her out of the corner and onto stage. 

            The next reason for the popularity is because the film is not fearful of controversial issues.  Gray explains that in Dirty Dancing, Penny gets pregnant and has an illegal abortion.   Gray goes onto explain that the distributor, Vestron, “gave up partnership with Clearasil to keep the storyline in the film.”

            Gray’s number three reason for popularity is “that lift.” She explained that the viewers are compelled to go to the nearest body of water and try this themselves. 

            The fifth reason for popularity is the soundtrack, says Gray.  Some song names she mentions are “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” Be My Baby,” “Hungry Eyes,” “Wipe Out,” and “Love Is Strange.” Gray explains that these songs are all not produced in 1963 which is the time of Dirty Dancing’s setting.  The soundtrack’s songs are designed to keep the movie timeless with hit songs.

            Reason number six reads, “It taught us that carrying a watermelon is the best way to get inot a private party and break the ice.”  Incorporating humor in the movie enhanced it’s popularity.

            Gray explains that reason number 7 for popularity is because of the Houseman’s. The director knew what he was doing when he picked Jerry Orbach and Kelly Bishop.  Both of these actors have been in casts that are very popular, this enhances viewer’s want to see the movie.

            The eighth reason for Dirty Dancing’s success is because it “explores class issues.”  Gray pinpoints two characters, Johnny Castle and Robbie Gould.  Johnny, who is portrayed as lower class, would be more likely to get a girl pregnant rather than Robbie, who is a preppy guy going to an Ivy League school.  The film challenges this stereotype and has Robbie get a girl pregnant rather Johnny. 

            The last reason for popularity, Gray says, is because of the last dance in the film.  The film finally brings Johnny and Baby together for one final dance.  The viewers love to see happy endings in movies and this is what the director of Dirty Dancing incorporated. 

            Exploring the reasons’ for the high popularity of Dirty Dancing can be hard to pinpoint without critical analysis.  This article examines those reasons as to why Dirty Dancing is still a popular film today.  Knowing the important attributes that make this film so popular can help the viewers to really appreciate the different points that the director was trying to portray. 

            When asked why I like the movie Dirty Dancing so much I can never exactly come up with individual reasons as to my liking.  This article takes the thoughts out of my mind and puts them into 9 different reasons.  I like this article because it explains this film’s popularity in all the different aspects it has to offer.