Ghost* (1990)

Anytime I watch a popular romance film I approach it with trepidation. Films under the label of ‘romance’ are usually chick flicks in disguise anymore. If you’ve looked through the films I’ve rated in the past, you know that chick flicks and I do not get along. So when a film is listed interchangeably as a romance and a chick flick, I get really worried that I’m about to waste my time. Thank goodness that Ghost does not live up (or should I say down?) to its chick flick label.

Sam Wheat (Patrick Swayze) is a banker for a large company in New York. His artist girlfriend, Molly Jensen (Demi Moore), lives with him in a posh apartment. Life is beautiful and perfect until Sam spots some troubling discrepancies on a few accounts. A few days later Sam and Molly get mugged and Sam is killed. Only, Sam’s spirit sticks around.

Helping him work through his unfinished business are a creepy subway ghost, who shows Sam how to interact with objects, and a scam artist posing as a medium named Oda Mae Brown (Whoopi Goldberg), who is surprised to discover that she really does have the gift. While working through his anger and emotions, Sam learns that his death was not a random crime. With the help of Oda Mae, Sam must work to thwart a greedy, former co-worker at embezzling money and hurting Molly.

Interestingly enough, there is more drama, comedy and suspense in Ghost than romance. You could probably argue that this film’s primary labeling as a romance is a misnomer but I don’t see any need to do so. If nothing else, Ghost is the kind of romance film that elevates the bar for the genre. More romantic comedies should strive for the kind of genre blending on display here rather than taking the easy way out with ticket-selling clichés and second-rate actors.

Of the main characters, Demi Moore is the weakest link but it’s not entirely her fault. Molly is written as a pretty face and a victim. While Demi Moore’s acting chops are debatable, she does what is needed of her character. Patrick Swayze, however, is fantastic as Sam. When he’s not wide-eyed with wonder, panic or impatience, he is vengefully or ponderingly scowling. His transition from newbie ghost to fully-functioning poltergeist is believable and the rules and abilities laid out for Sam and his deceased brethren are easy to digest.

The undeniable scene-stealer of this film is Whoopi Goldberg. She hits every mark, every punch line and every facial expression perfectly. When she’s interacting with nothing or interacting with Patrick Swayze while pretending to be unable to see him, her performance is immaculate. No wonder they gave her an Oscar for this role! She is funny without forcing it and gaudy without going over the top. Whoopi alone makes this film worth seeing.

The story itself is quite interesting. There have been ghost tales before involving unfinished business but Ghost’s suspense and drama help it stand out. Some ghost flick fans may not like the kinder, gentler approach that Swayze takes but these people need to realize that not all disembodied spirits are out for revenge alone. In many ways, this is a story about a man overcoming a handicap in order to do something important. Maybe classifying death as a handicap is a stretch but without Sam having to learn the ropes of being a ghost, the plot and resolution would be too easy and far too convenient to be enjoyed.

The underlying moral of ‘corporate greed is bad’ is a little cheesy by today’s standards and some may complain that this motive comes right out of left field but let’s keep in mind when this movie was made. The late 80s and early 90s saw a wave of films containing a harsh reaction to the Reagan era of big business and corporate success. Ghost wisely avoids being too preachy on this matter but the subtext is there.

Other than a few dated-looking special effects, Ghost is still able to resonate and move today’s moviegoers. Passion, suspense and intrigue never go out of style. Hopefully this film’s popularity won’t either.

RATING: 3.75 out of 5

Dirty Dancing (1987)

One of the most talked-about and hyped up chick flicks of all time, Dirty Dancing fits into the mold of 80s coming-of-age films but also establishes itself alongside Flashdance and Footloose as one of the Big Three 80s dance movies. Aside from the music and dancing, though, this movie does very little to distinguish itself from other mediocre teenage romances.

After years of telling my wife that I’d watch it someday, that someday finally came. Dirty Dancing isn’t nearly as bad as I was expecting, but outside of the dancing and killer soundtrack, the film is hardly remarkable and very little of it is even memorable.

Jennifer Grey stars as Frances “Baby” Houseman, a 17-year old on the verge of womanhood. Set in 1963, Baby and her family head to a well-to-do resort in upstate New York to mingle with other rich folk and ignoring the problems of the world. The hoity-toity young lass finds herself falling in love with the working class dance instructor at the resort, causing her to question some of the things she’s been raised to believe.

Hardly an original concept, this tale of forbidden love is enhanced by the film’s soundtrack. Instead of just using the soundtrack as incidental music, the songs heard throughout the movie are more often than not coming through somebody’s radio or record player. For this, Dirty Dancing rises above other 80s flicks that merely included radio-friendly songs as a means of being hip and pushing soundtrack sales numbers.

Using some very popular songs and some classics that had been largely forgotten about, Dirty Dancing breaks away from most of the 80s teen and chick flick pack through its music and accompanying choreography. Baby is introduced to the world of “dirty dancing” through her new working class friends. Some of the dancing is raunchy but for the most part it’s just kids having wild fun listening to the hot new rock ‘n’ roll sounds.

There is some drama that causes Baby to get pulled further into the life of her new friends and ever closer to dance instructor Johnny (played by Patrick Swayze, as if I had to tell you). Things get steamy as Baby undergoes a sexual awakening. The only problem I had with all this is that Baby is a minor. Sure, she’s 17 and that’s the age of consent in some states, but sexually liberating minors always makes me cringe a little. It’s easy to forget Baby’s age, as Jennifer Grey was 26 when the film was made. It’s funny how most movies about teens have casts full of twentysomethings.

In the end, Dirty Dancing turns out to be on the high end of the chick flick spectrum. Then again, that only gets you so far. It’s, as I like to say, mostly harmless as a film. For guys out there who may be dreading it- don’t. It’s really not that bad. It’s not fantastic, but it’s not that bad. Is it worth all the spoofs, jokes and clichés that have emanated from it? Probably. Is it going to make you want to want to tear up your Man Card? That depends on your personality.

After watching Dirty Dancing, my Man Card is intact. It’s an easy watch for the girls and easy to get through for the guys. You can do better in the realm of chick flicks (though that would mean delving into actual romance films) but you could certainly do a lot worse.

RATING: 3.25 out of 5

Red Dawn (1984)

Sadly, this film suffers most from being so dated. The Cold War is over, so young viewers won’t really understand this Reagan era quasi-propaganda film. And of course, with today’s stereotyping of mid-westerners and conservatives as gun loving weirdos, this film has also been cited a few times in anti-gun and anti-militia propaganda.

The main point is this: just have fun with this movie and you won’t be disappointed. Yes, it’s cheesy- a rag-tag group of high school kids help defend their town from a Soviet invasion. Yes, it’s absurd- the film suggests that the Soviet Union teams up with Cuba and all of Latin America to strike at the heart and soul of freedom. And yes, it’s a bit unnerving- this film was taken fairly seriously when it came out and intensified fears about the spread of communism.

But look on the bright side- as long as you aren’t a gun hating pansy or an anti-military action liberal, you can enjoy this movie. The good guys and bad guys are clearly drawn out and you get to like the heroes after a while. There is a very real sense of confusion when the surprise invasion occurs and the young cast does a good job of maintaining their on-the-edge emotions through most of the film.

In theory, this film has a plausible plot. America won’t be the top dog forever, and perhaps someday our militias and gun supporters will once more be the saving grace of our nation. Probably not while we’re alive, but it’s still remotely plausible. Take Red Dawn with a grain of salt and settle in for a film that was once a thriller but now seems more outrageous. Besides, it’s got Patrick Sawyze, which girls will like, and it’s got lots of guns, which most guys will like.

RATING: 3 out of 5