Staying Alive (1983)
Review by Dindrane
Film:
DVD:

Written by Nik Cohn, Sylvester Stallone, and Norman Wexler
Directed by Sylvester Stallone
Costume Design by Bob Mackie and Tom Bronson
Starring John Travolta, Finola Hughes, Cynthia Rhodes, Steve Inwood, Kurtwood Smith

Rating: PG

Anamorphic: Yes

My Advice: Rent it.

Staying Alive takes place five years after the action in Saturday Night Fever. Tony Manero (Travolta) is still clinging to his dream of being a professional dancer, this time on the Broadway stage. We follow Tony as he tries out for shows, teaches jazz classes and waits tables to pay the bills, chases a professional dancer, and treats his only reliable friend as horribly as he can. Finally, Tony must summon up all of his courage and self-confidence and attempt to steal the lead in his first show, showing the world what’s he’s made of and finally deciding between the diva Laura (Hughes) and the sweet, supportive Jackie (Rhodes).

The acting is enjoyable for the most part. Travolta repeats his fine performance from the first film, but this time isn’t asked to be quite as unlikable...though he still has some serious issues. Finola Hughes is delightful as always as the bitchy lead dancer, and adds respect as a legitimate dancer to her credentials. Cynthia Rhodes manages to keep the truthfully rather pathetic character of Jackie from being too twee. A couple of minor roles who deserved more time were Norma Donaldson as Fatima and Kurtwood Smith as the choreographer.

The plot is, perhaps not surprisingly, better than that of its more famous parent film. I’m not entirely clear on why the previous film has more fans—the plot here may not be attempting to be much more than is on the surface, but why should Saturday Night Fever get points when it tried rather pathetically and failed? The dance choreography is light years better this go-round, even if the music is much the same, with Bob Mackie’s costumes providing a fascinating look at Broadway in a nutshell. There may be fewer plot holes this time too because the former is rather less ambitious, but at least it knows what it wants to be and sets out to do that well, usually the best decision unless you know you can trust your writer and director.

The features list is short--there’s nothing added to this disc. I would have loved to have had an interview with the indomitable Bob Mackie about how he dressed the show-within-a-show, “Satan’s Alley,” learned about the very important and interesting set designs, or heard from the real choreographers. A spot with Rhodes, Hughes, or Travolta on dancing versus acting would have been nice, but there’s nothing, not even a merchandising link to go buy the soundtrack or other movie gear.

If you’re justifiably frightened of the early 1980s, then you might want to watch Staying Alive with your therapist already on the phone, just in case you find yourself engaged by the kitschy clothes or tapping your fingers to the soundtrack more than you’d admit. Just watch and enjoy it for what it is: a fun dance movie that doesn’t take itself too seriously. Fans of dancing in general, from ballet to modern, will appreciate the legitimate athleticism that this movie required, as well as the clever choreography of each scene. Check it out and see what you were missing while you were a kid watching Voltron.