If a film like "Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights" is to succeed, the dancing has to be good. And you have to believe, if not actually feel, the chemistry between the two lead actors.
Unfortunately, both are seriously out of step here.
The one thing here that is in step is Mexican actor Diego Luna, who made a name for himself in the art-house hit "Y Tu Mama Tambien," and who — here at least — looks like a Hispanic Tobey Maguire. Luna has charisma to spare and appears to be having a good time.
However, too much of this lackluster dance drama revolves around the character played by British actress Romola Garai. And her character is less interesting. As is her performance.
Garai is so wooden that she elicits more snickers from audiences than anything else. Which is a pity, because there was an opportunity for a decent little movie here, which is ruined by one person, one performance.
This prequel to "Dirty Dancing," the 1987 hit, is set in Cuba during the late 1950s. Garai stars as Katey Vendetto, an American teenager whose family moves there for a business opportunity.
Katey's not really thrilled about it, and it doesn't help that she has difficulty fitting in with her fellow Americans, who look down on the locals — including Xavier Perez (Luna), a young waiter with some serious dance moves. So despite receiving some interest from another American teen (Jonathan Jackson), Katey finds herself spending more and more time with Xavier. Soon, they pin their hopes on winning a dance competition, which could help his struggling family.
This is, admittedly, pretty lightweight stuff, but the filmmakers attempt to throw in material about the Cuban Revolution and cultural differences between the Cubans and Americans. But all such subplots are treated superficially, without much conviction.
Director Guy Ferland does use the Cuban musical score nicely, and the film goes down easily.
But Garai's performance becomes all the more glaring in the company of such actors as Sela Ward and John Slattery, who play her parents; Patrick Swayze, who has a cameo as a dance instructor; and Luna.
"Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights" is rated PG-13 for sexually suggestive dance moves, a brief scene of violence (gunplay and a scuffle), a brief sex scene, and scattered use of mild profanity and some racial epithets. Running time: 87 minutes.
E-MAIL: jeff@desnews.com