Dançando na TV

If you didn't first see this movie between the ages of 8 and 15, you probably won't experience the same joy and nostalgia as those of us lucky enough to have seen it in those golden years of our lives.

Today I found out that two girls in my office also love this movie, and it was like finding two kindred spirits. My sister and I used to watch this movie over and over again on cable. Yes, it's predictable and cheesy, but that's what's so fun about it! And was 80s pop culture (cheeseball pop music, teased hair, Velcro, loud clothes and dance TV programs--think "Solid Gold") ever so well documented on film?

Yes, you can watch Helen Hunt in her Oscar-winning performance in "As Good As it Gets"...but wouldn't you rather watch her become "Miss D-TV"?

Ah, the memories...

Janey Glenn (Sarah Jessica Parker) is a teenager newcomer in Chicago, who loves the TV show Dancing in TV. In the Catholic school, she becomes friend of Lynne Stone (Helen Hunt), who also loves to dance and invites her to an audition to be part of the show. However, her tough father, who raises Janey in a military environment, does not accept her participation in the audition, and she has lots of trouble to escape for the competition. The rich Natalie Sands (Holly Gagnier) tries to use the influence and power of her wealthy father to win the competition. This silly movie is crowded of teenager starlets. It is funny to see names such as Sarah Jessica Parker, Helen Hunt, Jonathan Silverman, Shannen Doherty, in the beginning of their careers, playing very goofy and foolish roles. However, the story is nice, there are good songs from the 80´s and in the end, it is an attractive and forgettable entertainment. My vote is six.

Title (Brazil): `Dançando na TV' (`Dancing in TV')

I remember seeing this film in the cinemas when I was 10 years old. At the end of the film all the audience clapped and cheered, I had never seen that phenomenon before and have not experienced it since. The film may be slightly predictable, but it is a must see for any pre-teen or teenage girl. Before my after school dance lessons me and my friends would always watch this film to put us in a dancing mood. Just like Top Gun encouraged people to be pilots, Girls Just Want to have Fun makes you want to dance, or be a dancer. Sarah Jessica Parker and Helen Hunt are terrific in their roles, a sign of things to come perhaps? While lee Montgomery was ever so cute!. I have to say though my favorite scene(s) are the "I Can Fly" routine, the audition process and the dance off at the end. In summary this film may be lightweight but it sure is a lot of fun-even almost 15 years later.

It's actually quite hard to rate this film out of 10, because it really isn't a good movie. It's completely cheesy, makes very little sense, but it is fun.

You've got a very much pre-Sex And The City Sarah Jessica Parker and a young Helen Hunt who somehow manages to look and sound about 30 in this even though she would have been around 21 at the time it was made as best friends, trying to get on to a really dreadful looking TV dance show called Dance TV (how original) by throwing some very, very 80s shapes in very, very 80s outfits. Add to this a little romantic element with Richard Montgomery as the love interest, a bratty rich girl trying to cheat her way to winning the contest and you've got the whole plot, such as it is, right there.

Girls Just Want To Have Fun is just that - it's a fun movie, the kind of thing teen girls would have watched on a sleepover. It's colourful, the soundtrack is good in a very 1980s way, and it goes everything it needs to entertain. It's one of those movies that could never be remade or rebooted because it is SO very much of its time.

Richard Montgomery looks great in this movie, whatever happened to him by the way? As do Parker and Hunt. The acting is actually alright given the script and the audience it's aimed at.

Enjoyably silly, incredibly dated, but a nice watch. Not all movies need to gave a coherent plot or depth. Some are just there to be watched and forgotten.

Girls Just Want to Have Fun is the ultimate movie of the 80s. I was 8 years old when this came out and my friends and I would hold our own Dance TV, of course everyone wanted to be Janey but I wanted to be Helen Hunt's character Lynne.

Even though Sarah Jessica Parker had the title role and the hunky Lee Montgomery as her dance partner and boyfriend, this film belonged to Helen Hunt. She was absolutely wonderful as the best friend who helped Janey with her dream of being on Dance TV.

Jonathan Silverman was funny as Drew, Jeff's best friend that in fact the best friends were the one who made this movie more enjoyable.

Shannen Doherty was also impressive as Jeff's little sister Maggie, but a little too old to be playing a 12 year old.

The music is brilliant, though a little dated and every time I see this movie it brings back all the nostaglia of growing up in the 80s.

A definite must see no matter how many times you've watched it.