Staying Alive (1983)

Plenty to Like, Plenty to Dislike

Excellent but underrated film

Although it has its amusing moments, in eneral the plot does not convince.

A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

Seriously. I get that some movies are so bad they're good. I get that most sequels are doomed before they start. I get that cheesy movies can be fun, but.....This is a straight up abomination of a movie. EVERYTHING that was bad at that time period. Every cliché. Horrific, bubblegum music with no soul, little talent and played out lyrics. Flat, pointless dialogue. Soap opera characters. So when I say there is no hope for you, I mean:1. You don't understand good cinema (even when it's bad) 2. You don't know what good music is. Including all genres. This is the worst type of hack 'music' 3. You don't get how good dialogue or performance can elevate even a horrible movie.Sorry to judge, but anyone giving this thing anything over 3 stars does not get movies and shouldn't be reviewing them.Yeah, it's all subjective, I know, but this is an exception. This is easily in the top 3 of the worst movies ever made. Nothing redeeming and actually flat out disrespectful to its predecessor.

I had never seen this until now (Sep 2017). John Travolta had quite the impressive body and the prettiest of eyes. And I also thought Finola Hughes looked a bit like Catherine Zeta Jones. There's some great dancing in this and of course the music of the 70's/80's was good as well. The Bee Gees knew a thing or two about life and living and it was turned into the title of this movie. Hmmm....I just don't understand why the low rating? I thought John Travolta and Finola Hughes had cool attitudes (a bit over-confident and/or cocky), but there's nothing wrong with that. It makes for interesting dialogue, for sure. I hope others watch this and lift it up because it's not as bad as the rating makes it seem.

A quintessential 1980s movie in the vein of Flashdance and Dirty Dancing, (the lycra leotards! The poodle hair! The headbands!) Staying Alive is really more about the dancing and beautiful bodies than the plot or acting. I like John Travolta in this -- as Tony Manero -- he obviously pushed himself to get into such great shape. And he has some fairly good acting scenes, such as with Tony's mother. I think Cynthia Rhodes, as Tony's girlfriend, is the best actor: she's sweet and sincere, and she is also probably the best dancer. The character is devoted to Tony, she genuinely loves him, and she conveys this well. And she brings out the best in Travolta in their scenes together. As the English dancer Tony has an affair with, and then who is his lead dance partner, I feel Finola Hughes is miscast. She is flexible, pretty, and technically strong, but just not a character that evokes any sympathy. And she is mostly two dimensional, although I guess that might be the script, too. The finale dance concert is quite silly and self indulgent.

Absolutely brilliant film! In my opinion it is better than its prequel, Saturday Night Fever. John Travolta, Cynthia Rhodes and Finola Hughes are stunning dancers. It gives viewers a look behind the scenes of a musical. It is wonderfully intense and passionate. There is also a sense of satisfaction seeing Tony, the Brooklyn boy, make it to Broadway and still be the same strutting man. Overall, really brilliant film but nothing like its prequel, so don't watch it expecting more of the same, it gives a completely different taste and flavour. Very fun movie, well worth a watch.