This film is a sequel to "Dirty Dancing", hoping to capitalize on the popularity of the original. It utilizes much of the original plot and has numerous references to the action, but viewers need to decide if this is a loving nod to the original DD or an unnecessary redo (or both). 'Havana Nights" is set in Cuba during 1958, just before the overthrow of the Batista government by Castro and others. Therefore, this story precedes the 1963 story of the original DD. And it means that Patrick Swayze is not reprising his role as Johnny Castle. Here, he is an older dance instructor.Filmed in Puerto Rico, the film's depiction of Cuban life and culture is quite enjoyable and one of its highlights. Life (especially nightlife) in pre- Castro Cuba is a colorful and exciting mélange of sensual dancing and energetic music.But there are other problems that plague this film, most notably the male lead. Diego Luna plays Javier Suarez, a local waiter/busboy at the country club frequented by well-to-do Americans, like the parents of Katey Miller (Romola Garai). As in the original film, class differences separate the two sides of a love match, and emphasize the differences between the dance styles of the elite and the styles of the streets. Luna is a fine actor and his performance as a kid who experiences the financial hardships of an impoverished populace and the realities of political oppression feels authentic. However, he lacks the physical presence of someone like Swayze. Likewise, the chemistry between Luna and Garai lacks the heat that transformed Baby into a believable love interest for Johnny Castle.The supporting cast boasts the beautiful Sela Ward (as Katey's mother), John Slattery (as the father) and an under-used January Jones.In this film and the original (and many others in this genre, like "Flashdance" or "Footloose"), the music and dance are the agents of liberation. The "square" young woman is confronted by the liberating power of street culture-which has less concern with conventions and the status quo-in the person of an outsider who teaches her to think and feel beyond the safe structure of her "conservative" existence. Many of those other films have portrayed these themes better, and with more chemistry between the principals.

On the eve of Cuba's revolution, a young American woman discovers a passion for dance and for her sultry Cuban partner, Javier. As the two prepare to take their place in a prestigious national dance competition, their bodies align in a sensual harmony that mirrors the growing bond between them. They dominate the dance floor with a sizzling style and rhythm all their own. Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights is nowhere near as good as the original but it's a suprising and well made sequel with both Diego Luna and Romola Garai doing a great job as the leads and Patrick Swayze's cameo as a Dance Class Instructor is more than welcome and if you don't expect something close to the original it's going to suprise you. (7/10)

I'll be brief. I waisted too much time watching this, so I won't waist even more writing a long review. I gave a star because I liked the Cuba song, but that's it. For the rest, such a bad bad bad... EVERYTHING: casting, choreography, acting, directing...etc etc... I wonder what Patrick Swayze had to do with this pathetic imitation of a wonderful memory. They could have picked up another actor, same category with the rest just to fit with their script and leave Patrick S. alone. It was very very disappointing. I could watch "Dirty Dancing", the original one, endlessly ... but this Havana thing... I made a big effort to resist watching it till the end... If you want to see a good movie, pick up the first Dirty Dancing. Simply like that.

Not a sequel!Not really a prequel!Then,what was it?Obviously,it was sort of a remake and a re-imagining. Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights follows the blossoming love affair of young couple Katey and Javier against the backdrop of the Cuban Revolution in 1958.It is a 2004 American musical romance film directed by Guy Ferland that is a "re-imagining" of the 1987 cult classic Dirty Dancing,that features Romola Garai and Diego Luna,is reusing the same basic plot, but transplanting it from upstate New York to Cuba on the cusp of the Cuban Revolution.In the new Dirty Dancing movie,Katey is an American girl living in Cuba with her parents who meets Javier, a local. Javier takes Katey to a nightclub where he teaches her how to dance dirty Cuban-style. The two grow closer and closer, but when Castro takes over, Katey's parents decide to flee for the U.S., leaving Katey to make the ultimate decision. The movie tries to add Cuban flavor to a familiar plot but comes up with nothing more than a bubbling stew of clichés.Although the filmmakers would not want to admit it,it was simply a remake of the original cult classic.Truly,Dirty Dancing has become a brand name.This new film tries to capitalize on that one to provide the viewers the same old film that entertained movies back in the 1980's. But unfortunately,it comes up short.Tying the film together with the classic 1987 original is Patrick Swayze,who appears in a cameo which was both awkward and peculiar.The producers paid him millions for a less-than-five minute scene.It does nothing more but try to link this film to the original.Personally,it only verifies the obvious reasons why his film was made.It would be better for the new generation to rent the original rather than watch this poor man's version of it.