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.

I personally loved this movie, I loved the Cuban twist, I loved the music, the beats, and the dancing. Neither of the main characters had dance experience but wound up lighting up the screen. They had a great connection between them.I had to re-watch this movie after watching the ABC remake of the original Dirty Dancing. My soul needed to be cleansed.Just a few comments: This is NOT a remake of the original Dirty Dancing, nor is this a sequel. The original Dirty Dancing took place in 1963. Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights takes place in 1958.For those upset that it didn't match up to the original? It wasn't supposed to. Unlike the original Dirty Dancing, this one is actually loosely based on the true life of producer JoAnn Fregalette Jensen who moved to Cuba with her family in 1958.If you didn't like this movie, then "Si. Yous a square."

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.

The story is a rendition of the original Dirty Dancing of 1987, with some of its own flavor as well. Set with the back-drop of Cuban revolution in 1958, the movie opens with Katey, an upper American girl's visit to Havana with her parents. As it turns out Katey was a true book lover and never took dance as her object of interest. Katey finds herself stranger amongst the fun-loving Cuban society.Oneday while strolling across the streets, she meets a club waiter, Javier(whom she met earlier) dancing to the tunes of cool Cuban locals. Katey soon find interest in the charming Javier and the amusing dance forms in Havanan clubs of Cuba. When Javier gets fired due to his interaction with Katey, she offers to help Javier and tries to convince Javier to enter the palace club dance contest with her to end his misery.The chemistry between the two charismatic dancers kicks off after a few early glitches when Katey was circumspect about Javier touching her body. Soon she learns to flow like the motion of waves and let go her fear and atrocities. On the eve of Christmas, much to her parent's utter dismay(as they thought Katey dating well-suited Phleps and not indigent Javier) and surprise (being great dancers themselves), Katey and Javier dances their way to qualify for the prestigious final of dance competition. There are a few glimpses of melodrama oozing out at few instances, when the love across class boundaries is not received well by both the families. As the name suggests there is some fine blend of "dirty" sensual Cuban dancing and classical salsa to some upbeat grooving tunes.The movie ends on a little dramatic note as well when Katey had to part ways as Cuba got liberated from Batista's regime. But the dialogues where Javier promises to keep a part of Katey with him at home(Cuba) and Katey to take a part of Javier with her to America touches audience's heart soothingly. The film ends on a good note when the couple became 'the king and the queen' at the floors of the local Havanan Club and optimistically opines that it was definitely not their last dance together.The movie may lack some originality in its story line which is made up by good direction and dance sequences. It may-not contain any mind-blowing dance sequence or body hugging sensual dance but it is elegant, smooth and beautiful in its own way, a definite treat for music and dance lovers.