A tad mixed-up

Rating: 5/10 (26 July 2003)

This movie appears to be shooting for 60s nostalgia, but comes off as dated-80s fare. Jennifer Grey is consistently dressed in 80s garb and many of the songs are the epitome of bad 80s-pop. Be prepared for a healthy supply of cardboard characters. The conservative parents are ultra-conservative (they ignorantly wornder which section of the world is experiencing hunger this year). And Jennifer's character (named Francis - but inanely called "Baby" - perhaps a nod to Judy Garland?) becomes so worldly-wise so quickly, that only moments after telling us she doesn't think she'll ever meet a man as great as her dad, she lies to him so that she can help a friend's friend that she only met days before. Right. My favorite continuity error: Swayze notes in one scene that just the year before he "was eating jujubes to stay alive". Later, he tells a croud that every year he has always done the last number at the talent contest. Which is it, Pat?