So many people trash this film. But this is a very worthy sequel. It's 6 years after the events of Saturday Night Fever. The disco era is over and Tony Manero has been forced as we all are to grow up. He has moved to Manhattan (as he said at the end of Saturday Night Fever) found direction for his life. In Saturday Night Fever he was a young man ruled by hormones, without direction (primarily because he could not see beyond the poverty and saw no future), hopeless, and treated women horrible. In Staying Alive he's a much more mature person who has grown up he's found that he can give dance lessons for a living and he has learn to dance with his dream of being on Broadway. Tony still struggles with commitment and how he treats women. He still has the smart mouth attitude and students still Tony. But by the end of the movie it's obvious he's found out what true commitment means and how it made him a better person. I love the romance and change we see in Tony throughout the movie. Plus I think it's refreshing that we get to see that Tony Manero has a future and it leaves us with knowing that he made something up himself and his dancing. It's truly a very positive film. While its not a blockbuster and never will be anything like Saturday Night Live or Urban Cowboy, its a good movie as a follow up to Saturday Night Live because really where else could you go with that movie except to see him as a grown up 6 years later. By the end of Staying Alive Tony has realized his dream of dancing in a Broadway show, learn what true love and commitment means, makes amends with his guilt over how he treated his family and his mother in the past, and he's found his place in the world. And you get to see what what a fantastic dancer that Tony Manero (aka John Travolta) really is. It was a great choice to use Bee Gees music to tie the movie to Saturday Night Fever. If you watch this movie remembering that it is 6 years later and is about where Tony and the world is now and you live dancing and a great back story including an adult romance you will enjoy this movie but just don't think it's going to be like Saturday Night Fever. I love that they included his mother in this movie it was a small but very important scene. Also her reaction when she sees him dance on Broadway and says, "Where did he learn to do this stuff?".
Review of Staying Alive
