1983 was a significant year for many reasons, and for movie buffs, it marked the release of Staying Alive, the sequel to the iconic Saturday Night Fever. You might be thinking, isn’t that the film where John Travolta and Jamie Lee Curtis share some… intense workout scenes? Actually, that’s Perfect, a different, albeit equally 80s, movie. My initial confusion aside, diving into Staying Alive turned out to be a surprisingly enjoyable experience, leading me to believe I might be one of the few who considers it a worthy successor to Saturday Night Fever. Let me explain why.
Staying Alive movie poster featuring John Travolta in a dance pose, highlighting the 1983 sequel to Saturday Night Fever.
Looking back, it’s easy to forget the inherent campiness of Saturday Night Fever. Beneath the gritty realism, it was still largely defined by John Travolta’s dazzling disco moves in that white suit on a flashing dance floor. It was undeniably cheesy, and wonderfully so. Therefore, when Sylvester Stallone directed Travolta to bring those moves to a Broadway stage in Staying Alive, the question arises: why was that suddenly considered too cheesy? Fans of films like Showgirls can appreciate the spectacle of Tony Manero’s Broadway debut in “Satan’s Alley,” and those with a penchant for yacht rock will find themselves enjoying the soundtrack, which features the vocal talents of Cynthia Rhodes, known for Dirty Dancing. In a way, it’s fun to imagine Penny from Dirty Dancing reinventing herself as a successful Broadway dancer after leaving the Catskills behind. It all adds to the slightly surreal, yet entertaining, world of Staying Alive.
In my previous review of Saturday Night Fever, I suggested pairing it with a Brooklyn cocktail, a twist on the classic Manhattan. Now that Tony Manero has transitioned from Brooklyn to the brighter lights of Manhattan, it’s time for a more sophisticated drink. While watching Staying Alive, I highly recommend sipping on a Metropolitan cocktail.
Metropolitan Cocktail Recipe
Ingredients:
- 2 oz Brandy
- 1 oz Sweet Vermouth
- ½ tsp Simple Syrup
- 2 dashes Angostura Bitters
Instructions:
- Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker filled with ice.
- Shake well until chilled.
- Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
- Garnish with a lemon twist, if desired.
Metropolitan cocktail, a brandy-based drink recommended to enjoy while watching the movie Staying Alive.
Perhaps my positive view of Staying Alive stems from a personal connection to Tony’s journey. At times, I feel like I’m walking a similar path, facing hurdles in my own creative pursuits. Like Tony, I’m hustling, striving to keep my dreams alive. It’s a humbling realization that success doesn’t come easily or quickly for everyone. The feeling of not being quite good enough, or that success is taking too long, can be discouraging. But Staying Alive and Tony Manero remind us of the potential within hard work and perseverance. So, cheers to the dreamers and hustlers!
