Two New Year’s Eves ago, my boyfriend and I were partying with friends in a teeny apartment when talk turned to Dirty Dancing.
Next thing I knew, my boyfriend was standing at one end of the mini kitchen, arms braced, as my friend Helen catapulted herself gleefully towards him in an attempt to recreate that wonderful scene.
(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life may have been playing.
They totally nailed it — for about half a second, until my boyfriend tilted backwards and Helen’s head went straight into the fridge.
We all learned a lesson that night: Don’t drink and lift.
However, Baby herself, actress Jennifer Grey, says that actually, probably just don’t do it. Ever.
“I don’t know how all these people who re-enact it have the guts to throw themselves into the arms of anyone other than Patrick Swayze. It’s insane!” she told The Guardian.
“It happened, enjoy it, watch it over and over again but never ask me to do it again because I’m too fucking old… I have a family and I want to live longer.”
Sage words, Jennifer.
Watch the iconic scene here. I dare you not to smile-cry… Post continues after video.
“I only did it on the day I shot it. Never rehearsed it, never done it since,” she said.
That’s pretty amazing. They didn’t rehearse that scene? It didn’t take weeks of practice?
We can only really put that down to the Patrick Swayze effect.
