Couch Potato Pickings
On BBC1 tonight at 11.40pm
Fans will always pay up to try and squeeze a little but more out of their favourite movie and unsurprisingly Dirty Dancing 2 (also known as Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights) did far better on its 2004 opening weekend than its widely-adored predecessor did in 1987.
With the exception of the High School Musical franchise, sequels to musical films rarely live up to the reputation of the original versions, do they?
Nevertheless, I totally understand why filmmakers make them. They’re guaranteed to give return on investment, even if they do fade out of public consciousness as quickly as they entered it.
So, here’s my Top 5 list of musical sequels best forgotten:
1. Grease 2
Michelle Pfeiffer and Maxwell Caulfield probably could have stepped into Olivia and John's shoes, but they were let down by forgettable music, poor choreography and a weak plot.
2. Return to Oz
Without Judy, what's the point?
3. Funny Lady
OK, this actually isn't best forgotten, but while Barbra Streisand's film debut Funny Girl is widely regarded as a stunning musical, this sequel (despite Barbra's excellent performance and great songs) just isn't as well-known or celebrated as the 1968 original.
Hmm, this was a sequel to Prince’s Purple Rain apparently. I have to admit, it totally passed me by.
The original was all about the chemistry between Baby and Johnny. Even though Swayze has a cameo in this, it just doesn’t capture the spark of the original.
There are plenty of great musical movies out there and it's scary to think that any of them could be given sequels one day. What, in your opinion, would be the biggest musical sequel crime?
