MovieChat Forums > Staying Alive (1983) Discussion > 'Guilty Pleasure' movie

'Guilty Pleasure' movie

posted 17 years ago by rondine
17 replies | jump to latest

I have seen several people on this board that hate & totally slam this movie- that's cool, it's not for everyone and no movie is.

That said, I call this movie a "guilty pleasures" movie because while it has no real redeeming quality to it, it is enjoyable and like another poster said, I watch it everytime it comes on.
I actually got a copy of it at CCity for $9.99 w/Saturday Night Fever as separate disks.

What can I say, main character has charisma, the itch-bay has one great line, "everybooudy uses everybooudy!" and the heroine is beautiful and she can sing AND dance AND act!!!!
Good songs too, by Bee Gees & Sly's brother.

just sit back & enjoy, not everything is Judgement at Nuremberg! :) (which IS a great movie!)

[–] cpwjewel 17 years ago

I totally agree. I saw it at a time in my life when I was on the fence about a relationship. I saw the part with Cynthia Rhoades, where she is singing and a tear rolls down her cheek, because he has stood her up yet again(the song is "finding out the hard way"). When she said to him "I can't always be second choice" and dumps him, I started bawling and knew what I needed to do. It just has such sentimental value to me on a personal level, and I really think Cynthia Rhoades is such a talented lady.

[–] rondine 17 years ago

I totally agree- and I know what it's like to feel like someone is treating you like 2nd choice. AND I know what it's like to be sitting in a movie when you have a "real life intersection" with a movie. I was going through a divorce when I saw "American Beauty" and when she said that line, "you're old enough to learn the most important lesson in life: you can't count on anybody but yourself- it's sad but true." And after 10 years with this man I loved then to find he was cheating on me, I felt exactly the same way- I was dropping tears in the theater at that point.

Also in Stayin' Alive, I think the script was pretty good and Cynthia totally makes you believe in her feelings and her pain. TOTALLY UNDERRATED actress! I'm bummed she left movies for her family & kids- I think she could've been a HUGE star, talented, singer, dancer, beautiful and a lovely sincereness that permeated her roles. But I do respect her decision, just sad for the rest of us... oh well, at least we have her in a few flicks!

[–] crappola515 17 years ago

Totally agree. I own the DVD and the Soundtrack. I can't believe it's been almost 25 years!

Sure, as a sequal to Saturday Night Fever, it's a little odd. But as a standalone, it's very enjoyable. I loved the soundtrack.

Vic Mackey: "God creates all men equal. Out of the womb, he starts playing favorites."

[–] rondine 17 years ago

I agree, and yes, I have both too! :)

[–] dkgambler 17 years ago

This is a great guilty pleasure movie...a lot of the dialogue is cringe worthy and that's what makes it that way.

Commando is the all time greatest guilty pleasure movie.

[–] rondine 17 years ago

I would agree with you about the dialog... but there is still some of it I like- like when his girlfriend says that if an accent made you smart Sly would be Einstein...and another favorite when the lead dancer says, "everyboody uses everyboody!" in that accent, it just cracks me up!

but while I do not as yet have an "absolute" greatest ever guilty pleasure movie, I'm willing to say this one isn't it. Commando sounds like a good choice. Actually I like that movie "Hot Stuff" with Dom DeLuise & Jerry Reed & Suzanne Pleshette - it's got no real redeeming qualities- I just like it! :)

[–] Tee34 17 years ago

from the : "So bad its good at 7 am on HBO" department.

This may sound crazy but, in 83 it was slammed, but as the clock ticks on, it has gained strength against the crap out there today, still, remember, it was slammed.

[–] Beaubelle 17 years ago

Sure it was slammed, it was so different from Saturday Night Fever. But when you think that Tony is six years older and dancing for a living, trying to break into the toughest dancers' market in the world--Broadway, for heaven's sakes, then of course it has to be a different type of movie. I always say that Saturday Night Fever is about doing what you love; Staying Alive is about what happens when what you love becomes what you do.

[–] 17 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Mark_Graisons_Moustache 16 years ago

I love "Staying Alive" and although it's not as good of a film as "Saturday Night Fever," if I had to pick one to take with me to a room for the rest of my life, I would pick this one. I call it an '80s "Showgirls." I think that fits pretty well.

"They're all homosexuals who have been castrated!"

[–] Doom 16 years ago

I've always liked this film - never understood why it's gotten such a bad rap.

------

Wait a minute... who am I here?

[–] Artificial-Soldier 16 years ago

""never understood why it's gotten such a bad rap""

Dude, you do know its final act is called Satan's Alley...

[–] Mark_Graisons_Moustache 14 years ago

BUMP

"I've flown this route before."
"When was that?"
"IT WAS ON THE WINGS OF A DEMON!"

[–] gilbert cantu 16 years ago

I remember seeing this movie in theaters when it came out back in the early 80's with my older sister and her friends. I was probably about 7 years old and don't remember much about it until I saw it again recently with my wife. We love this movie! The music, clothing and the way they talk really take you back to a great era. It definitely is one of those guilty pleasure movies. There are so many older 80's movies out there that fall in that same category for me personally. Like, Breakin 1&2, BMX Bandits, The Peanut Butter Solution, Flash Gordon, Footloose etc.

My favorite quote from the movie, "Hey is everything allright, Yeah everything's allright she's in good hands! Oh what are you Allstate pal? Yeah you want disability?" LOL!!!!

[–] The_Goodfellah 16 years ago

totally agree with you , but why no redeeming quality ?
when tony makes his solo, well I think that means something

Nothing is more beautiful than nothing.
Having socks in your mouth doesn't make you a good actor.

[–] rondine 16 years ago

you are right... this movie, with all its cheese and corn isn't a movie with NO redeeming qualities. (I think I was being too harsh on my original post - I have seen some that seemed to be close and this isn't one of them!)

I agree that Tony learning to behave more like an adult, work with others and even be independent is a good thing.

still... it's a bit of cheese- but if you only knew how much I like cheese! :)

[–] ELashes 13 years ago

I know this is a terrible movie, objectively speaking (as the OP said it has no redeeming quality) but I enjoy it much more than Saturday Night Fever, because Staying Alive is a feel good movie in the end and SNF is such a downer.

Also, the way she pronounces the word "everybody" in that line is hilarious.