To celebrate the release of Nick Frost’s new all dancing comic caper, Cuban Fury, we are going to look at five of our favourite dancing show-downs where film-stars swap their pistols for stylish pivots to show off their machismo. Real men can dance.
1) West Side Story - The Jets vs The Sharks
It’s safe to say that Leonard Bernstein’s modern musical adaptation of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet will go down as one of the most successful musical franchises of all time.
Adapted for the silver screen in 1961, the opening prologue sees New York City’s most prominent gangs, the Jets and the Sharks, clash in an urban turf war brought to life through the medium of expertly choreographed dance.
As the young gang members, pirouette, dive, kick and pounce athletically across the urban landscape, the resulting effect is surprisingly violent.
This opening scene was hilariously mimicked in Anchorman: the legend of Ron Burgundy (2004), although they ditched the dancing in favour wonderfully comedic dialogue and general anarchy!
2) Grease - Dance off at the Gym
The televised ‘Dance in the Gym’ at Rydell High has inspired young teens to jump on their feet and boogie for over three decades!
The only difference between our summer proms and this legendary scene in Grease is that our local school halls lacked the presence of two hundred professional dancers!
When a young John Travolta arrives on the scene, locked arm in arm with his sweetheart, Sandy, Danny is forced to ditch his poor date in favour of a steamy, competition winning dance with his fiery ex-lover, Cha-Cha.
It’s a memorable scene that will be enjoyed for years to come.
3) Austin Powers: Goldmember - Opening Scene
The international Man of Mystery, Austin Powers, engages in a heated dance off with none other than Britney Spears! It’s a memorable opening scene where Austin and Britney (who is secretly a ‘fembot’ in disguise) go tet-a-tet with their suggestive dance moves.
It’s Austin who triumphs though, as he counteracts the bullets that appear from the fembot’s cleavage with his relentless mojo!
4) Cuban Fury - The Car Park Dance-off
It’s the scene that is going to have audiences in stitches this February! It’s the classic showdown between two men with a common desire for a lady named Julia.
Only the victor of this epic battle can take her hand. So they believe!
There is one subtle difference though, there are no punches being thrown between Nick Frost and Chris O’Dowd, instead, they swing their hips and engage in a salsa battle fraught with hand swipes, quick feet and even an aggressive bite! It’s fair to suggest that Nick Frost’s moves are slick and very well rehearsed.
5) House Party - The Dance Scene
If there was any dance scene that summed up the 90’s in 3 minutes, this legendary scene from House Party features crazy clothes, ambitious buzz-cuts and enough booty shakin’ to put Miley Cyrus to shame.
It’s nostalgic, fun and even features a little cameo from Bad Boys actor, Martin Lawrence, who plays the party DJ dropping the 90’s vibes. It’s refreshing viewing.
Cuban Fury is out in UK cinemas now
Tagged in Grease