Dirty Dancing movie ?

[Encantooooo]

Would you say this was suitable for a 9 yo?

If you ever try to describe the plot to someone, you find that it is basically all about abortion.

@TirednessButHappiness

I’d let DD watch it at 9 on the basis that I saw it at 8 and absolutely loved it…. watched it pretty much daily for ages.

The more adult themes went totally over my head at that age and I just loved the music and dancing.

I think this is the thing when people talk about suitability, they are seeing it with adult eyes and are aware of themes which younger people would miss. Having said that, I'll never forget a teaching colleague of mine who, when we were talking about Ghost, asked What potter's wheel scene/ She must have gone to the loo.

I'm incredibly lax but no - the abortion scene would need a lot of explaining and while I very much want to make sure that the next generation understand how important the fight for reproductive rights is, I don't think nine is quite old enough for that discussion.

Don't waste her time, it's a shite film.

Another one here who watched it at a similiar age (in fact I think I might have even been older) and the abortion storyline went over my head. Tbh I would let my DD watch it at that age even if I thought she'd understand perfectly. There's nothing graphic in it.

@LadyMacduff

I wouldn't show it to my kids but I loved it myself at that age and watched it loads.

Did you, at that ago, understand all the themes? I recall my daughter being horrified when her daughter wanted to see it, about 12, I gently pointed out that she'd been a few months younger when she saw it at a sleep-over.

It’s a 15, why not just let them watch one of the many films that are age appropriate? Grease has been mentioned, it’s no way as explicit and is a PG!

No.

Hi, really interesting points for and against. I don't remember there being racist themes, though. Happy to be educated if I missed them.

Yes. It's much more innocent than what they watch on TikTok etc

@Hasselhoffsheadband

I would let a 9 year old watch it - mainly because I watched it around that age and the Penny abortion storyline went completely over my head and I just loved the music and the dancing! May also want to fast forward the sex scene as well.

Yes I think this. Watch it first to see you’re happy but I’d say it’s fine,

I've never understood why a film about a man wanting to have an sex with a teenager is so popular with women or why they'd want to show it to their children

@LizzieSiddal

And I know I’ll be in the minority but I hated the film. Thought the male character was a creep!

Me too. I don't get it at all. He is a creep!

Don't waste her time, it's a shite film.

This^

Yes. It's much more innocent than what they watch on TikTok etc

Well any parent doing their job would be ensuing their 9 Year old is not doing that.

I wouldn't have a problem with that. I saw it at a similar age but, like others, completely missed the abortion storyline. My 9 yo has, seen most of it but was pretty disinterested tbh. Think he asked to go to bed, iirc.

No.

Why not just watch one of the other many many films that are age-appropriate? There is loads of content out there for kids that doesn’t include abortion, paid-for sex and exploitation of some (and men). Disney/Pixar is your friend!

Jesus christ no

I watched it at that age. Didn't understand the abortion scene, age meant nothing. But then my kids have phones, tablets, tiktok etc so my parenting doesn't always suit here Dirty dancing is an amazing film. The only issue I'd see is it's a bit dated.

@tabbycatstripy

It's like Grease, isn't it? I watched it at 8/9 and I didn't understand Rizzo thought she was pregnant or that there were jokes about sex. I just liked the songs.

Yes, this was me too with Grease. Didn't understand a lot of the stuff going on - and the lyrics to 'Greased Lightening' and 'Sandra Dee' 😳 but I was only interested in John Travolta

I would, I did at that age, it wasn't till years later that I understood the more adult storylines so i really dont think thats an issue at all. I loved the music and the dancing.

Try Dirty Dancing 2- Havana Nights instead

It's basically the same film but with a PG rating

(It's also so bad it has to be seen to be believed)

Another one who watched it as a child, hundreds of times and it all went over my head. Only realised at about 15 or 16 penny had an abortion.
All the talky bits were boring. We were only there for the dancing

It's shite

@Encantooooo

Are you the same poster who enquired previously whether the movie was suitable for an 8 year old?