Search - Salsa - The Motion Picture on DVD

Don't buy this movie for the acting; buy it for the dancing!

L. Hawkins | USA | 07/13/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"With a title like "Salsa," you can know what to expect from this movie, and this movie does not disappoint. A young love story, a love quadrangle, and a salsa contest are all plot points to get us to the next dance scene. Fortunately we don't have to wait long between drama interludes to get to all the fun and what this movie is all about! Don't buy this movie for the acting; buy it for the dancing!

Of course, this movie was made in the 80's so you'll see all the trappings of this decade woven through the movie. One could watch this movie as an 80's study. This isn't a detractor, however, from this great dance flick. You'll see bits of 80's specific dancing, 80's style salsa, salsa that transcends decades, "New York" style Salsa, "street" salsa, solo dance numbers, group "line" salsa, and multiple partner switching. Lots of the dancing is timeless and stuff you can incorporate today!

One of the features of this movie is the music performances done by multiple artists of the period. The most notable of them being one each from the amazing, late Celia Cruz and the amazing, late Tito Puente. Their music performances are the backdrop for much of the dancing.

As with all forms of dance, there is snobbery as to how to dance "real" salsa. This is even addressed at one point in the movie when Rico, with his more "street" style and the club owner La Luna, with her more polished "New York" style tell each other that they're not sure if what the other is dancing is "real" salsa. Ha ha! The snobbery in dance is ever living!

You will recognise the club owner in the movie as the same actress in the movie Dirty Dancing who tried to steal Patrick Swayzee's character from Jennifer Gray's. She is reprising a similar role here. Once again, though, don't get this movie for the acting/plot/drama; buy it for the dancing!

[Note One] the acting here isn't terrible and is certainly bearable, it's just not as high quality as that in Dirty Dancing which has a better plot and acting but is not as good in the dance scenes.

[Note Two] this movie has minimal Spanish; it is 95% in English. Most of the Spanish words are the basic ones we all learned from Sesame Street when we were kids."

I loved it!

Johnny Rivera | USA | 12/28/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I remember seeing this movie in the theater and I love it now and I loved it back then. It has so many dance moves that look great... There were so many familiar faces in this movie; I can't help but get up and start dancing myself.. I also bought the soundtrack; and when I hear the songs I get up and dance the night away... If you love salsa; you'll appreciate this movie; especially when you can see and hear music from the late Tito Puente!!"

An 80's Classic

M. Rosa | Boston, MA | 08/30/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I love this movie!! I remember the first time I saw it, I was about 6-7 yrs.old, on a plane & on my way to Puerto Rico. Eighteen (or so) years later, I bought it & watched it with my family, it brought back so many great memories, We loved it all over again. I love the music, the dancing & the actors/actresses, The only reason why I gave it 4 stars is because IT IS AN 80's MOVIE! We all know how 80's dance movies have the bad fame of neing CORNY! I have to admit, it did have some corny and bad acting moments, but all in all, I think this is an amewome movie, I love it & recommend it!"

No major story line, but this is fun and hot ;-)

Little Miss Cutey | Melbourne, Australia | 08/04/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Salsa is a brilliant movie - one of the best movies with no major plot. There is fantastic music and great dancing and a hot guy - what more could you want.

Rico (Robby Rosa and Menudo) wants to win a dance competition that will take him to Puerto Rico. He's also the older and over protective brother to Rita and when she starts dating his best friend Ken, he goes nuts when he finds out (they keep their relationship secret for a while). Will this ruin his chance of winning the dance comp?

As I said earlier, there is fantastic music in this movie. Margarita and Under My Skin are the best. The actual scene when they play Margarita is fantastic. It's a now dated movie, but it is still a favourite of mine that I do watch over and over again still. I love it and any fan of dance movies should love it to - especially if you like that latin flavour."