Cast: Jennifer Beals, Michael Nouri, Lilia Skala, Sunny Johnson, Kyle T. Heffner

Director: Adrian Lyne

Thinking of a Valentine Day movie? Flashdance would make the perfect movie date.

A 1983 musical romance drama that has good music and a good story all put into one. You get to see off-the-shoulder sweatshirts, leg warmers, and tight butts and inviting crotches gyrating in extreme close ups. The story revolves around Alex Owens (a very appealing and energetic Jennifer Beals) who is a female dynamo steel worker by day, and an exotic dancer by night. Her dream is to get into a real dance company. The sexy 18-year-old Pittsburgh inhabitant hurries from one job to another. She's in a hurry because she has to get home, change, and get down to Mawby's, a corner bar. It's not a strip club, so her morality remains intact, but she is sought after by many a wannabe dude, but her sights are on dance ballet. Like her grandmother once did.

Alex dates Nick (Michael Nouri), her day-job boss who seriously loves her, but she hardly sees, it until she makes out with him and moves around town in his Porsche. He saves her from the rowdy bar customer who can’t wait to lay his hands on her. Alex practices hard so that she can audition for the upscale, local dance school, even though she knows has no formal training and is inferior to the others in the audition lines. The camera also pans Alex's dance mentor (Lilia Skala) as well as her sister Jeanie (Sunny Johnson), whose dream is to win a figure skating competition.

But our main focus is Alex who swings to songs in the movies and impresses all with her intricate moves and dancing. In the film's famous climax when Alex is auditioning in front of the Pittsburgh Dance and Conservatory Company's selection committee, she stumbles (an audition arranged behind the scenes by her boyfriend, by the way) and recovers only to be given the chance she was waiting for. The gravity defying number leaves the judges dazzled.

Not only are the musical scenes great, the background musical interludes chosen also help set the feeling in many of the scenes... you have songs like ‘Lady, Lady, Lady’ sung by Joe Esposito playing during a tender romantic scene between Alex and her boss, and the favorite ‘I'll Be Here Where The Heart Is’ sung by Kim Carnes played during one of Alex's low points in the film is just superb. Michael Sembello's ‘Maniac’ was also high on ratings.

Giorgio Moroder's score for this dance fantasy album turned into a blockbuster (five million copies and counting) due to the title track, sung by Irene Cara. The Oscar-winning title song just lingers in your head after the movie has ended. You can’t wait until it plays again for it's gotta be the most joyful, uplifting, foot-stompin', head and hip swinging tune ever written for a movie.

The message in the movie is simple. Finding success in life is not just about your talent. It's about your talent plus your ability to snag a rich and powerful boyfriend and put out with him, obviously. The attraction here is youthful spirit and also the pulsating music score. The story is one that any dancer can relate to.

The cinematography on the other hand is great. The movie has captured real life acting, not that polished make seem kind of acting. If you haven't seen it, buy it and see it with the one you really love. GREAT movie.

‘Flashdance’ what a feeling’ indeed.

Rating: *****

-- Reviewed by Verus Ferreira