Though Oscar-winning screenwriter Diablo Cody's completed projects include just Juno, Jennifer's Body, and the Showtime series United States of Tara (plus a little gem entitled Father Approved), the 31-year-old's varied viewing tastes are well-known. In the past she has championed classic horror, There Will Be Blood, Mamma Mia, and the updated 90210 -- a piquant platter! Somehow, the explanation of her all-time favorite cinematic scene combines elements of all four -- and a tribal ceremony. And Jennifer Grey.
"I feel like I will get mocked for answering the scene in Dirty Dancing where Penny and Baby are dancing together while Johnny gazes at them from the floor," Cody said. "I think the Baby/Johnny/Penny triad is far more complex then people realize. Think of the phrase 'And baby makes three' as it applies to this dynamic. Baby is symbolically borne of Penny's botched abortion. She becomes a constant mewling, needy presence in their lives. They teach her to 'walk' -- read, "dance," and she is reliant on the sound of a human heartbeat for comfort: gah-gung. The ending is like a tribal naming ceremony, where Johnny finally addresses her as Frances. Look at Penny's red leotard. Umbilical cord blood, anyone? Scarlet woman, anyone? In the dancing scene, Johnny watches as Baby copies her mother's steps, even wearing a matching outfit. I could go on all day. Also, it's kind of hot in a lesbian way."
Since YouTube is a feisty bandit that disables embedding, you'll have to click here for the entire tribal experience. Can someone please scan the Sweet Valley High series for less-than-obvious naming ceremony metaphors?