Flashdance

Posted on Apr 30, 2008 By Julia Szabo Comments (1)

Paramount, 1983, 94 minutes

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Screenwriter Joe Eszterhas and director Adrian Lyne have two important things in common: 1) both are lightning rods for cinematic controversy (think Lyne's searing exploration of marital infidelity's consequences in Fatal Attraction, or Eszterhas's kabuki depiction of predatory female sexuality in Basic Instinct) and 2) this movie, the only one on which the two men collaborated.  

Even before the duo tackled the abovementioned picture-show polemics, they cast a controversial canine in this enormously popular extended-play music video. Linking the iconic songs on the movie's soundtrack (featuring vocal stylings by Irene Cara, Laura Branigan, Michael Sembello, and many others) is a Cinderella fable about a gorgeous young Pittsburgh woman named Alex (Jennifer Beals) who works as a welder by day, dances at a nightclub by night, and dreams about becoming a ballerina 24/7.  

The dog chosen to play Alex's canine companion is a pit bull - a dog that, by the time of this movie's filming, had already been marked by the media as public enemy number one. And yet Grunt, as he's called, is presented here not as a menace to society, but as a girl's faithful best friend: a diamond in the ruff. For avoiding the predictably sensational route of demonizing Grunt as a badass beast, this movie and its makers get a gold star. Lyne, Eszterhas, and company bravely swam upstream of some powerful prejudice by depicting a pit as an ordinary dog - and a very good one at that.

Under the tutelage of animal trainer Dennis Grisco, a crop-eared, red-nosed beauty named Jumbo Red turns in a strong, silent performance as Grunt. Like all dogs, this pit bull is a reliable source of unconditional love in an uncertain world. Grunt is also the source of the movie's most appealing moments. Alex's employer/lover Nick (Michael Nouri) is at first intimidated by Grunt; "What was he before he became a dog?" he asks upon meeting him. Soon, Nick and Grunt wind up great friends. And when the heroine meets her happy ending, Grunt is there at Nick's side to cheer her on - dressed for the occasion in a big, red bow.  

The great news is that dogs like Grunt are a dime a dozen at Pittsburgh-area shelters, giving new dimension to the name Pittsburgh. The sad news is that, because of the breed's "vicious" reputation, few see past the horrific newspaper headlines to the tender heart that lies beneath the tough exterior. Here's hoping more potential dog adopters will re-visit this fun fairy-tale flick, because its positive girl-and-her-dog subplot is just what's needed to help reverse the sorry plight of the pit. 

Presence of dogs:
Respect for dogs:
Canine star quality:
Family friendly:

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