Three of a Kind #65

I've just been watching the none-more-eighties dance flick that is Breakin' (or Breakdance: The Movie as it was known in the UK). Clunky script, wafer-thin plot, wooden acting, haphazard editing - what can I say? marvellous! I'd never seen it before but my goodness it's camp! There's as much jazz dancing and prancing about in leotards and leg warmers as there is yer actual break dancing 'n' body popping.

Ahh, the body popping. This took me right back to the school lunchtime discos of my youth when some of my more foolhardy peers used to get up on the stage in the assembly hall in their Nike Wimbledons and Adidas windcheaters and exhibit their risible, home counties attempts at appearing 'street'; sadly, these were more Coronation Street than anything else.

But I digress. It's odd but, for all its faults, Breakin' is actually pretty inspiring, albeit in a cheesy, how-the-hell-did-this-ever-get-commissioned kind of way, and leaves you feeling inexplicably cheerful and optimistic afterwards. Maybe that's just the fantastic eighties soundtrack working it's magic, though, I dunno.

Anyway, here's a typical scene from the film, in which the gang all strut their stuff and resolve their differences to the musical accompaniment of Rufus & Chaka Khan. (if only the Israelis and the Palestinians could get together and try something similar.)



And here's a sprinkling of other songs from the soundtrack. Just mind you don't do yerself a mischief spinning on the living room floor, old timer!

Ollie & Jerry - Breakin'... There's No Stoppin' Us mp3

Carol Lynn Townes - 99.5 mp3

3-V - Heart Of The Beat mp3

Watch Breakin' in its entirety (albeit in the usual bite-sized chunks) on YouTube.