"Army bases are pretty dead, unless you're in the army, so I always had plenty of time to dream. My dream was always the same: That one day, I was going to get to Chicago. Because that's where they make Dance TV..." That opening line has, and always will signify that for the next ninety minutes I will remain in a vegetative state, with a goofy smile on my face, fighting the urge to jump out of my seat and dance around in my lounge room.

I really do love these movies, and I'm not ashamed to say that. I have Footloose, Flashdance, plus countless other 80's dance movies and I have seen them all a million times, but I haven't watched any of them as much as I have watched Girls Just Want To Have Fun. I have older sisters, and I probably first saw this movie when I was about six years old, and I have watched it religiously ever since. It was a blessing when I got my DVD, and I've enjoyed re-introducing it to people who enjoyed it when they were younger too, but had sadly forgotten all about it. (That's you Lana!") I decided I'd crack out the ol' laptop and slap down a review for one of my favourite cheeseball classics, that no matter how I feel before I put it on, always makes me happy.

Janie Glen is the daughter of a strict ex army general who has just moved to Chicago. Janie "loves to dance" (which she tells her new classmates in a dreamy, faraway voice) and coincidentally that day, Dance TV in Chicago announces a competition to choose two new Dance TV regulars to star on their show. Janie's love of dancing quickly endears her to "cool girl" Lynne Stone (and she's gonna change it as soon as she's old enough). Lynne convinces Janie to go against her fathers wishes and audition for DTV. Lynne's audition really bombs out and she gets cut from the running, I'm still tossing it up as to whether it was the doing of resident bitch and DTV hopeful, rich girl Natalie Sands paying Lynne's partner to ambush her or the giant green plastic grasshopper she had on her hat. Ahh the 80's were great for all the wrong reasons.

Janie of course is a spectacular dancer, or possibly gymnast, but who can tell? and is of course picked for the finals despite turning up for the audition in her catholic school uniform. She's partnered up with (mildly) bad boy Jeff. He wears tank tops and rides a motorcycle therefore he's a rebel! Just kidding. I love Jeff Malene, and I think he is a huge spunk and a funky dancer, or rather his dancing double is funky. But looking too much into that will ruin the magic!. Lee Montgomery really should have become a huge star like the rest of these then unknown teens, instead of disappearing into oblivion after that movie when he had sex with some guys wife. Janie and Jeff don't get along, but they have to work together if they want to make it to DTV. Meanwhile, Natalie has developed an eye for Jeff and invited him to her debutante ball.

Seeing this as a perfect opportunity to get back at Natalie for costing her the audition spot, Lynne snatches the invitation from Jeff's friend Drew at the mall, stating "There's a few people Natalie forgot to invite!". After a quick trip to Kinko's, Janie, Lynne and Jeff's sister Maggie (a VERY young Shannon Doherty) are out on the street handing out invites to as many punks and weirdos as they can. Needless to say, Natalie's party is ruined, even though it does appear to be a lot more fun after the degenerates rock up. Natalie swears war on Janie and begins to try to convince her father to fix the competition.

Jeff is impressed by Janie's party efforts and they begin to spend more and more time together, dancing and falling in love. (Group Awwwwwwwww). The competition is drawing closer and as Jeff leaves rehearsal one night he is stopped by JP Sands (Natalie's father), who tells Jeff if he dances in the competition, he will put his fathers job at the factory he owns, on the line.

Things all start to go bad, as Jeff and Janie fight about the contest and Jeff pulls out. Janie leaves to sneak back into her house and is busted by her parents who ground her and chop down the tree she was climbing down to leave each night. Jeff's dad then assures him that if he can win he should dance, and he gets the message to Janie who is still grounded and needs a plan. Can Janie get out of the house, make it on time to the studio and beat the conniving Natalie to become a new DTV regular? Well I've explained the rest of the movie, ya might as well watch the last 15 minutes or so by yourself!

You might notice that the "dancing" isn't really dancing and is pretty much just gymnastics to music, but what the hell. It's all in good fun. Lots of punk and new wave fashion and an awesome definitive 80's feeling. Kind of makes me wish I was old enough to have enjoyed the 80's properly!

I know that movies like this are an absolute no-brainer and good will always triumph over evil and obnoxious, but predictability aside, this movie has a warm, fun and cheerful vibe which meakes it a great Sunday afternoon mindless entertainment flick. Made in 1985, this film has very early appearances from Sarah Jessica Parker, Helen Hunt, Shannon Doherty and even Robert Downey Jr! If you love the 80's (like me!) its a movie you can watch over and over!