Staying Alive (1983)
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0% of critics liked it
(20 reviews) -
42% of users liked it
(17,559 ratings)
Director Sylvester Stallone proves you really can't go home again in Staying Alive, the absurd sequel to Saturday Night Fever. The story finds Tony Manero (Travolta) six years later working as a waiter in a nightclub while he tries to realize his dreams of dancing on Broadway (what tough street… More Director Sylvester Stallone proves you really can't go home again in Staying Alive, the absurd sequel to Saturday Night Fever. The story finds Tony Manero (Travolta) six years later working as a waiter in a nightclub while he tries to realize his dreams of dancing on Broadway (what tough street kid from Brooklyn doesn't?) He eventually makes the cut as an extra for "Satan's Alley" (billed as "a musical trip through Hell") and immediately sets his sights on the show's snooty prima-donna star (Finola Hughes, decidedly unsuited for such dancing as her role requires). Meanwhile, the nice girl he's been seeing (Cynthia Rhodes) stands by her man, waiting patiently for him to come around. When the male lead can't cut it, Tony is offered the part, and tensions rise. The action culminates in the show itself and Tony's ultimate realization that he needs to please only himself. Indeed, the horrific dancing combined with Frank Stallone's inane musical score makes one wonder just how accurate the show's billing of "a musical trip through Hell" actually is. As long as one disassociates this film from its predecessor, Staying Alive is highly enjoyable for its schlock value; it may well be an inadvertent camp classic for Travolta's sweaty thongs alone. As for Stallone's direction and screenwriting abilities, he proves he is better off to remain an underdog prize-fighter/ commie-killer/mercenary cop/ double-fisted union leader/etc... ~ Jeremy Beday, Rovi
- Directed By
- Sylvester Stallone
- Genres
- Drama, Romance, Musical & Performing Arts
- In Theaters
- Jul 15, 1983 Wide
- Studio
- Paramount Home Video
Critic Reviews
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Variety Staff, Variety
The bottom line is that Staying Alive is nowhere as good as its 1977 predecessor, Saturday Night Fever.
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Stephen Garrett, Time Out
All could be forgiven if it weren't for the soulless overall slickness.
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Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
A slick, commercial cinematic jukebox, a series of self-contained song-and-dance sequences that could be cut apart and played forever on MTV -- which is probably what will happen.
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Janet Maslin, New York Times
A sequel with no understanding of what made its predecessor work.
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, Film4
Tracking Travolta's adventures as he gets to perform on Broadway and falls in and out of love, director Stallone is in his mindless mode when it comes to characterization.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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John Travolta
as Tony Manero
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Cynthia Rhodes
as Jackie
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Finola Hughes
as Laura
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Steve Inwood
as Jesse
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Julie Bovasso
as Mrs. Manero
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Frank Stallone
as Carl
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Steve Bickford
as Sound Technician
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Bill Burns
as Dancer
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Dennis Daniels
as Dancer
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Norma Donaldson
as Fatima
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Jess Doran
as Mark
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Joyce Hyser
as Linda
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Deborah Jensen
as Margaret
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Reggie Leon
as Dancer
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Ben Lokey
as Dancer
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Robert Martini
as Fred
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Sarah Miles
as Joy
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Kurtwood Smith
as Choreographer
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Peter Tramm
as Dancer
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Charles Ward
as Butler
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Tony Munafo
as Doorman
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Nell Alano
as Dancer
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Erica Jordan
as Dancer
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Polly O'Malley
as Dancer
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Ross St. Phillip
as Sound Man
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Michelle Johnston
as Dancer
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Pat Brady
as Derelict
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Cindy Perlman
as Cathy
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Michael Higgins
as Dancer

