The Forbidden Dance Is Lambada (1990)

13% of critics liked it
(8 reviews)
76% of users liked it
(4,914 ratings)

When the Brazilian rainforest home of young Princess Nisa (Laura Herring) is threatened by greedy American businesses, she travels to Los Angeles with Joa the shaman (Sid Haig). There Joa is thrown in jail, and Nisa must find a way to stop the rainforest destruction herself. When a young man who… More When the Brazilian rainforest home of young Princess Nisa (Laura Herring) is threatened by greedy American businesses, she travels to Los Angeles with Joa the shaman (Sid Haig). There Joa is thrown in jail, and Nisa must find a way to stop the rainforest destruction herself. When a young man who loves to dance crosses her path, and together they enter a televised lambada contest, Nisa might have found the answer to her prayers. ~ Iotis Erlewine, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 1 hr. 38 min.
Directed By: Greydon Clark
Written By: Roy Langsdon, John Platt
Genres: Drama, Romance, Musical & Performing Arts

In Theaters: Mar 16, 1990 Limited
On DVD: Sep 30, 2003
Studio: Columbia Pictures

Critic Reviews

Michael Dequina, TheMovieReport.com
What's a nubile young monarch to do? Why, head to the States and school the nature-hating, money-grubbing Yanks with some hearty forbidden dancing, of course!
Luis Martinez, Cinenganos
A musical without the spark of classics like Flashdance or Fame.
Scott Weinberg, eFilmCritic.com
The movie feels like Dirty Dancing mixed with an 8-year-old's view of rain forest ecology.

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Featured Audience Ratings

John M

Nice music nothing more nothing less...
Leo L

Quite interesting! A movie from my childhood. Wan's fav. movie!! ;P

Cast

            Laura Harring as Nisa

            Jeff James as Jason

            Sid Haig as Joa

            Richard Lynch as Benjamin Maxwell

            Angela Moya as Carmen

            Miranda Garrison as Mickey

            Tom Alexander as Kurt

            Robert Apisa as Security Guard No. 2

            Kenny Scott Carrie as Jail Cop

            Linden Chiles as Bradley Anderson

            Pilar del Rey as The Queen

            Shannon Farnon as Katherine Anderson

            Kid Creole & the Coconuts
            
            Sabrina Mance as Cami

            Charles Meshack as Eddie

            Gene Mitchell as Cutter

            Ruben Moreno as The King

            Greg Niebel
            
            Remy O'Neill as Robin

            Steven Lloyd Williams as Weed

            Connie Woods as Trish

            John Rice as Mr. Gaines

            Barbra Brighton
            
            Kenny Johnson as Dave

            Barbara Brighton
            
            Laura Herring
            
See full cast