Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights

Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights has built a devoted following in the US on Hulu and fuboTV among viewers who want their romance taken seriously. The runtime earns every minute, with nothing here that feels like padding. 710 people have weighed in on TMDB, and the verdict leans heavily positive. The chemistry Diego Luna brings to it is the real engine here. Put it on tonight on Hulu and see for yourself.

Part of the current wave of titles people are actually watching, Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights earns its spot. Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights treats its central relationship as something worth taking seriously. In pre-revolution Cuba, Katey Miller is about to defy everyone's expectations. Instead of a parent-approved suitor, Katey is drawn to the sexy waiter, Javier, who spends his nights dancing in Havana's nightclubs. As she secretly learns to dance with Javier, she learns the meanings of love, sensuality and independence. Diego Luna and Romola Garai lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was released in 2004. The relationship at the centre of Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights develops at a pace that feels earned rather than rushed for plot reasons. It delivers reliably on what it promises, which is more than most of its competition manages.

Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights is the kind of thing you watch without apology. It has built its own audience without needing a direct comparison. It is a manageable watch, easy to fit into a single evening. The chemistry Diego Luna brings to it is the engine that drives everything. A rarer quality than it sounds — earning the romantic beats rather than assuming them.