Alex (Jennifer Beals) is an 18 year-old welder who spends her nights dancing at a bar (not stripping per se, despite what first impressions might imply). Her dream is to someday apply for and get into the Pittsburgh Conservatory of Dance, but a lack of any actual formal training keeps her hopes and spirits low on that matter.
When Nick Hurley (Michael Nouri) walks into her bar and falls in love, he is surprised to find out that she is one of his welders at the construction site. The two's relationship has a slow start, but eventually they hit it off and start spending all their free time together.
While Nick and Alex's relationship buds, we get a look at both Nick and Alex's world. Nick goes to the ballet with his ex-wife (though Alex gets the wrong impression when she sees them together), meanwhile, Alex works to keep her friends from going to a real strip bar.
What makes this movie so unique is the various high-energy dance scenes and the classic 80's music. Between songs like "She's a Maniac" and "I Love Rock and Roll," if there is one thing this movie can do, it's make you want to get up and dance... well, maybe not actually dance, but it could get you moving in your seat a bit.
While I like most of the movies that have been released under the "I Love the 80's" collection, in pretty much all cases, the special features have been less than great. In this case, there aren't any whatsoever. They also all come with the same bonus CD featuring four songs from the 80's. These are "Lips Like Sugar" (Echo & the Bunnymen), "Chain of Love" (Erasure), "Need You Tonight" (INXS) and "Take On Me" (a-ha). With this movie in particular, it would have been great if that bonus disc featured songs from the movie instead of the same disc. I would have loved a CD with the most popular songs from this movie. Instead, if you've picked up any other I Love the 80's DVDs, then you already have these songs.
If you are a fan of Flashdance or the 80's in general, then the movie is a must buy, but this particular version just doesn't compare to the recently released Special Collector's Edition. Don't pick up this version if the better release is available.
