Sweating the Sequel: Was Staying Alive a Tony Manero Evolution or a Stallone Family Favor?

In May of 2023, I finally watched a movie that had already impacted my life in other ways. Many folks my age grew up with parents emerging from the Disco Era- and some were still knee-deep. Based on box office alone, a ton of these Boomers saw ‘Saturday Night Fever’ in 1977, my parents certainly included. They loved the movie, they loved the styles, they loved the music. They had the gatefold vinyl soundtrack, and I loved looking at all the bright colors and exaggerated fashions printed on the cardboard. They even bought the “Sesame Street Fever” album for my brother and I, and we Travolta-d our way around the family room carpet from time to time. Having these memories, as well as the perspective of listening to the soundtrack for decades- the film itself really had to live up to the hype created in my mind, and ohhhhh boy did it.

I absolutely *loved* ‘Saturday Night Fever’; however, that is in spite of the occasional discomfort the story presents, primarily in the way that the protagonists treat women like absolute garbage, up to and including assault. But hey, this isn’t a full-on review of ‘SNF’. Let’s talk the Sly Stallone-helmed and co-written sequel. Yes, that’s Stallone and Travolta working together, manifesting testosterone out of thin air. You know it’s gonna be sweaty, because NOBODY sweats like those two dudes. ‘Staying Alive’ doesn’t disappoint in that regard, and the film almost plays like a full-on advertisement for Ban roll-on deodorant.

Pertinent to ask is the question of whether or not we really needed to see more from the Tony Manero character. I found nothing lacking at the end of the first film, but if one were so inclined to see more, at least Stallone and his writing partner Norman Wexler (who penned the first) tried to give Travolta more of a mature character arc. He’s still a brute, but an incredibly talented dancer. This time around, instead of dominating his local discotheque, he’s attempting the leap to full-on Broadway. As I understand it, that’s a high-stakes, breakneck competition that the juvenile mind of Tony Manero would have difficulty overcoming.

If nothing else, ‘Staying Alive’ is a worthy attempt to see this character advance through the next stage of his life, while getting some new Bee Gees songs. While not the juggernaut of the original, this still did very well at the box office. Although the soundtrack absolutely pales in comparison, an effort was made. The Bee Gee’s “I Love You Too Much” is the best of a stale collection of songs, including multiple lame Frank Stallone entries. It’s fair to ask- did Sly Stallone direct this because he was attracted to the story, or did he see it as a solid excuse to help his brother’s career?