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Lambada

  • 1990
  • PG
  • 1h 44m
IMDb RATING
3.5/10
1.2K
YOUR RATING
Melora Hardin and J. Eddie Peck in Lambada (1990)
Kevin Laird is a Beverly Hills school teacher by day and a mystery man by night. Using his lambada dance moves to first earn the kid's respect and acceptance, Kevin then teaches them academics. But when a jealous student exposes Kevin's double life, his two worlds collide, threatening his job and reputation.
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Drama

Kevin Laird is a Beverly Hills school teacher by day and a mystery man by night. Using his lambada dance moves to first earn the kid's respect and acceptance, Kevin then teaches them academi... Read allKevin Laird is a Beverly Hills school teacher by day and a mystery man by night. Using his lambada dance moves to first earn the kid's respect and acceptance, Kevin then teaches them academics. But when a jealous student exposes Kevin's double life, his two worlds collide, threat... Read allKevin Laird is a Beverly Hills school teacher by day and a mystery man by night. Using his lambada dance moves to first earn the kid's respect and acceptance, Kevin then teaches them academics. But when a jealous student exposes Kevin's double life, his two worlds collide, threatening his job and reputation.

  • Director
    • Joel Silberg
  • Writers
    • Joel Silberg
    • Sheldon Renan
  • Stars
    • J. Eddie Peck
    • Melora Hardin
    • Adolfo Quinones
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    3.5/10
    1.2K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Joel Silberg
    • Writers
      • Joel Silberg
      • Sheldon Renan
    • Stars
      • J. Eddie Peck
      • Melora Hardin
      • Adolfo Quinones
    • 14User reviews
    • 18Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 1:10
    Official Trailer

    Photos118

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    Top cast35

    Edit
    J. Eddie Peck
    J. Eddie Peck
    • Kevin 'Blade' Laird
    Melora Hardin
    Melora Hardin
    • Sandy Thomas
    Adolfo Quinones
    Adolfo Quinones
    • Ramone
    • (as Shabba Doo)
    Leticia Vasquez
    • Pink Toes
    Dennis Burkley
    Dennis Burkley
    • Uncle Big
    Rita Bland
    Rita Bland
    • Lesley
    Jimmy Locust
    • Ricochet
    Gina Ravera
    Gina Ravera
    • Funk Queen
    • (as Gina Ravarra)
    Matt Feemster
    Matt Feemster
    • Rudy Laird
    Kristina Starman
    • Linda Laird
    Basil Hoffman
    Basil Hoffman
    • Supt. Leland
    Kayla Blake
    Kayla Blake
    • Bookworm
    • (as Elsie Sniffen)
    Ricky Paull Goldin
    Ricky Paull Goldin
    • Dean
    Debra Hopkins
    Debra Hopkins
    • Muriel
    • (as Debra Spagnoli)
    Rick Mali
    • Gang member
    Michael Phenicie
    Michael Phenicie
    • Collins
    • (as a different name)
    Bonita Money
    Bonita Money
    • Lead dancer
    Thalmus Rasulala
    Thalmus Rasulala
    • Wesley Wilson
    • Director
      • Joel Silberg
    • Writers
      • Joel Silberg
      • Sheldon Renan
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews14

    3.51.2K
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    Featured reviews

    6emiliano999

    Unstoppable silliness nice for good laughs

    Everything here is so preposterous to even take it seriously. If you try to make the synopsis, even that sounds like the deranged ramblings of someone very high in powerful 80's colombian produce, if you catch my drift LOL... Maybe that's how this was pitched and greenlit back then, who knows?

    Unlike The Forbbiden Dance there are here more production values: a bigger cast, more dancing pros, a not-so-bad OST, but still, let's see what happen here: a guy who is high school teacher by day an THE Lambada-king at night (and happen to be mexican-born too) left his wife and kid in a daily basis, to go and keep his talents working only to be discovered by one of his students (a Melora Hardin that look here very into her 20's) and use that brazilian dance as learning tool for a bunch of East LA kids that want to learn computer programming. HAHAHA! No, REALLY...

    Like there was a script ready for a movie about an awesome and cool teacher (like Stand and Deliver or Lean on Me) but when the lambada fad (and the colombian produce) kicked in the suits at charge decided to make a movie about it putting all into the blender.

    Melora Hardin is HOT in here, and I suppose the dancing teacher isn't that bad looking either.

    This is the kind of flick to watch when there is nothing else, for fun and giggles.

    Kinda recommend it.
    10welovegokatgo

    andrew grayson brown loved this movie and gave it two thumbs up, and you will feel the same way

    i don't know how this one slipped through the cracks, but it is one of best movies of the nineties and possibly of all time. believe me. it is so hot, and spicy, and it has lots of leather and chrome, or something.

    it has so many insane scenes that have nothing to do with the rest of the movie, and thrives on intense nostalgia for the culture and fashion that only existed in the early 1990's.

    it's such a treat to see such stars as j. eddie peck, adolfo quinones aka shaboom, and jennifer lopez before they became such hot hot stars. Hot.

    see this movie. it's like stand and deliver, except with much more dancing and obsession with the year 1990. and it has protractors.

    two thumbs up
    10twenty2stars

    Fantastic

    From choreographing by Shabba Doo and Brainy Boo to the forbidden lambada dance before math class in "No Mans Land." You cannot escape the incredibly alurring and ridiculous call of the LAMBADA!!!!!!!! I would recommend this to any one who is up for a night of laughter, protractors, and terrible 80's dance moves. I love it! LAMBADA!!
    1xjrgx

    JLo's Oscar Performance

    This movie was one of the most surprisingly entertaining movies I have ever seen. The dialogue was just not grossly disengaging, but the gawdy dance choreography couldn't help but make me laugh. This movie reminded me of West Side Story, except as if directed and choreographed by a blind, mentally challenged individual.

    The storyline, if you can call it that was so terrible. While watching the movie you know it is so mentally abusing to do so, but like a train wreck, can't help but keep your eyes fixated on its amazement.

    Definite must see, if you and your friends want to have a great laugh, or if you are just feeling self-destructive.
    2reg_feyer

    Lame, lame, lame

    Don't let the credits mislead you, Jennifer Lopez only has a small supporting role (a dozen lines at best), and the "no-name" stars give performances which justify their subsequent demise on the Hollywood movie scene. Bad acting, unbelievably implausible plot lines, and second rate dialogue are only accentuated by cookie cutter characterizations. If I'm ever stuck in a bad-ass L.A. Latino neighbourhood, I hope I'm lucky enough to run into this movie's gang members; at worst my car would get a new paint job. The predictable happy ending is capped off by yet another forgettable dance sequence, making one yearn for the comparably energetic, stylish excellence of "Footloose" or "Dirty Dancing". If you choose to spend a few hours watching this drivel, be sure to do some housework as well so it's not a complete waste of your time.

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    Related interests

    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The picture has often been called "the better of the two" of its lambada dance movie rival The Forbidden Dance (1990).
    • Goofs
      On the car scene where Sandy is in the car with Laird, Principal Singleton arrives to chat with the him. As Singleton leaves, Sandy suddenly pops up and speaks with Laird. Singleton acts as if nothing's happening, when it is obvious he would've spot Sandy with Laird.
    • Connections
      Featured in Siskel & Ebert: Pretty Woman/Blind Fury/A Shock to the System/The Fourth War/Lambada (1990)
    • Soundtracks
      Set The Night On Fire
      Written by R. Ray Barnes and Tony Coleman

      Produced by R. Ray Barnes and Tony Coleman

      Performed by Sweet Obsession

      Published by Knight Crew Music/Epic/Solar Songs, Inc./Bada Music (BMI)

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    FAQ15

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 16, 1990 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • Italian
    • Also known as
      • Lambada: Set the Night on Fire
    • Filming locations
      • Chicago, Illinois, USA
    • Production companies
      • Cannon Films
      • Film and Television Corporation
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $4,263,112
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $2,031,181
      • Mar 18, 1990
    • Gross worldwide
      • $4,263,112
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 44m(104 min)
    • Sound mix
      • Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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