10 Things to Know About 'Body Rock' (1984)

10 Things to Know About Body Rock

10 Newspaper Ads Tried to Capitalize on the Popularity of Breakin’

Breakin’ debuted earlier in 1984 and became a surprise blockbuster and so it can come as no surprise that when Body Rock was released, it tried to capitalize on that popularity and the similarity between the two films. Thus the newspaper ads which prominently features the phrase:

“We’re Breakin’”

9 Cheesy Newspaper Copy

Aside from the reference to Breakin’ the newspaper copy for Body Rock was pure cheese.

“Yesterday he was her discovery. Today, he belongs to the world.”

And

“A story about winning on your own terms”

Ugh!

8 Yes Lorenzo Lamas Plays Chilly D

It sounds like a joke I am making up on the fly but it’s true, I swear, Lorenzo Lamas actually plays a breakdancer named Chilly D. It’s giving “Hello fellow young people” energy, for sure.

7 Filmed While Lorenzo Lamas Was on a Break from Falcon Crest

Lorenzo Lamas was quickly becoming a hunky star on television, starring in the series Falcon Crest as the villainous Lance Cumson. During a break in filming for that show, he was able to make Body Rock and the change in tone from the soapy Falcon Crest to the cheesy Body Rock is the most 80s thing ever.

6 Lorenzo Lamas Had a Unique Approach to Breakdancing

Speaking to reporters in April of 1984, Lamas stated that he was ready for the back breaking work of Breakdancing thanks to his amateur wrestling background:

“I wrestled a little in High School, so I can handle the ground. What I don’t pick up? I don’t do.”

5 Produced by New World Pictures

Those who are familiar with bad movies could have guessed that Body Rock was produced by Roger Corman’s New World Pictures. The moment Corman heard that Cannon Films made a successful film about a modern trend, it was only a matter of time before Corman ripped off the concept for his own attempt at low budget, trend chasing success.

4 Hilariously Bad Poster Copy

The newspaper copy was mercenary and cheesy and the poster copy is somehow worse.

“Meet Chilly, He’s Hotter than Hot, Cooler Than Ice”

“Body Rock! Everybody’s Got the Dream”

“Dance ‘til you Drop”

“A Rapstravaganza With Dynamic Music! Spectacular Dance Sequences”

3 Lorenzo Lamas Believed Body Rock Was His Big Break

There is sad poignance to Lorenzo Lamas’ belief that Body Rock was going to be his big break. Despite being on a hit TV show, Lamas felt his Falcon Crest fame was only from ladies 60 and up. He was desperate to connect with a younger audience and he was sure that Body Rock would be his breakout role.

“The producers expect Body Rock to be a breakdance musical blockbuster hit. A lot of my future depends on how it does at the box office.”

He continued,

“This picture has given me new hope.”

Body Rock opened in 15th place on its opening weekend and earned only $1.6 million dollars worldwide at the box office. Lamas remained on Falcon Crest until its cancellation in 1991.

2 Lorenzo Lamas Couldn’t Dance

In a bizarre admission in an April 26th interview, Lamas admitted that he lied to the producers of Body Rock and claimed he could dance. When they asked if he could breakdance, Lamas, by his own admission, stated the flopped around like a fish. And they still hired him.

“I’ve been working hard with the dancers, learning to do some of the breakdancing. They’ll use a dance double for the really complicated stuff.”

1 Lorenzo Lamas describes Body Rock

Film Critic Lou Lumenick wrote about Lorenzo on the streets of New York City preparing to shoot Body Rock for an April 27th, profile. The article contains this wonderful anecdote.

10 year old kid: “Hey Lorenzo, what’s the movie about?”

Lorenzo “You seen Saturday Night Fever with John Travolta? (The kid is 10, he was 3 when that film came out) It’s like that except it’s not about disco, it’s about breakdancing– graffiti artists, breakdancing, and growing up.”

In the same profile Lamas laments to Lumenick that:

"People don’t take TV stars seriously.”

Oh Lorenzo, never change.