Footloose

Ask any female who grew up in the 80s what she watched at slumber parties, around 1986, and they’ll likely say either the 1984 film “Footloose” or “Flashdance.” Betsy Bozdech said in her review, “While the former spawned fashion trends — and undoubtedly gave screenwriter Joe Eszterhas the debatably fortunate idea for Showgirls — the latter holds up a lot better, now that the Smurfs sleeping bags are on eBay instead of the living room floor.” In possibly his famous role, Kevin Bacon (Bozdech described, “sporting a brush cut that looks like it was styled with a weed-whacker”) plays as Ren McCormick, a sophisticated Chicago kid who moves to the inhibited rural town of Beaumont, where dancing is banned and minister Shaw Moore, played by John Lithgow, orders the citizens’ ethics. With his loud rock-and-roll music and cool VW bug, Ren quickly isolates everyone except Reverend Moore’s rebel daughter, Ariel, played by Lori Singer. Things only get worse when Ren decides to fight for the right to have a senior prom. With that kind of story, “Footloose” could easy have changed into a typical “let’s all get together and fight the system!” underdog comedy. You can say it certainly does have its cheesy moments (Ren dancing as a way vent in the empty warehouse). However, thanks to strong lead performances and unexpected dramatic depth, “Footloose” is the rare teen film with staying power. Bozdech said, “Bacon is convincing as fish-out-of-water Ren, who only wants to go about his business and have a good time, and Lithgow is surprisingly affecting as the conflicted Moore, who's scared and confused behind his fire-and-brimstone facade.” In the supporting cast, Dianne Weist is quietly moving as Moore’s wife, Vi, and Chris Penn steals his scenes as Ren’s not able to dance friend Willard (Sarah Jessica Parker plays Willard’s girlfriend Rusty). Then we have the music. From Kenny Loggins’ title track to Deniece Williams’ Let’s Hear It For the Boy, “Footloose” still has one of the best soundtracks of the decade. The movie is looking a bit old in today’s time, but that’s probably mostly due to the clothes and hair styles. “Footloose’s” story may have aged well, but 80s fashions were less fortunate.

Surprisingly, this film had a 2011 remake. The script is rigid, the characters are stereotypic, the acting is often flat (or worse), the plot lacks depth, however “Footloose” is fun and engaging and a roar. A classic example of how much an audience can forgive if there’s a great opening and a terrific ending. Neely Swanson said in his review, “I can still hold my head up and say that I enjoyed the film and so will you if you check your standards at the door.”

When a group of Bomont High School’s best are killed in a car accident after a night of beer drinking and wild dancing, the town fathers decide that their youth need to be protected from themselves. That’s when the city council, led by Bomont High’s Principal Dunbar (Brett Rice) and Reverend Shaw Moore (Dennis Quaid, Swanson described, “so wooden that he’s an inadvertent source of humor”), who lost his son in the accident, force a curfew and ban dancing and unsupervised get-togethers by children under the age of 18.

Now, three years later, Moore’s daughter Ariel, played by Julianne Hough, a senior, whose frustration with rules displays itself in over-the-top promiscuous behavior, chasing the town bad boy and usually lying, cheating, debaucher, and drinking. Her parents seem clueless to the change in her behavior (and apparently her dress as well).

Added in this arrives Ren McCormack (Kenny Wormald), moving from Boston. His mother has just passed and he has come to live with his Uncle Wes (Ray McKinnon). Swanson said, “Ren, your typical fish-out-of-water immediately makes waves and is targeted by the police (I suppose in this case, since it’s Georgia, that would be police) for playing his music too loud.” The principal is suspicious as well and conspires, unsuccessfully, to get him expelled from the school.

Swanson said, “This being a fairy tale, the Yankee is accepted with open arms by the multi-cultural, multi-ethnic student body all of whom inter-date, go out together and never quarrel.” Ren, a serious student, catches the attention of the rebellious Ariel but wants nothing to do with her until she comes to her senses. Swanson said, “Nevertheless, he is drawn into the Bomont equivalent of a duel by Ariel’s jealous redneck boyfriend Chuck. The weapons of choice? School buses, driven stock car fashion until last man (or in this case, bus) standing. Ren wins; Ariel sees the light and becomes a virgin once again.”

However, most importantly, Ren wants to change the dance law and gathers his high school friends (every single student) to help him do that. The teens are all kids of good, led by the adorable Ren and his bestie Willard (Miles Teller) and football captain Woody (Ser’Darius Blain). It is up to them to rescue the town from the adults and town bullies. Swanson said, “And how he goes about doing it is in that old fashioned Mickey Rooney-Judy Garland “let’s put on a show” manner.”

There are many elements here that make this enjoyable. Definitely, the young, relatively unknown actors are a huge help. However, the film takes off whenever the kids get together and perform their energetic dance numbers. The choreography is outstanding and is, for a change, well filmed. Swanson mentioned, “There are several memorable scenes, especially the previously mentioned opening and closing, where the camera is focused entirely on the booted feet performing those intricate dance steps to loud, rhythmic, often familiar music. I defy you not to tap along to those numbers.” It’s fun, it’s musical, and don’t worry about comparing this version to the original. Kevin Bacon can’t dance like Kenny Wormald (and it’s unlikely that Kenny will ever be able to act like Kevin Bacon) and Dennis Quaid is no John Lithgow. Who cares? Just watch the film and have some fun.

I liked the original a lot, that is a classic that will live on forever. However, I preferred the remake. Maybe it’s because I thought that one had more energetic dancing than the original, but their both great films. You should see both of them and see for yourself. You will get into the film and quite possibly, download the soundtrack after watching it. I did that and I love the soundtrack a lot that I listened to it when I have driven to work. One of my former friends told me about the films so I saw both of them. Check these two films out and enjoy.

Next week I will look at two other dancing films that I saw, I believe, either on Netflix or On Demand, but the original is a classic, in “Dance Month.”