In the world of movies, there are remakes made for the sake of remaking, and there are remakes made to serve as love letters to their original. When I first heard about Footloose, it was set to star Zac Efron and reunite him with High School Musical director Kenny Ortega. In that moment, I thought it was destined to be a vehicle for him to sing and strut and look good doing it (exhibit A). However, the movie I first heard about and the movie that I saw last Friday were two completely different movies. Directed by Craig Brewer, the man behind violent dramas like Hustle & Flow and Black Snake Moan, Footloose pays homage to the original while creating its own distinct place in the hearts of viewers.
Originally released in 1984, Footloose is a tale of questioning authority and appreciating music. The plot revolves around urban teenager Ren McCormick who moves to a small town and shakes things up, literally. He challenges the town laws that ban local teens from listening to music too loudly and dancing in public. Kenny Wormald, in his first film role, reprises Kevin Bacon’s Ren McCormick. In the 2011 version, Ren hails from Boston (Kenny does, too, so his accent is EXCELLENT) and is driven to Bomont, Georgia, after his mother dies. Wormald brings a grounded sense of reality to the role; he’s able to laugh at himself and others in a way that feels genuine.
Along the way, he gets in a lot of trouble by falling for the local preacher’s daughter, Ariel. Played by young Meg Ryan/Miley Cyrus lookalike Julianne Hough of “Dancing with the Stars” fame (She also sings— totally forgot/never knew about that.), Ariel plays the annoying rebel-child wannabe until she realizes attitude is not going to solve her problems. Even then, she’s still a little annoying. But Hough’s dancing is superb, and it’s pleasant to watch Ariel evolve from a confused rebel to an oriented activist. Her father, Dennis Quaid as Reverend Moore, is less of a villain than Jon Lithgow’s Moore. He tries to protect the youth of Bomont as best as he sees fit. The scenes between Ariel and Rev. Moore are sometimes awkward, but overall, his concern comes across very well.
Ren’s buddies, Willard and Woody, played by Miles Teller and Ser’Darius Blain, had the best lines. Willard particularly kept the audience laughing throughout the film. Of course, his inability to groove leads Ren to teach him, and the scenes that show the two of them dancing are just as much fun as they were in the original. Ray McKinnon does a wonderful job as Ren’s uncle, a minor character but one that delighted the audience every time he was on screen.
Brewer made a few tweaks to ensure the plot’s relevance with a modern audience, but he kept aspects that made the original movie so much fun. Most of the songs from the 1984 version (“I Need a Hero,” “Let’s Hear It For the Boy” and obviously, “Footloose”) were included, many by the original artists. The Southern setting gives things a country twang, but I can admit, even as a staunch country music hater, I actually enjoyed a line dance scene and found myself bopping along to Big and Rich. I was afraid I’d be walking in to see Footloose in the style of Step Up, with a largely hip hop soundtrack and distinctive urban feel, but was pleasantly surprised in the new film’s consideration of its predecessor.
Footloose is a plain and old-fashioned good time. Fans of the original, or those who just want something light and feel-good, don’t miss this one. In theaters October 14th. Overall: B+
