Customer Reviews

Footloose

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

From Tom Cruise getting down in his tighty whiteys in "Risky Business" to Jennifer Grey having the time of her life in "Dirty Dancing", eighties movies were filled with great moments involving dancing. They were one of a kind, and can't be recreated with the same impact. If you asked me before I saw the reviews, I would have said that the cinematic world did not need a remake of "Footloose." Mainly, because I can't think of a remake of an eighties' film that bettered the original. In this case, I've only seen bits of the original, so I thought this was pretty good.

The plot is the same as the `84 version. When a group of teens are killed in a drunk driving accident, the minister (Dennis Quaid) whose son has also died, and the town officials ban virtually everything teens do for recreation, including dancing. (Drag racing busses aflame, does get a pass.) Three years later, Bobby's younger sister, Ariel, played by Julianne Hough, is busy doing everything that's been banned and not caring if she's caught. She also has the requisite bad boy older boyfriend, who doesn't respect her. Naturally, she's a perfect match for new kid in town Ren (Kenny Wormald reprising the Kevin Bacon role), who's moved in with his uncle's family, following the death of his mom from cancer. Ren is a good kid, but after a series of run-ins with the local authorities, he decides to cut loose, kick off his Sunday shoes and with his new friends, get the ban on dancing revoked.

The lead does a good job, but if you ask me, Miles Teller, playing Ren's pal who must overcome his fears of being a "dancing dork" stole the show. Also excellent is Andie McDowell, in the role of the preacher's wife, who has stood by her man for too long and is about to tell him some uncomfortable truths. Oh yes, and the dancing is totally awesome.

As soon as I heard from a local Sheriff in Hiram, Ga that the Downtown Hiram Car lot and Downtown Hiram (Where the bus drove through and stopped) was filming the new Footloose (August 2010) I was all over it. I found all of the locations used, and even went into Cowboys Atlanta in Kennesaw, Ga when they were filming since I know the houseband and had connections. I was waiting since then for it to be in theaters. I have seen the original 1984 version thousand times, but I LOVE the new one as well. Not only is it personal to me, but I love when they actually do a great re-make. So if you have not seen it yet. Get off these reviews and see it BEFORE judging (since I know some people are TOO judgmental over it)

Not without its moments - actors Kenny Wormald (Ren) and Miles Teller (Willard) have good chemistry, especially their first meeting (which plays out like a "meet cute") - and there's some clever re-imagining of the classic songs, but overall too poorly motivated and too contrived to earn my "but in" to the movie. I mean, Rusty is obviously into Ren when she sees him and she's a way better choice than Ariel as a girlfriend but then all of a sudden out of nowhere Rusty and Willard are together? Where did that come from? Just needed to get the good girlfriend out of the way so the hero ends up with the girl the script calls for without looking like a total idiot for passing up the good girlfriend?

This is a remake of an iconic 1980's film about a town that has banned dancing for its young residents. A young man moves in from Boston and tries to change the law. This one features some very solid performances, and the interaction between the characters is the strong suit of the movie. There are some good dance sequences, and storyline is still a good fit for the modern era. Julianne Hough is a rebellious young woman trying to establish her own identity apart from being the preacher's daughter. She is terrific, as well as being absolutely gorgeous. This is a fun movie that I could see again.

I was itching to get out to the cineplex to see something new since it'd felt like a loooong time since last I saw something on the big screen (compared to average America, I see very few movies in theaters). Since I've not yet seen the "classic" 1980's version on which this re-make was inspired by, I won't be making comparison observations... nevertheless I do know who stars in the prior version and have heard of it. This recent theater release looked entertaining and given my recent "love affair" with movies that feature dancing I decided it was high time I saw this... and I left the theater impressed. It was very well produced and surprisingly, well-acted; knowing that Julianne Hough ("Dancing with the Stars") starred as Ariel made this an even more interesting movie to see because of her professional training as a dancer - and because I occasionally enjoy watching the reality show. *grin*

As entertainment goes, I loved this film. It's peppy and happy-go-lucky yet it isn't without heart and that is - in my humble opinion what good entertainment should inspire. It is wonderful when something can "inspire" (even if it is in the loosest sense of the word) and still be heartfelt. There are probably three scenes that stick out in my mind as making the movie worth seeing - two of them showcase dancing, one of which closes the movie and the third (which is the best of all and makes the movie worth the near two hours if nothing else does) is a sequence that teaches one character to dance. If you do not smile at the sweetness during this part of the movie, I would argue that you do not know what "wholesome entertainment" is then. Footloose threw in a surprise or two along the ride to the heart of its story making this not just another teen flick but a story worth seeing. There are actually more poignant moments than its viewing audience will give it credit for - even I got a little misty-eyed (something unusual from me) in the final moments when Ariel tells her dad that they are "dancing." For country music fans, Blake Shelton just happens to be the voice who re-recorded the titular song - and it sounds fantastic! I liked how the characters related to one another - especially Ren's treatment of Ariel. He saw through her charade quickly and told her right off he wouldn't be a party to her ploy - his words make their impact and in the end his respect of her changes her. Loosely based off of true events, this isn't a movie that I can readily suggest you see with your little sisters, but in all other respects it's a toe-tapping good time.

Overall, this was a wonderful, entertaining production - I highly recommend it.

Find my full-length review at: scribblesscriptsandsuchblogspot.com

I just want to say that this movie is amazing. I have never been so it to a movie. I have been singing and trying to dance to every song. I have played footloose at least 150 times in the past week. The movie, the music, and the dancing is all amazing in all aspects of the word. WAY TO FREAKING GO!!!!!!!!!!

Those Sunday shoes can be a little tiresome, especially when you are forced to wear them all week long.

Ren McCarthy arrives in the small town of Bomont, soon discovers dances are banned following a tragic accident several years earlier in which five high schoolers were killed. Not only that, the blaring of music as you drive your car along a country road can get you fined. He butts heads with police, preacher, and headmaster soon after. He meets the attractive rebellious yet troubled preachers daughter, Ariel, played by Julianne Hough who blanks him.

Somewhere in town highschoolers can go and blare some music, but before long the authorities appear. Ren dances and catches the eye of Ariel. Her brother died in the accident, messing her up, and she acts out, thrillseeking, dangerously self destructive, she dates the local bad boy. As the attraction grows, conflicts arise with both the preacher, and the bad boy. Will Ren get her? Will she change her ways? Will they do the mambo? If you're like me these are some of the questions that run through your mind as you watch this movie.

You have to watch the movie to find out. Not having previously seen the original Footloose, I was curious to see this because of Julianne Hough, who has won twice on Dancing with the stars, and is a world champion ballroom dancer. Kenny Wormald I had not heard of before. He has danced professionally with some of the world's top entertainers such as Justin Timberlake, and I believe Mariah Carey. I found his performance in his first leading role engaging, and clearly he has great dance skills. Somewhat to my surprise I was impressed by the acting performance of Julianne Hough, she delivers in the several great emotional scenes this movie offers, particularly when she gets slapped. I knew she could dance, and I did not recognise her in Burlesque, because she wore a brunette wig, but I think she could have a decent career as a leading movie actress. Beyond her obvious appeal, she has some depth.

In some respects this is better than the original, particularly the storytelling, which includes the inciting incident of the accident at the beginning, and some of the dancing particularly by Kenny Wormald and others were very good. What surprised me given the talent of Hough is that she was underused in a dancing capacity, and had no solo to speak of.

In some respects the original is better, particularly the depth of acting talent, which includes well known actors such as John Lithgow, and Dianne Wiest, as the preacher and his wife, whose characters were three dimensional, Kevin Bacon, of course, Sarah Jessica Parker in a supporting role as Ariel's friend, and a scene stealing Christopher Penn, Sean Penn's brother.

The best known actors in the new version are Dennis Quaid, and Angie McDowell, yet somehow the director played down the role of these characters so that they are one dimensional.

I think most people will enjoy both versions, with a new movie updated soundtrack with new artists. I think the remake was worthwhile, because this version will appeal to a new generation that was not even alive when the first movie was made. I think though we are seeing too many remakes this year.

If you want to watch another dance movie, I recommend The Red Shoes - Criterion Collection, one of the greatest dance movies ever made.

This movie is about a guy named Ren Mac Cormack (KennyWormald) who just moved into with his aunt, uncle and cousins in a really small town called Bomont. Ren meets Ariel Moore (Julianne Hough) who is the wild girl and reverend's daughter. Bomont has a law that the residents of residents could not dance or listen to loud music because some seniors, including Reverend Moore's son (Dennis Quaid) and Ariel's brother was killed in an accident along with some other seniors in the class coming home from a dance. After three years after the tragedy Ren and the other seniors want to have a dance to celebrate the end the year. This movie is really good. I loved it so much! Hope everyone loves the movie as much as I did!

Like most folks I was sceptical when I sat down with my popcorn, but not for long. Beginning the film with an actual dance was ingenious, and showing us the tragic accident immediately created the climate for the town of Bomont's overprotective atmosphere.

The director paid just the right amount of homage to the original with the use of the car, the red boots, and the similarity in the dance party attire. The change in the mother's history in the new movie added to Ren's character arc. Also, the new choreography, especially Ren's warehouse number, really made it surprising and exciting.

I wasn't the least bit disappointed at the script changes and was, in fact, impressed at how the writers were able to update the dialogue to make it more believable. Ariel was actually more realistic in this version compared to the original, and I thought her chemistry with her Dad was more intense.

(Spoiler alert!) The only thing I missed was not seeing Ren's friend get busted up quite as bad at the C&W club as he did in the first movie.

I loved the remake of Footloose. I was a fan of the original, and think this movie stayed true to the first, and added so much to it.

Kenny Wormald does a fantastic job as Ren- boy can act, move, is hot,and has chemistry with the whole cast. Julianne Hough does a great job as Ariel.
She has really impressed me with her acting, and can dance so well. Miles Teller as Willard.. WOW. I'd never seen him in anything before, but
he's so funny. As good as Kenny, and Julianne are in this (and they are good), Miles has some great scene stealing moments. His girlfriend, Rusty, is
also fantastic. I'm not sure of the actress, but she's beautiful, and can dance. Andie McDowell is fantastic as Ariel's mom, Vi. She has a understated
strength. Dennis Quaid does a good job as the concerned father of Ariel, and the town reverend. There are several fantastic scenes where Ren and the Reverend
talk- my favorite being towards the end when he asks for permission to take Ariel to the dance. And of course Ren's speech at the town council is excellent.
And watching Willard learn to dance was HILARIOUS. And the little girls (Ren's cousins) are pure cute. Fantastic supporting cast. Amazing stars.

Highly recommend this movie.