Footloose 2011 Movie Review

Years ago an announcement  was made that the 1984 Kevin Bacon classic was being given the dreaded 00's remake treatment. At the time Zac Efron (High School Musical) was set to star with the "High School Musical" director on board, giving the film a negative level of appeal for a male in his late 20's (me). Both Efron and the director left the project and Craig Brewer stepped in to rewrite the script and direct. Brewer's involvement gave me an automatic interest in the project after being completely amazed with his two previous films, "Hustle and Flow" and "Black Snake Moan."

The lead character Ren McCormack is played by a new comer named Kenny Wormald and the female lead is played by Julianne Hough, a dancer/non-actor. Both Wormald and Hough do an adaquit job of acting, easily out acting Dennis Quaid, who plays Hough's father, the town pastor. Overall all none of the cast is mind blowing but more importantly none of them are truly awful and some of their dancing was impressive/interesting.

Going into a current day film targeted at teenagers, as a cynical adult, I tend to find myself physically sick inside at how goofy, stupid, campy, and cliche' the average teen movies are. "Footloose" has camp, it has cliche' moments, and some ridiculousness, but it also has an a genuine feeling of aggression and teenage angst that typically feels forced in other films. At the times in the movie that I would usually roll my eyes or ask myself why am I watching this, I ended up giving the intended smile or inward expression of acceptance for whatever silliness was on the screen.

Craig Brewer has a way of showing the audience Georgia  and the south in general. In all of his films he has shown a southern grittiness, an element of religion, as well as black culture, I was pleased to see that once again with "Footloose." It's Brewer that turned the film from a joke to genuine, and it will be a shame if it is only watched by the teenagers that it targets.

Rating: 8.0/10