Starring: Kenny Wormald, Julianne Hough, Dennis Quaid, Andie MacDowell, Miles Teller
Director: Craig Brewer
Rating: 2/5
It was 1984 when Kevin Bacon showed us what he had on the dance-floor with Footloose and now under the guidance of director Craig Brewer the film has returned to the big screen for another generation.
Ren MacCormack (Wormald) is transplanted from Boston to the small southern town of Bomont where he experiences a heavy dose of culture shock.
A few years prior, the community was rocked by a tragic accident that killed five teenagers after a night out and Bomont's local councilmen and the beloved Reverend Shaw Moore (Quaid) responded by implementing ordinances that prohibit loud music and dancing.
Not one to bow to the status quo, Ren challenges the ban, revitalizing the town and falling in love with the minister's troubled daughter Ariel (Hough) in the process.
I am of the belief that if you can't better the original then what is the point in remaking a movie? Sadly Footloose doesn't get anywhere close to bettering the popular eighties movies.
There's nothing particular wrong with it except we have seen it all before - it appears that all dance movies are following a the same pattern.
The script is a tad contrived, banning dancing that is a bit far fetched even for the movie, and so predictable.
Sure it will find an audience as not doubt it will appeal to teens, dance movies have been popular at the box office in recent years.
There are decent performances from Kenny Wormald and Julianne Hough while Dennis Quaid is not stretched in any way shape or form.
However what I will say is Miles Teller steals the show as Willard, who provides all of the laughs in this movie; the learning to dance scenes being some of the highlights.
There are some quite nice moments that deal with death and coping with the grief that follows but that is about as deep as this serious as this movie gets.
Like I say there is nothing wrong with the film it's just we have seen it all before which makes it a bit of a snooze-fest.
The dance scenes, as you may expect, are some of the best in the movie; although what they were trying to achieve with Wormald alone in that warehouse about half way through is anyone's guess.
There is no doubt that Footloose will find and audience and enjoy box office success but the remake brings nothing new to the table - which is a real shame.
Footloose is out now
FemaleFist Helen Earnshaw
Tagged in Footloose