Saturday, October 15, 2011

MOVIE REVIEW ... FOOTLOOSE

 

Footloose-movie-poster-(2011)-picture-MOV_49e3a692_bI tried hard to not like this Footloose remake.  As a fan of the original my enthusiasm for seeing it was less than high.  Add the fact many recent remakes have been rather poor spelled for a mediocre time at the cinema.  Much to my surprise Footloose mark 2 was an enjoyable effort.  It showed if something is done with care and respect for what has gone before a remake can add to its forebear’s lustre.

Ren McCormack (Kenny Wormald) is a city slicker loving life.  Moving to the sleepy enclave of Bomont he learns many of its elder citizens frown upon such things as dancing and ‘having a good time’.  Head of this movement is preacher Rev. Shaw (Dennis Quaid) who is alarmed when his daughter Ariel (Julianne Hough) becomes friendly with Ren.  Rebelling against the town’s draconian ways, Ren tries to shake up the place with some hot moves and tenacious energy.

Directed by Craig Brewer Footloose is an energetic nod to the past.  Much of its success is down to its decent cast and a script adding some new elements among what older viewers will recognise.   In terms of expanding character’s backgrounds this is the better version as it allows for their motivations to become clearer.  It’s easier to emphasise with everyone’s plight even if the story walks the usual ‘young rebel against authority’ path.  To Brewer’s credit he strives for a suitably gritty flavour and mostly conjures a quality production.

Ultimately where it fails is in its central concept which doesn’t quite work.  The world has moved on since Footloose came out in 1984 and the idea of youths being prevented from dancing from their parents seems quaint these days.  The film and story was of its era – that plus Quaid’s uneven performance detracts from an otherwise enjoyable movie.  The music and dancing are all well done however and blend seamlessly into the narrative with Wormald showing a raw talent mirroring Kevin Bacon’s star-making role.

Those who adored Footloose probably won’t be won over by this version.  It doesn’t disgrace the original’s memory however and maintains the youthful enthusiasm so capturing viewers minds all those decades ago.

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Movie Review Rating  6 / 10

Movie Review by Patrick Moore

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