Hollywood has never been known to back down from the opportunity to remake a film, whether the update is welcome and genuinely noteworthy (Fright Night), or audiences are simply unaware that an original version of the story presented already exists (Straw Dogs)…still, there are some films that are so treasured by fans that it seems almost blasphemy to touch the revered material. As far as 80’s teen films go, Footloose is nothing short of a classic, having launched Kevin Bacon’s career, generated iconic characters, and offered one of the greatest soundtracks of all-time. The final dancing scene accompanied by Kenny Loggins’ “Footloose” is one of my favorite sequences in all of film, and I know countless others who adore the original film, so I couldn’t believe that Paramount had the guts to try and generate a remake. Granted, I wasn’t convinced that a story about dancing being outlawed would resonate with today’s audiences, but maybe a young cast could work with an upbeat soundtrack and impressive choreography to faithfully update the original. Needless to say, this newest dance film would have something to prove to audiences, and it represented one hell of a gamble for filmmakers…I could only hope that things didn’t end up in disaster.
Purists of the 1984 original will be pleased with Footloose, as it is a very faithful adaptation that pays respect to the original themes, but just as I feared, the central conflict presented just does not resonate with current society. As a scene-for-scene remake, there is a certain amount of nostalgia in seeing a familiar story retold, but the idea of dancing being outlawed today is as unbelievable as it is ridiculous…I can see how we bought into it nearly thirty years ago, but genuine connectivity to the audience has now all but vanished. In terms of the cast, I respect Kenny Wormald and Julianne Hough’s ability to take on the iconic roles made famous by Kevin Bacon and Lori Singer and add-in some individual flair, but Miles Teller is such a carbon-copy of the late Chris Penn that it is a little creepy. One element sure to anger fans is the new soundtrack, where a number of the classic songs have been remade, but most, if not all, of the energy and fun of the original was lost in the transition…if it’s not broken, why fix it? In the end, if you are a fan of the original, there is an almost necessity to see Footloose, but if you are someone unfamiliar with the story, there is little presented worthy to draw in and hold new fans.
Overall Recommendation: Medium
