You’ve got to love a movie that celebrates something; that throws you into the midst of a culture that you don’t know much about, and shows you why you should care. Some movies celebrate football, or surfing, or bobsledding. Footloose celebrates dancing. At the core of it, it’s something we can all relate to. Sometimes you hear a piece of music and you can’t stay still, even if it means tapping your finger on the steering wheel or nodding your head to the beat.  

Despite tranquil appearances, the southern US town of Bomont is going through tough times. A horror car crash has claimed the lives of some of its most promising youngsters, causing the local government to implement tough new laws. Among the list of prohibited activities are drinking, playing loud music, and perhaps harshest of all, dancing. 

When Ren MacCormack, a teengager from Boston arrives in town, he instantly runs afoul of these Draconian laws and their enforcers. After striking up a rapport with wayward local girl Ariel (Julianne Hough) he earns the scorn of her father, who happens to be the town preacher.  

The Reverend and his colleagues soon make up their mind that Ren is a bad influence on Ariel and the rest of the high-school age kids, especially when he flies in the face of their customs by trying to organise a school formal.  

But the community soon starts challenging its own long-held beliefs, spurred on by Ren’s infectious personality and love of dance. 

Kevin Bacon did it well in 1984, and young dancing actor Kenny Wormald does it equally well here. Even though his clothing and dance moves are meant as a nod to the original, Wormald’s screen presence and artistic skill ensure that he is able to carve his own path in the role. 

The thing I admire the most about this film is the fallibility of each of the characters, even the ostensibly strong ones. I’ll use Dennis Quaid as a case in point, who is superb as Reverend Moore, showing both a strong and vulnerable side in his dual roles as preacher and worried father. 

Perhaps the only weak link in the story is the character of Chuck, played by Patrick John Fleuger. He is portrayed as an out-and-out bad guy, but we never despise him as much as we’re probably supposed to. 

I can’t go any further without mentioning the dance choreography, which is absolutely brilliant. The famous angst-ridden warehouse scene has been re-created, and is just about worth the price of admission by itself; Using an ipod chord as part of a dance routine is pretty damn cool.  

The music covers a wide spectrum, from raw blues to pounding rock to country. There are classics from the 80’s and contemporary hip-hop tracks, with something for everyone’s tastes. 

Audio/Video: 

Your subs and mid-range speakers will get a good workout here. The soundtrack is tight and polished. All colours look bright and natural, and the film-makers have made the most of some very pretty scenery. 

Special Features: 

• Jump Back: Re-imagining Footloose- A documentary which charts the production of the film and looks at how it compares to the original

• Everybody Cut: Stars of Footloose- A look at the cast and the characters they portray

• Dancing with the Footloose Stars- Choreographer Jamal Sims takes us through the creative process behind each of the major dance sequences

• Deleted scenes- these can be watched with or without commentary by director Craig Brewer

• Music videos- ‘Footloose’ by Blake Shelton, ‘Fake ID’ by Big & Rich, ‘Holding out for a hero,’ by Ella Mae Bowen

• Footloose rap- An impromptu rap about the plot of footloose in front of fans

Closing comments:

Footloose is a celebration of freedom: Freedom of movement, of ideology, of spirit. But the happier moments are given context by the grittier themes that the filmmakers have tackled head-on. It’s real, it’s relevant and it’s powerful. This is what a remake should be.