Classic 80's Teen Flick

Rating: 8/10 (10 April 2011)

i love 'Footloose'. i wasn't exactly a high school kid when it came out, but i was still young and Innocent enough to really appreciate it. like so many from that generation.
there were a lot of films like this, with music, and aimed at a young audience, and like most other young people back then, i saw 'em all with very little critical judgment. but now that i'm older (much older), i have a tendency to analyze this kind of thing more. especially as a lot of these films that were once new have become retro.
i liked most of these films but they could be somewhat problematic at times. 'Saturday Night Fever' was a classic, but it could be too realistic and dreary in it's approach, and the storyline is kind of non-existent and a little pointless. i loved 'Flashdance' and the original 'Fame' movie, but those films, as good as they are, can be strangely cold and detached and make the viewer feel like a spectator, rather than a involved participant. 'Xanadu' is peachy, cute and adorable, but it 's just that, it's for babies. i mean what can you say about a movie where the "big" love scene is done with cutesy cartoon animals. i like 'Grease' a lot, but let's face it, that's a pretty silly and brain dead experience. fun though.
'Footloose' was one of the only ones that hit some kind of note of perfection. it is sweet without being corny. musical without being too over done. and it makes a strong message without being horribly preachy and a heavy-handed bore. everything in 'Footloose' clicks and works successfully.
this is a fun, enjoyable film without driving anything into the ground or home too hard.that's rare. also, despite under-age drinking, tobacco usage and mention of pre-marital sex, it's a good coming of age film and not too intense for teens who are weary of too many racy values and notions often injected into teen entertainment.
not to mention Kevin Bacon and Chris Penn are really good here. Chris Penn is actually very sexy and good looking here, it's hard to believe he became the bloated monster thing he was in later years. Penn remained a good actor, but compared with his youthful, sexy image here, he definitely became a trollish monster in comparison.
fun film with a strong Christian base. a teen classic.