Footloose

Rating: 6/10 (9 August 2010)

From director Herbert Ross (The Sunshine Boys), this was one of the biggest hits of the 1980's, and it is considered one of the most popular dance films ever made. Basically teen Chicago city boy Ren McCormack (Kevin Bacon) and his family move into a small village in the West, and he has a culture shock, and he struggles to adapt into a place where rock music and dancing are illegal. He does enjoy getting to know Ariel Moore (Lori Singer), the troubled girl with a jealous boyfriend and daughter of the man who keeps the law going, bible bashing Reverend Shaw Moore (John Lithgow). With his new friends, including Willard Hewitt (Reservoir Dogs' Chris Penn, as Christopher) who he teaches to dance like a pro, they round up all school classmates to do away with this silly law, especially when the senior prom is on the way. Only Ren has the courage to stand up in front of the town council and get this change passed and get the repressed townspeople back on their feet as it were. Thankfully, Reverand Moore sees from his daughter and Ren that young people need to feel free to express themselves, and the students get to the dance the night away at the prom. Also starring Dianne Wiest as Vi Moore, Sarah Jessica Parker as Rusty, John Laughlin as Woody, Elizabeth Gorcey as Wendy Jo, Jim Youngs as Chuck Cranston and Gremlins' Frances Lee McCain as Ethel McCormack. Bacon is a good young lead, his young and some up and coming co-stars add something too, and Lithgow does well as the mean minister. With a great opening sequence of feet dancing to the catchy title theme, the scene with Penn learning during the other great song, and many other fun to watch dance scenes, it a good fun (yes, a little daft, but who cares?) musical drama. It was nominated the Oscars for Best Song for the title song (also nominated the Golden Globe), and it was also nominated Best Song for "Let's Hear It for the Boy". The title song was number 96 on 100 Years, 100 Songs. Good!