Brewer Knows How To Blend Music and Film, So...

Rating: 6/10 (4 February 2012)

I had HIGH expectations. Hustle and Flow is one of my favorite movies from the past few years, and Black Snake Moan was an equally enjoyable affair (although not quite as awesome). I never saw the original Footloose, so I am judging this film and story solely based on this movie (as I feel most remakes should be, regardless). The music is pretty solid for the first half, but almost entirely disappears form the second half. Willard is the best character, and provides most of the film's laughs. The writing and acting are decent and the direction is capable, but overall this just doesn't feel like a movie that needed to be made.
I will say, Brewer is the only person who could pull this off and make me watch the whole thing. His blues tunes in the early parts are amazing selections, and the choreography and geography are ideal for his type of film (music/"gritty" visual color palette ). The last dance scene is pretty damn solid, too.
The biggest drawbacks were the over-the-top cheesiness of it all and the excessive runtime. This story could've easily been told in 90 minutes. Also, it is absolutely unconstitutional and I understand it has happened before (as in Elmore City), but it is unlikely that, even in a Southern religious town, anywhere in 2011 would ban dancing. The internet kind of makes the plot moot.