Cut loose and see Footloose 2011!

Rating: 7/10 (3 October 2011)

Preview screening on Monday 3 October 2011: I saw the original version of Footloose as a teenager and quite enjoyed it, particularly the music. As a result the film and its soundtrack will forever remind me of my adolescence. I would not have thought 27 years later that I would be sitting in a cinema watching a remake of it but hence I did and thoroughly enjoyed it. Quite a few of the songs from the original movie are still in this version, and while the story is still basically the same the film contains more racially diverse characters (something that was sadly lacking from the original) and a fairly snappy script. The original of course made a big star out of Kevin Bacon in the main role of Ren McCormack, and Kenny Wormald fills those shoes very well. His pretty boy looks and great dance moves will only get him so far but thankfully he can also act. Julianne Hough as the rebellious preacher's daughter looks beautiful and does an admirable job as Ariel. However it is Miles Teller as Willard, Ren's friend who cannot dance, that almost steals the movie. Willard's self deprecating hick southern character is played with much style by Teller. Dennis Quaid as Reverend Shaw Moore is suitably morose as the preacher / father in support of the ban on dancing in the little town of Boton, though I thought John Lithgow encapsulated the character better in the original. Craig Brewer who wrote and directed 2005's acclaimed Hustle and Flow has done a very good job with this remake of Footloose and the audience I saw it with seemed to thoroughly enjoy it. So cut loose and see Footloose 2011 as it is a very enjoyable and entertaining movie.