Footloose

Plot synopsis:
After a long night of partying, Bobby Moore and four of his friends become drunk and drive over a bridge and crash into a truck, killing all five. Bobby's father Shaw Moore, the Reverend of the Bomont, Georgia church, persuades the city council to pass several draconian laws, including a ban on all unsupervised dancing within the city limits (based, in part, on New York City's Cabaret Laws).
Three years later, Ren McCormack, a Boston-raised teenager, moves to Bomont to live with his uncle, aunt, and cousins after his mother's death from leukemia and his father's abandonment. Soon after arriving, Ren befriends Willard Hewitt, a fellow senior at Bomont High, and from him learns about the ban on dancing.
He soon begins to be attracted to Moore's rebellious daughter - Bobby's sister Ariel - who is dating dirt-track driver Chuck Cranston. After an insult from Chuck, Ren ends up in a game involving buses, and wins despite his inability to drive one. Reverend Moore distrusts Ren and forbids Ariel from ever seeing him again. Ren and his classmates want to do away with the law and have a senior prom. After a while Ariel begins to fall for Ren and dumps Chuck, and Chuck beats her up. Moore asks if Ren beat up Ariel. When Moore demands Ren's arrest, Ariel tells him that he can't blame everything on Ren just like he did with Bobby. She then reveals that she is no longer a virgin, which prompts Moore to beg for her to not talk like that in church, having Ariel sarcastically ask Moore if he will pass another law, and how it didn't stop her and Chuck from having sex. But Moore slaps her without warning, which shocks Vi, Moore's wife, and prompts Ariel to tearfully and angrily criticize Moore for slapping her, and storm out of the church. Moore tries to apologize, but Vi stops Moore, telling him, "You've done enough." Vi is supportive of the dancing movement, explaining to Moore he cannot be everyone's father, and that he is hardly being good to Ariel. She also says that dancing and music are not the problem.
Ren goes before the city council and reads several Bible verses given to him by Ariel, that describe how in ancient times people would dance to rejoice, exercise, celebrate, and/or worship. Ren also teaches Willard how to dance. The city council votes against him. Undaunted, Ren convinces the cotton mill owner to let them have a prom there; the mill is just outside city limits. Ren goes to see Moore, knowing that Moore still has enough influence to pressure the parents not to let their teenagers come. Ren tells Moore that even though they denied the motion to dismiss the law, they cannot stop the dance. He then asks him respectfully if he can take Ariel.
On Sunday, Shaw asks his congregation to pray for the high school students putting on the prom. Not long after Ren and Ariel arrive at the prom, Chuck and several of his friends arrive to beat up Ren. However, Ren, Willard, Rusty and Ariel subdue them. Ren then flings confetti into a shredding machine and yells, "Let's dance!" The movie ends with everyone dancing to the opening song "Footloose".

Tags: cult

Review:
(Even if I am torn between wanting to cringe and dance when I hear the theme!)On reflection it's no cheesier than something like "All the Right Moves" (which has a great cast doing their best but suffers from a plodding story) In fact, it's miles better!
Enrolling at the local high school, he is appalled to discover the town's adults have imposed a law on "public dancing" and rock music, as enforced and practiced by the local preacher(John Lithgow).
Ren quickly sets about changing things, falling in love with the preacher's daughter Ariel (Lori Singer) in the process.The story is a little unlikely yet it is perfectly suitable for the teenaged audience at which it is pitched.
The first sees Ren dancing by himself in a barn; the town meeting where Ren presents his case to the townspeople and explains to them the meaning of the dance; and the final prom sequence in which the teens of Bomont revel in their newfound liberation.As the leading man, Kevin Bacon carries off his role very well.
In these scenes he excels and his character's development seems very natural.On the technical side, the film is well-shot and the gloriously Eighties soundtrack complements the proceedings very well, bringing the necessary exhuberance and bounce to the whole movie.Whilst "Footloose" is certainly no masterpiece, it succeeds in being a lighthearted knockabout caper, and as such is a very enjoyable movie..
And even if it's largely to make fun of it, I still love it for old times' sake.Kevin Bacon is the tough city kid stuck in some podunk Midwest town where dancing has been outlawed.
Immediately gets you in -Kevin Bacon's character has one of the all-time great movie names: "Ren McCormack" -Funny how this is probably Kevin Bacon's greatest role, maybe only challenged by "Flatliners".
-"Moment I regret now"- Christopher Penn's dance sequence to "Let's Hear It For The Boy" (although it's a great sequence in the movie) -Kevin Bacon's speech to the council was possibly the greatest speech up until that time in cinema history.
Nothing new happens in this movie but you will watch with a smile on your face (especially during Kev's big drinking/dancing scene.)  A great representation of what an 80s flick is all about..
This movie also stars John Lithgow from 3rd Rock from the Sun!!Footloose has awesome sound track , is full of great songs!!!This is one great musical along with Grease in the 1970's!!.
It's set in a high school in a small mid-western town where dancing has been banned; (it reminds me of a joke I heard here in Ulster; 'Why do Free Presbyterians disapprove of making love standing up?' 'It might lead to dancing').Kevin Bacon is the new kid in town who wants the ban lifted.
The funny thing is that I performed Footloose in my high school, it's now like 5 years later and I realized when I bought this film yesterday that I had never seen the movie.
The story is just so much fun and original, you just fall in love with Ren McCormick from the start.Ren is a new guy from the big city of Chicago coming into a small town and now this small town has banished dancing since a big accident that happened years ago that killed several teens after a dance, there were drugs and alcohol involved, so naturally these folks think that it's all apart of dancing.
He wants the kids to have fun though and wants a big dance thrown for the town and must convince them to cut their foot loose.Footloose is just a fun movie that I'm sure you'll have fun with.
This is the first movie I ever seen in the theater I must have been 13 or 14 when this came out,, and to me it still holds up well, I haven't seen the remake,, nor do I really want to,, this soundtrack is totally amazing, I had to buy it as soon as it came out,, the music fits almost every scene in the movie,, Kevin Bacon star just took off after this movie,, Lori Singer is really beautiful and did some decent acting,, although her character I didn't care for, Chris Penn did a wonderful job,, but John Lithgow steals the show for me.
RELEASED IN 1984 and directed by Herbert Ross, "Footloose" chronicles events in the small Western town of Bomont where dancing and loud music have been outlawed because of an accident that killed some kids years earlier.
Preacher's daughter Ariel (Lori Singer) rebels against the legalistic measures while taking liking to a new student from Chicago, Ren (Kevin Bacon), whom her father (John Lithgow) disapproves of because he perceives Ren as a "troublemaker" who wants to change the town laws against dancing.Also on hand are Chris Penn as Ren's "country boy" pal, Willard, and Sarah Jessica Parker as Ariel's friend, Rusty.
Penn's character is real fun and Sarah was a real cutie back in '84.I stayed away from this film because of Roger Ebert's scathing review and the fact that I thought the story was about some big city fop moving to a small town and dancing on the tables of the local high school, etc.
It's about the struggle of teens for freedom & the difficulty parents have letting go of their children.The film centers around a town, which led by its preacher (Lithgow) has banned dancing, music & alcohol.
The more the town represses the teens, the more they seem to want to rebel & Ren (Bacon), an outsider becomes their leader.Most people like this movie because of Kevin Bacon & the great soundtrack.
I watched this movie only this year in Locarno with 2 swiss friends!We all fell in love with the movie,the actors and the music!Although the story is simple and a bit unrealistic,the choreography was splendid and the movie entertaining!A definite 10/1O!Why?'Cause it made me want to do what no other movie has made me want to do.......DANCE!.
Son and bully fight and...resolution.However, it goes a bit deeper in that it references several cases of high school kids actually taking on town ordinances against dancing.And Kevin Bacon is the new kid in town, so he's like the Karate Kid, but he also serves in the Pat Morita role as instructor.And the evil dojo is actually a church and the bad guy is actually a preacher and not a Karate trainer and has a very kind heart and cares a lot for his community.
So the main villain isn't really evil he just has a different point of view, and unlike movies today, he is allowed to have a different point of view, to really be wrong in his beliefs, and still be portrayed as a kind and caring person.So, it's like the Karate Kid only with actual depth and much better soundtrack..
Lori Singer's character is rather intriguing and her progression throughout the film is possibly the best thing about this film, despite Kevin Bacon obviously getting all the credit as the main character, Ren. Chris Penn is an exceptional supporting actor and this film really does not deserve some of the hatred it gets.
The dance sequences are full of energy and will make you want to get up and imitate Kevin Bacon's fast feet, while the music and dialog are sure to make you remember what it was like to be a teen in the 80's (or just a teen in general).
Footloose (1984) *** (out of 4) A teen (Kevin Bacon) from Chicago moves to a small city, which has been ruined by a preacher (John Lithgow) and his wife (Dianne Wiest) who have convinced everyone that dancing and rock music are sins.
I really enjoyed watching this movie, but the one thing that irritated me was Ariel, I just DID NOT like her character, and have no idea why Ren would take an interest in her.
Fortunately, he was flexible enough to make the change, so we get a terrific ending and one of the greatest and most fun dance movies of all time.The chemistry between Kevin Bacon and Lori Singer is terrific and Chris Penn and Sarah Jessica Parker are both great in their sidekick, comedian roles.
The plot of course has big city boy Ren McCormick (Kevin Bacon) moving to a small town where Rev. Shaw Moore (John Lithgow) has banned dancing, and challenging this.
But the story really makes the film a hit.Kevin Bacon is Ren McCormick, a Chicago teenager who moves with his mother to a small Midwestern town called Bomont after his father leaves.
Throw in there a humorous subplot involving Willard (Chris Penn), who doesn't know how to dance and befriends Ren. Can Ren convince Shaw Moore and Bomont that a dance will bring not only renewed freedom of expression, but also emotional and spiritual healing?"Footloose" is a story that could have taken place, as there are some, however few, real-life communities like Bomont.
Features a great 80's soundtrack and a show stopping performance from Bacon as a new kid in town who has a problem with the community's law against kids dancing.
This film boasts outstanding performances by Kevin Bacon and John Lithgow, a plausible plot (certainly more plausible than the plot in Flashdance!) and great 80s music!
There's no rock music or dancing allowed in this Right Wing Valley, so the local teens hit a neighboring town to shake off the cobwebs, including the preacher's daughter (too bad we don't see the preacher's wife kickin' up her heels as well, but the movie isn't that imaginative).
A city teenager (Kevin Bacon) moves to a small town where rock music and dancing have been banned, and his rebellious spirit shakes up the populace.There is really no need to review a film that everyone has already seen, but I will just say this: it is rightfully a classic.
Footloose is not a great movie with a very dry and easy to tell storyline,the cast is pretty solid but other than that this movie does not stand out,Kevin Bacon and John Lithgow did do a good job though.I thought that this was a musical,which it is in plays,I'm not very in to musicals but when I put this on I expected a lot of singing.There is very little music in it,but where there is,there the most enjoyable parts.Ren McCormack (Kevin Bacon) moves to a town where music and dancing is banned.Ren is very passionate about this and trys to bring it back with the help of his school mates.-DILLON HARRIS.
The main one being I like to see movies as an escape and when escaping with this film I get to go into a small town where dances and such are not allowed.
And with 'Footloose', is no different.This movie tells the story of Ren McCormack (Kevin Bacon), a boy from Chicago that moves to a small town.
The soundtrack is excellent with great original songs like 'Footloose' and 'Let's hear it from the boy', but you don't get to see anyone dancing in the most of the movie.
Maybe the people that dislikes this film so much sides with the idea of "NO ROCK MUSIC" thus, hated the *idea* that Ren McCormack (Kevin Bacon) brought rock-music back to the town as well as the pleasurable activity of dancing.Maybe some people just dislike Kevin Bacon and will bash everything he does - including this movie - instead of judging each of his works by merit.
But the new kid in town played by an amazing Kevin Bacon is about to defy that rule and get the minister's daughter while he's at it.My favorite scene in the movie is the very beginning when we see all the shoes dance.
Kevin Bacon is "Footloose" in this 1984 film which also stars John Lithgow, Dianne Wiest, Lori Singer, and Chris Penn.
Bacon is Ren, the new kid in a town that doesn't allow dancing, and he sets out to change that.That's actually about all there is to the plot, except that Ren gets involved with pretty Ariel, the daughter of the preacher (John Lithgow).
Ren revolts with best friend Willard (Chris Penn) and the minister's daughter (Lori Singer)." Veteran director Herbert Ross guides everyone's steps well."Footloose" makes a few of the mistakes "teen" movies make, but it still kicks up some fun.
And, Mr. Penn's dance instruction is topflight.******* Footloose (2/17/84) Herbert Ross ~ Kevin Bacon, Lori Singer, John Lithgow, Chris Penn.
The movie has also got a great soundtrack which mainly consists of pop/rock from the 80's this movie will definitely get you up and dancing.Now lets move on to the main cast roles, We have Kevin Bacon who you will probably remember from Friday 13th Part one if you have see that movie.
Kevin Bacon has actually been in quite a lot of good movies and i will have to say that Footloose really did suit him at the time if you want great acting, good story and one hell of a rockin soundtrack then Footloose is the one for you ENJOY!!!!.
The book-burning scene showed the Preacher the folly & error of his ways.Kevin Bacon as the rebellious teenager held the film and Lori Singer was good as the wayward teenager , trying to break free from a Preacher Father who suffocated not only a town but also his own family with his predjudices & beliefs.Footloose had a great soundtrack for 80's lovers , music from  Australia as well as the US.
"Footloose" is the movie that jettisoned Kevin Bacon into stardom by his boyish charisma and the upbeat dance moves.PLOT: However, this is not a hackeyed musical that doesn't give the starring roles a chance to dance and/or burst into song.
It's a mainly serious drama about a Chicago teen (Kevin Bacon) who moves into a town where dancing/rock music is banned, thanks to a pastor (John Lithgow, of "Third Rock From the Sun" fame).
Without the music, Kevin Bacon, and the end dance scene, there is nothing memorable or special about this one note film.
No one will take anything to heart, except the fact I think this film is a case of "talked about too much, resulting in too little." There is enough here to sustain a movie, but everything is taken in such an awkward, one dimensional manor that it's hard to like.Some people will be able to find the humor, the drama, and the fun in Footloose and that's great.
A young pup, played by Kevin Bacon(in a good role for him, actually) arrives in town from Chicago wanting to change things.
It is leaps and bounds better than the reboot which came out two decades later.The story is about Ren, a young man from Chicago, who moves to a small town which doesn't allow music or dance.
Ren has a chance to rebel against the authoritarian leaders of the town by showing them that dance and music doesn't have to be a drug filled orgy of sex and sweat.Kevin Bacon does a great job of playing the lead part, it was said that Tom Cruise and Rob Lowe were also in line for the lead role but Tom Cruise was doing All The Right Moves, Rob Lowe was injured.As the lead interest, Lori Singer/Ariel Moore, plays the preacher's daughter, Jon Lithgow, which was originally supposed to be Madonna, or a hundred other famous young actresses which didn't seem to work out.
However Lori Singer does a great job as a country girl trying to get noticed by her father.The rest of the supporting cast does a fine job and there is Sara Jessica Parker (Sex in the City) and Chris Penn (Reservoir Dogs) to name a few.The soundtrack is loaded with many top 10 songs of the era including "Bang Your Head (Metal Health)" by Quiet Riot, "Hurts So Good" by John Mellencamp, "Waiting for a Girl Like You" by Foreigner and the extended 12" remix of "Dancing in the Sheets".The soundtrack includes five rock singles—the title song, "Footloose" and "I'm Free", both by Kenny Loggins, "Holding Out for a Hero" by Welsh singer Bonnie Tyler, "Girl Gets Around" by Sammy Hagar, and "Never" by Australian rock band Moving Pictures (the song played during Bacon's solo dance scene); three singles—"Let's Hear It for the Boy" by Deniece Williams, "Somebody's Eyes" by Karla Bonoff, and "Dancing in the Sheets" by Shalamar; and the love theme "Almost Paradise" by Mike Reno from Loverboy and Ann Wilson of Heart.I hear complaints that this movie sucks and that it doesn't hold up over time.
I also think the first ten minutes of the film are effective: with the camera showing different views of what's clearly a small town and then taking us to church, where Reverend Moore (John Lithgow) gives a speech about how dancing corrupts the spirit of young children.
Within the movie Footloose, the main character Ren, moves from big-city Chicago to a small town in the West where dancing where rock music and dancing are illegal.
He also falls for the minister's daughter.Ren who is very passionate about is music and dancing, wants to change the rules in the new town where he moved in.
I think this is a good movie to watch, to show how people have their own opinions, and how to solve problems.In conclusion , everyone in the town was finally happy to have music and dancing back, because that was just part of their everyday lives that they didn't have for a while.
"Footloose" is one of those fun movies from the 80s that has a rocking soundtrack and great dancing.
The story is about a young man named Ren, played very well by Kevin Bacon, who moves from the big city to a small town where dancing is outlawed.
I also liked Chris Penn as Ren's friend Willard, whom he teaches how to dance.I have a problem with one scene in this movie.
"Footloose" is one of the great dance movies of the 1980's.