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Twenty seven years after its original theatrical debut, “Footloose” returns to the screen with a rip-roaring, toe-tapping remake updated for today’s audiences. For those worried it might stray into “High School Musical” territory, fear not; director Craig Brewer (“Hustle & Flow”) imbues the film with enough edge to keep it from becoming kitschy.
Boston-raised Ren McCormack (Kenny Wormald) moves with his aunt and uncle to the small town of Bomont, Ga. after his mother passes away. Ren soon discovers he’s in hillbilly hell; the kid can’t bust a move or blast some tunes without getting ticketed for it.
It turns out the town council banned this lewd behavior after five teens died in a drunk driving accident after a night of partying that naturally included dancing.
Ren finds himself butting heads with Rev. Shaw Moore (Dennis Quaid), who thinks the new kid in town is pursuing his daughter Ariel (Julianne Hough). Devastated by her brother’s death in the car crash, Ariel has taken to hanging out with the town’s bad boy. Ren’s crusade to bring dance back to the town catches her interest, and soon everyone is paying attention to the out-of-towner with a dream of making Bomont fun again.
Wormald, best known as a back-up dancer for Justin Timberlake, entertains with an equal showing of acrobatics and earnestness.
Hough, a “Dancing With The Stars” alum, is nearly as strong as Wormald, but comparing her forced country twang to Miley Cyrus’ is all too easy. However, you’ll completely buy into her rebellious girlfriend shtick: she’s a daughter who eventually faces redemption in front of her father, who struggles with his demons as well.
The movie still retains some of the original songs, including the countrified but still catchy “Footloose.” Although characters don’t break into song, we still hear strains of “I Need a Hero” when Ren is onscreen, and a memorable montage of Ren teaching his pal Willard (Miles Teller) how to dance is set to an almost note-for-note remake of Deniece Williams’ “Let’s Hear It For The Boy.”
This “Footloose” doesn’t stray too far from its predecessor – Ren still wears the same maroon jacket to the prom he finally convinces the town to put on. But thanks to the modern moves and an energetic cast, we have too much fun to notice.
