Footloose (1984)

Yawn. Poorly Filmed Snooze Fest.

This movie was so-so. It had it's moments, but wasn't the greatest.

It's an amazing and heartbreaking story.

This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

There is a review that summed up this movie in two words which I couldn't sum up in a thousand words. Teenage Cheese. It is 100% that and more. Teenage Cheese is a movie meant for young adults and this movie does it in spades. However, this movie is one of a few movies which actually holds up over time. 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. Maybe it is my youth, that I graduated in 1985, that clings to the time when I saw this movie. However I do not believe that to be the case. The movie is clean and crisp with a message that applies to all generations.Yes, it will eventually become dated, but for the time being this movie holds it own against newer films which have a thousand dollars greater budget and still suck.

I saw "Footloose" in the theaters in 1984. I was in high school and enjoyed. However in the years since its been released it has left a huge imprint on America. It is easy to understand why. The film itself had a huge best selling soundtrack album that not only included the title song but also classic tunes "Let's Hear it for the boy" and the often covered "Holding on for A Hero". People love this film however those who love this need to see it again. Time has not been kind. Even though the Crazy Right WIng Jerks seem to be taken over the United States today in 2017 they also had a grip on the United States in 1984 "The Reagan Era". In this film a teen moves to town with his mom and they live with her brother. The town seems to be ran by a jerk who is not the mayor but a Preacher on a Bully pulpit. The adults act like drones. They think the preacher was right in outlawing "Dancing" and "Liquor". Well all of that gets tested when Ren (Kevin Bacon) moves into town and decides to challenge everything that is banned.The film itself has great moments but on the whole (but even in 1984) the film is campy. Today the camp is now dated but the crazy. Keven Bacon and Lori Singer are good but the film scenes with the Reverend drag this film down! IT makes it boring. In the remake they should have had Ren of the Reverends daughter shoot him! In real life the Crazy Christians seems to have multiplied across the United States. I am sure if they read this review they will vote NO about this review being helpful, Well they can suck it!

I wish I could say that Bacon sizzles in this "rebellious youth" tale, but he doesn't. There is a lot of ham on the screen and corn in the flaky dialog. This is a typical underdog film with all the tired clichés: the bad guys end up with egg on their faces; the town finally wakes up and smells the coffee; the protagonists eventually turn on the juice; etc.Although Kevin Bacon did an admirable job with his own dancing, I must say that the dancing double used in the more challenging scenes really smoked Bacon. Incidentally, I was going to review another mid-80s film - The Breakfast Club - but I've decided to put that pan on the back burner and cook with this one.You know, it's puzzling that this movie would leave me unsated and hungry for something else.

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. Great characters, great actors, great story, great dance moves. The soundtrack alone makes the movie worth watching.Two things of note: one, Chris Penn was really thin and physically fit when he appeared in this film. What the heck happened? Two, why is Ariel supposed to be desirable? She is full of herself, far too head-strong, and openly flaunts her infidelity. There is nothing admirable in her character... surely Ren could do better.