It's Just Movies

— by ADAM POYNTER —

Not many films make you want to get up out of your seat and dance, but Paramount Pictures, along with director Craig Brewer (“Black Snake Moan” and “Hustle & Flow”), are hoping that will all change with their re-telling of a classic story. Yes, I am talking about “Footloose,” the vehicle that propelled Kevin Bacon to movie stardom and got people to dance.

When Ren MacCormack (Kenny Wormald) is transplanted from the busy streets of Boston to the small quaint town of Bomont, he is in for a major change of scenery. A few years before, five teenagers were killed in a tragic car crash after a night out following a dance. Afterwards, the town’s grief led them to drastic measures when the city council, led by Reverend Shaw Moore (Dennis Quaid), banned music and outlawed dancing in the town.

Well, trouble seems to have a way of finding Ren — especially after the preacher’s daughter, Ariel Moore (Julianne Hough), takes an interest in him. Ariel is not exactly the good girl she seems to be and this makes Ren a target for the city council and her father.

Not one to sit idly by and accept the status quo, Ren starts to breathe life into this small town and realizes that the ban on music and dancing is just plain ridiculous. From that point on, there’s dancing, fighting and falling in love.

Although some of the small town values of the original might be lost on most Americans, the core message of the film still carries weight, especially in the younger generation: Stand up for what you believe is right and don’t accept things the way they are if you disagree with them.

Zac Efron was attached to play the lead when it was first announced. Then, after he dropped out, Chace Crawford signed on. But after both of them couldn’t participate in the film, the lead role of Ren MacCormack went to newcomer Kenny Wormald and from what I can tell, he is truly channeling Kevin Bacon. He’s got the cool hair and certainly he’s got the moves. And I understand the studio’s decision to cast an unknown who can truly kick butt at dancing rather than a young star that they would have to train extensively. Plus, seeing a favorite young star onscreen doing incredible moves might have taken audiences out of the film, but now with an unknown they can just sit back and enjoy the ride. Julianne Hough seemed like a logical choice since she is an amazing dancer; the question is can she truly act and carry the female lead of the story?

So what did you think of the trailer? Obviously this film didn’t need to be remade, but now that it has been will you see it? Leave a comment and let us know what you think.

“Footloose” has yet to be rated and jumps its way into theaters Oct. 14.

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