I know it's tempting to go for the big bucks and the sure thing - but a Footloose remake is something that should've stayed in the "no go" bin. Some movies are meant to remain jewels of the past. I know "the kids" have (ironic) raging hard-ons for the Eighties these days- but I'm sure they'd appreciate having original material of their own to reflect upon as well. What good is a memory bank if it belongs to someone else?
The iconic late-80's dance flick propelled Kevin Bacon to fame. The woman behind the casting decision, the equally iconic Dawn Steel*, once famously enquired of her colleagues, "Is this guy fuckable?" Happily the answer was a resounding, "Yes!" Hence, a beloved star was born. Thanks to Dawn, we have six degrees of Kevin Bacon... and beyond.
Will this reboot inspire to same joy? Will it propel Kenny Wormwald (taking over the lead as Ren after Zac Efron wisely backed out) to the same heights of fame? Will anyone buy Julianne Hough (who looks 30) as the teen love interest? Doubt it. Take a look at the trailer and judge for yourself.
The success of the original Footloose was the element of surprise, combined with a passionate performance by Bacon. Over time, it's become nicely seasoned with several layers of schmaltz that still holds up nicely today. There's bias, and then there's truth...
Not sure who's drawn the lottery on getting to review this one (me, me, me!) but look for it soon on the fabulous MovieBoozer. In the meantime, do yourself a favor and save a couple bucks - purchase the DVD double-pack of Footloose and Flash Dance instead!
*Look for a full-length tribute to Dawn Steel in Hot Pants Shout-Out (a new regular PLP column) coming soon!
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