Kick off my sunday shoes

Shoutout to Past Posters

In this article you'll find:

• Introduction
• The Story (Spoiler Alert)
• The Performances
• The Music
• Conclusion

Introduction

Usually, movies that involve teenagers and dancing tend to be corny and predictable. In this case, It was, but I strangely enjoyed It. With a lot of heart and chemistry between the main characters, I can see why this is a classic among moviegoers.

That's why we'll go over Footloose, a jewel that has transcended time and has grown to be loved by nearly everyone who sees It. With no more delay...

Let's begin!

The Story (Spoiler Alert)

Shoutout to Vocal Media

Everything begins when a teenager from Chicago, Ren McCormick, moves out to the little town of Bomont to live with his uncle along with his mother. On Sunday, everyone listens to the sermon of reverend Shaw Moore except for the bored youth of the town. Upon leaving, he finally meets the reverend, his wife and his daughter Ariel.

Then, when the time to go to school comes, Ren befriends Willard Hewitt, who tells him about the Town's main law: No liquor, no drugs, no rock music and no dancing. Ren's a young man accustomed to the fun of dancing, so he begins to question these laws, getting him into a deal of conflict bigger than everyone imagines.

While this story is nothing crazy: A story about teenagers questioning the Status Quo, something that is inevitably cheesy, the charm that this movie exudes can make you forget this. As we see Ren's frustration from nearly everyone turning against him and his efforts to normalize dancing we can empathize with him.

The main flaw storywise is the fact that sometimes, this movie doesn't know what It wants to be. town conflicts, teenagers' lives and dance, all meshes and sometimes, It doesn't do It in pretty ways.

Despite this, the Dance scenes are really iconic. From the release of rage through dance in the town's warehouse (which sometimes makes me laugh) to Ren teaching Willard how to dance and the last dancing segment, this movie is full of moments that every uncle and aunt can remember.

Even If at some points the actions of these teenagers seem highly unrealistic and crazy (Like Ariel standing between two car doors while at high speed or two scrawny teenagers defeating 4 grown adults), the style of the film still makes up for these incongruences.

The Performances

Shoutout to Pinterest and Paramount.com

If you are used to seeing Kevin Bacon in more mature roles, you'll be surprised when you see him at 26 years old playing the cool teenager with dance moves for ages. While he isn't Daniel Day-Lewis portraying Lincoln, he fits in the role pretty well.

For me, a great performance that It's still not talked about enough is John Lithgow, playing an antithesis to Ren's efforts, yet making the character compelling enough, so he doesn't feel like a villain at the end of the day.

While some moments can seem overacted, like Lori Singer playing the crazy rebellious teenager, the actors do a pretty good job to keep you hooked in the story.

The Music

Shoutout to Wikipedia

The strongest point of this movie. Classic songs by Kenny Loggins (Footloose) and Deniece Williams (Let's Hear It for the Boy), create the magic behind the standout scenes, the reason why both were nominated for an Academy Award for best song.

For me, a track that is as cheesy as an 80s movie for teenagers is "Never", by the Australian band Moving Pictures, which has managed to be epic enough for me to replay It a couple of times.

Overall, I'd say that this movie's soundtrack is full of great songs that everyone who listens to music from the past can recognize.

Conclusion

Shoutout to The Crimson Review

I'm not trying to say this movie is at the same level as The Godfather or Citizen Kane. But, If you're someone who is seeking light entertainment and is willing to laugh at some moments that were expected to be "dramatical", you can have a really fun experience.

Let's just say that Footloose, is a film of moments, with great montages that remember us what the movie is really about: Something about teenagers, for teenagers.

Do I recommend this film? Of course. If you want something fun and nostalgic to spend the afternoon, you can watch this gem. Sometimes It even makes you want to dance, even though you have two left feet like in my case. Just don't expect a multilayered story or a crazy plot twist.

Thank you for your support and good luck!