In this remake of the iconic 1984 dance movie that launched Kevin Bacon into stardom, Footloose obviously has to fill some very large shoes.

Besides having to win over an audience who weren’t even born in the early 80s, the re-invention also has the unenviable task of convincing some die-hard fans of the original that the new movie won’t butcher their prized animal.

The end result is a Footloose that has been given a 21st century polish (cassettes are replaced with iPods and mobile phones), yet somehow retains all the iconic scenes that made the 1984 version entertaining.

The story remains similar; city boy Ren MacCormack moves into small town, Bomont, a place where dancing and music have been outlawed, much to his indignation.

The difference is this time the ban was precipitated by a devastating traffic collision that left 5 teenagers dead – including the town’s Reverend’s only son, which means the newer audience can sympathise in the motive behind the extreme measures taken by the grieving town in their panic, making the characters more than just simple party poopers.

Besides that, the storyline almost exactly follows the classic Footloose, with catchphrases and scenes lifted from the original script. Director Craig Brewer seems to subscribe to the phrase “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”, so existing fans should be pleased to relive their favourite moments in the new film.

Okay, maybe the tractors in the “tractor race” showdown have been replace with pimped-out school buses, and the signature “angry warehouse dance” features some contemporary new moves separate from Kevin Bacon’s retro grooving, but the enjoyment in those scenes can still be found, even if the emotional impact of the warehouse showcase is slightly hampered by the excessive dialogue actor Kenny Wormald spits at the camera to show his built-up angst prior to the dance, which made it a little clichéd and less powerful than Bacon’s wordless frustration; demonstrated through his body language alone.

Still, Wormald is likable as lead character Ren MacCormack, playing him with the right amount of cockiness with an honest, decent nature that is more clean-cut good student than rebellious bad boy. This MacCormack also has the added emotional edge by losing his mother to leukemia before the movie, which guarantees the audience is already rooting for him to succeed. The loss also serves as a bonding point with Reverend Shaw Moore (Dennis Quaid), who’s suspicious of MacCormack’s behaviour, and intentions toward his troubled daughter, Ariel Moore (Julianne Hough).

Raunchier than Lori Singer’s Ariel (this is the 21st century, after all), Hough is often brazen and flirtatious, emotionally confused after the sudden death of her brother and from the lack of attention from her stoic father.

The other characters, particularly Miles Teller as Willard, also bring some fantastic interactions with the lead actors, and often provide much-welcomed comic relief, especially in the scenes where a clumsy-footed Willard has to learn to dance, in order to keep up with the rest of his peers.

Ah yes, the dancing. That’s pretty much the whole point of this film isn’t it? Again, this Footloose is for a more contemporary audience, one who is unused to the Egyptian and The Running Man in the boogie arena.

Half hambones have been replaced with gratuitous shots of hip gyrations and breakdance, although with a few sprinkles of retro that manifest throughout the film, like in the opening credit sequence that mirrors the opening of Footloose 1984. The music playlist has also been given a revamp, with The White Stripes’ “Catch Hell Blues” replacing Moving Pictures’ “Never”, and old favourites like Kenny Loggins’s “Footloose theme song” given a country tint by Blake Shelton. In fact, the whole soundtrack contains more blues/country and hip-hop then an 80’s love for electronic pop/funk. It’s still catchy, but there’s no doubt the film has a slightly different feel.

The remake is respectful and stays true enough to the original source and is unlikely to cause fans of the 80s to storm angrily out of the theater, but it’s also fresh and entertaining enough to ensure new fans are able to enjoy themselves even if they don’t get the numerous references.

Movie: Footloose
Rating: 3/5
Opens: Oct 27
Duration: 114 Min
Language: English
Age Rating: PG-13
Genre: Comedy, Drama

Director: Craig Brewer
Cast: Kenny Wormald, Julianne Hough, Dennis Quaid