Footloose (1984)

User Rating:

5.9/10   

Director:

Herbert Ross

Writer:

Dean Pitchford (written by)

Release Date:

17 February 1984 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Music | Romance

Tagline:

One kid. One town. One chance.

Plot:

A city boy comes to a small town where rock music and dancing have been banned.

Plot Keywords:

Dancing | Small Town | Teenager | Prom | Dance

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 4 nominations

Cast

Kevin Bacon	...	Ren McCormack
Lori Singer	...	Ariel Moore
John Lithgow	...	Reverend Shaw Moore
Dianne Wiest	...	Vi Moore
Chris Penn	...	Willard Hewitt (as Christopher Penn)
Sarah Jessica Parker	...	Rusty
John Laughlin	...	Woody
Elizabeth Gorcey	...	Wendy Jo
Frances Lee McCain	...	Ethel McCormack
Jim Youngs	...	Chuck Cranston
Douglas Dirkson	...	Burlington Cranston
Lynne Marta	...	Lulu Warnicker
Arthur Rosenberg	...	Wes Warnicker
Timothy Scott	...	Andy Beamis
Alan Haufrect	...	Coach Roger Dunbar

Runtime:

107 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:L | Netherlands:12 | USA:PG (re-rating) (1983) | USA:R (original rating) | UK:12A (re-rating) (2007) | UK:PG (cinema rating) (cut) | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) | Canada:AA (Ontario) | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PG (Manitoba) | Chile:14 | Finland:K-12 | Singapore:PG | Sweden:11 | UK:15 | West Germany:12

Filming Locations:

American Fork, Utah, USA

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

The movie was loosely based on events that took place in the tiny, rural Oklahoma farming community of Elmore City.

Goofs:

Errors in geography: During the playing chicken with the tractors scene, you can see snow capped mountains in the background.

Quotes:

Reverend Shaw Moore: Even if this was not a law, which it is, I'm afraid I would have a lot of difficulty endorsing an enterprise which is as fraught with genuine peril as I believe this one to be. Besides the liquor and the drugs which always seem to accompany such an event the thing that distresses me even more...

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in Totally Awesome (2006) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Hurts So Good

Unfair reputation.

Prior to seeing this movie, all I had heard suggested that I was better off not watching it unless it was to ridicule. I looked at my uncle dancing round his living room to some of its music and asked myself if anybody expected me to take that seriously. It's got a place in movie history even for the title song alone, though, so I decided I couldn't live with myself unless I gave it a chance. It was definitely worth it.

The style is reminiscent of a whole host of other '80's teen flicks, but only a handful are better. Most of the cast do great things with their roles. Kevin Bacon actually manages to make the clichéd concept seem kinda cool, here showcasing an easy charm that was to become the hallmark of much of his later work. Crucially, the music is actually pretty good too! (Even if I am torn between wanting to cringe and dance when I hear the theme!)

On reflection it's no cheesier than something like "All the Right Moves" (which has a great cast doing their best but suffers from a plodding story) In fact, it's miles better! At least the music in "Footloose" gave the makers a viable way to pep things up whenever the story begins to flag. This film is much, MUCH better than I had been led to believe, so give it a chance if you ain't seen it yet but thought you knew the score. Chances are, you don't...