Footloose (2011)

DIRECTOR: Craig Brewer
STUDIO: Paramount Pictures
STARRING: Kenny Wormald, Julianne Hough, Dennis Quaid
RATING: PG-13
GENRE: Comedy, Drama, Music


GRADE: C-


So, I've always been a huge fan of the original "Footloose" back in 1984, so I was pretty cautious coming into this film. Now, I will continue to review it as a stand-alone film, but for those that like the original, I wouldn't even call the quality close.

The story is about a boy, played by Kenny Wormald, who moves to a new town and discovers that the teenagers have a strict curfew, a law against playing music too loud, and even a ban to dancing. Of course, being the "city boy" he has to rebel against every person that's in the tiny town. The overall story is a bit unbelievable. I know there's a realm of "movie reality" but there's some definite stretching.

For one, even though this town forbids dancing, it seems like all these kids came from Broadway. They know these advanced stalls and leaps and break-dancing moves, yet they haven't been able to have any "lessons" for at least 3 years? Also, the first, and I mean FIRST, kid that Kenny Wormald's character even speaks to automatically becomes his best friend. And apparently...that kid had no other friends, because every scene he's in, he's with Kenny Wormald?

There's a lot of plot holes and lack of character development. However, this story does get the job done. It shows how one person can make a difference, and does it through dancing. This movie does well for the audience that wants to see it. Julliane Huff's character, however, seems so unlikeable, even up to the end. I just don't care about her, even though the audience knows what she's been through, I felt to sympathy for her. Maybe that's just me, but I thinkt the writers came too deeply into her character at the wrong time.

I know a "C-" may be a little high for all the critiques given, but like I said - this film does it's job, no matter how lackluster its quality is. If you like dancing movies or any of the actors in this film, I'd recommend it...slightly.