merelyaninnuendo FootlooseYes, its a bit cheesy, familiar and your typical teenage feature but it also works like a charm. The feature goes into places as anticipated and still doesn't go low on entertainment. The execution by Herbert Ross is the real culprit that restraints this flying free script and concept by Dean Pitchford who has done an amazing job on writing the songs too. Kevin Bacon is good on his role along with Lori Singer and John Lithgow who are amazing in it too. Footloose is stunning on terms of musical features and a cultural hub that attratcts younger viewers but if craft is accounted in, it fails to offer anything more than a two page script.

ComedyFan2010 The main issue people have with this movie is that the story is so silly. A town where dancing is illegal, whaaat? But turns out that it is based on a real story. There was indeed a town where dancing was illegal until the 80's. Only it was more one of those cases where nobody has changed the law for a century and it became a bit outdated.Besides being silly it is still a feel good movie. "I" love the dancing scenes. Mainly that famous Kevin Bacon scene as well as when he teaches his friend to dance.Another scene that I live is that tractor chicken game scene. Especially because the soundtrack to it is Holding out for a Hero by Bonnie Tyler. Oh that was just perfect.One of the things I love about big hits from those times is that it includes a lot of well known actors, most at the very beginning of their careers. This is the case here as well. Kevin Bacon is so damn hot and so incredibly young, it was the movie that made him a star. Lori Singer is also there looking beautiful, although as far as I know it is also a highlight of her career. Then there is Chris Penn who will bring a lot of good work in the future but letting us to see him dance in this one. And it was exciting to see Sarah Jessica Parker. She was actually still a teenager in this movie. And I must say I got all giggly when she gave Kevin Bacon a compliment about his outfit.

Adam Foidart When you hear the premise of "Footloose", it's easy to assume that it will be filled with broad cartoon characters, but it isn't. A town where dancing is outlawed?! What kind of madness, is this? I actually found that despite the somewhat contrived premise, the movie really works as a way of showing how dancing is a liberating experience. The main cast is well developed and we can sympathize and understand who they are as they experience growth and change. The dance sequences are full of energy and will make you want to get up and imitate Kevin Bacon's fast feet, while the music and dialog are sure to make you remember what it was like to be a teen in the 80's (or just a teen in general). I also really admired the film's attempt to have its characters solve problems in an intelligent way. A lot of the teenage rebellion movies I've seen go for either a comical resolution, or an overly sappy one, but it's neither here. The rebellion consists of debate and talking, instead of vandalizing and violence. I did have a problem with a scene towards the end that doesn't follow with the non-violent approach, but otherwise I felt like it did try to make a movie about teenage rebellion that has a brain. I think it's very much a product of its time, and it works because watching it today, it is kind of dated, but in a good way, in a way that's simpler than today's overly cynical views. "Footloose" isn't perfect but it's a great time at the movies. (Theatrical version on the big screen, August 15, 2012)

Wuchak RELEASED IN 1984 and directed by Herbert Ross, "Footloose" chronicles events in the small Western town of Bomont where dancing and loud music have been outlawed because of an accident that killed some kids years earlier. Preacher's daughter Ariel (Lori Singer) rebels against the legalistic measures while taking liking to a new student from Chicago, Ren (Kevin Bacon), whom her father (John Lithgow) disapproves of because he perceives Ren as a "troublemaker" who wants to change the town laws against dancing.Also on hand are Chris Penn as Ren's "country boy" pal, Willard, and Sarah Jessica Parker as Ariel's friend, Rusty. Penn's character is real fun and Sarah was a real cutie back in '84.I stayed away from this film because of Roger Ebert's scathing review and the fact that I thought the story was about some big city fop moving to a small town and dancing on the tables of the local high school, etc. I was wrong (and so was Ebert). The protagonist, Ren, is no dandy; in fact, he can kick some arse if necessary. And you never see him dancing through the halls of the high school or whatever. He's a professional-class gymnast and his dynamic solo work-out at the factory is simply a matter of blowing off steam, which is a form of healthy venting.Although I stayed away from "Footloose," the film acquired a respectable following and this inspired me to finally view it. I now understand why it's so popular. "Footloose" has that cinematic magic that pulls you in and gives you a good time. This is just a really entertaining movie with an exceptional soundtrack of songs made for the move with no less than six top 40 hits, like the title track by Kenny Loggins and "Holding Out for a Hero" performed by Bonnie Tyler, plus a couple of other significant ditties, e.g. "Bang Your Head" by Quiet Riot.Surprisingly, "Footloose" also has depth and is actually moving. We understand Rev. Shaw Moore's grief, but his rigid law-ism isn't doing his people or town any good. I like how Shaw isn't made out to be the clichéd villain. This is a good man thinking he's doing the right thing for his town, and in many ways he is, but the legalistic spirit he cops is sapping the life out of him, his family, his congregants and his town. Does he have the wisdom to see his error and re-route?BOTTOM LINE: Footloose is easily the best of the Big Three 80's dance movies and actually made significantly more at the domestic box office than "Dirty Dancing" ($80 million compared to $65 million). It has heart, a great cast, a superb soundtrack, all-around entertainment and real-life mindfood. It's also based on a true story that occurred in Elmore City, Oklahoma. Actually, there were similar towns with the same laws throughout America (and maybe still are). THE FILM RUNS 1 hour, 47 minutes and was shot in areas 30 minutes south of Salt Lake City, on the eastern side of Utah Lake. WRITER: Dean Pitchford.GRADE: A