Footloose

Did Ya Ever cut loose? Footloose?

Man, I love this movie. There is something about it that just takes me. It would a guilty pleasure if only I felt guilty for loving it.

I got this feeling times are holding me down.

Why do I love this movie? On the face of it this film is a teen movie about dancing. But it isn’t that at all I think. 

So the basic gist of it is; young Kevin Bacon arrives in small town America, probably the Midwest.  Look, it's a very religious town, and a very, very white town (which probably explains why the remake is set in a small Southern American town, like Alabama Southern American not Buenos Aires Southern America).  The town is borderline a religious cult (at one point they do start burning books) that is run by their church preacher.  The minister, John Lithgow of all people (the career he has had is wild), has a tight hold of the laws in the down and has outlawed certain books, rock and roll music and, of course, dancing.  Kevin Bacon, Ren, is not going to conform easily since he is from Chicago, the big smoke, where none of these laws exists.  Throughout the movie he butts heads with the authorities and locals and people dance.  That's the movie in a nutshell.

But there are a number of themes that run throughout.

Kevin Bacon’s Ren is trying to stay true to himself whilst trying to open the eyes of the locals just so he can fit in.  He and this mother left the big city to get away now that his father is no longer there.  A fresh start.  But run-ins with the police and at school have left him frustrated with no release.  We get the famous ‘angry dance’ in the warehouse to “Never” by Moving Pictures when his irritation is at peak levels.  It doesn't help when he starts dating John Lithgow’s daughter.  The Preachers daughter, Ariel, seems to just be stirring things up, she is crazy in this movie.

Ariel is almost the flip side to Ren in this film.  I think Ren is trying to be himself in a society that is not accepting of him.  Whereas Ariel is trying to be someone she isn’t, to act out against the society and, really, her father.  She is constantly disobeying John Lithgow and her introduction to us involves her trying to climb from one moving car to another.  But she stops, preaches one leg on each and starts whooping and wooing at an oncoming truck.  She is reckless.  She screams an oncoming train and during both these events she puts her friends and boyfriend in serious danger.  She has overreacted to an overreaction.  Her brother, John Lithgow’s son was killed in an accident when returning from a party out of town (of course she does the same at the end of the second act), and John Lithgow, Rev. Shaw, has placed a ban on parties, music and dancing etc.

Rev. Shaw has the most interesting story arc for me.  He is the authority in the community and is doing what he believes in the best interest of the town.  As a result Ariel is under stricter rules as the child of the manse, ergo, crazy, wild behaviour.  But throughout the movie Shaw is challenged over and over again.  He uses his judgement as a father and a spiritual leader to make decisions.  However, the rest of the town have been suckered along with this, going further in their steadfastness.  But eventually we see Shaw go over the edge and hit his daughter leading him into re-evaluation of himself and his leadership.  I like how he is contrasted with his wife, who gradually opens up to seeing her daughter live her life when Shaw wants to keep her in a safe, wrapped in bubble wrap.

Let's also not forget the kickass soundtrack.  Kenny Loggins in the 80s must have made a fortune.  Not just having his songs as movie tie-ins but also writing some absolute bangers.  Footloose (the song) is unbelievable.  I absolutely love this track.  I think this has led to my love of the movie even more.  Just play it after a long day at work and you'll understand.