In short - this generation's Footloose was considerably better than I expected. I kind of expected to hate it. But it turns out to be fairly respectful re-imagining of the original. And when I say re-imagining I mean almost exactly the same except for the addition of iPods.
As a whole the 2011 film tracked the 1984 one very closely, including most of the key songs and scenes. Though occasionally in updated ways. For example they've reducing the vaguely positive messages around drinking and driving that appear in the original. And slipped in some reinterpreted covers of some of the classic tunes. Thankfully the title song was kept intact and used to open and close the picture. Each of the actors has in some way modeled their character the original performances as touchstones. With Kenny Wormald's performance as main character Ren particularly consistent with Bacon's. In that the performance is enjoyable but retains the occasionally awkwardly unbelievable city kid in the south who loves to dance feeling. Though to be blunt Wormald is likely in reality a more skilled dancer.
I'm not joking about it being largely the same film, hitting all the familiar beats. There are clear additional examples of improvements - the two most obvious include more varied dance styles and the filmmakers finding the South's citizens of non Caucasian backgrounds that had been lost in the 1984 version. As part of the tweak's the backstory has been modified - with dancing being banned as part of a teen curfew fixed after the tragic death of teens heading home late at night. The driver being the son of the local preacher. So yeah, it's possible the basis for the no dancing ban may actually make even LESS sense in the updated version. The dancing has been made just a bit dirtier and those who are supposed to be flaunting themselves to get back at daddy do so more aggressively. The overall acting (or perhaps the dialog) hasn't made any big advances in the past twenty years either. But the pivotal "dance your ass off" shirt hasn't been lost to history.
All in all watching the new Footloose was pretty fun. In a way reminiscent yet attenuated from the original. For viewers catching the remake first it's possible this one will work better - I'm quite aware how much my early teen nostalgia plays into my perceptions on this one. I was pretty aghast that someone has the audacity to violate my childhood by redoing this guilty pleasure. But I'll admit when I'm wrong - this is somewhat unnecessary but solid entertainment. Perhaps without my bias it would have been truly a lot of fun. The only downside I can see is that watching the new Footloose can make one feel both young at heart yet really freaking old.
In terms of unnecessary remakes that just sound ridiculous and feel like an affront to my teens appears we're not done. They've still got Red Dawn planned. Even if I was wrong about Footloose I'm sure that one they'll seriously fuck up. In the spirit of generational cooperation if we can all agree to stay the heck away from Say Anything maybe I'll let that one slide. OK?
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