Footloose

Footloose (1984) is one of the iconic cheesy '80s movies, and I'd rather review it than an R.W. Fassbinder movie just about now. The only reason I have any interest in it is my high school's musical production of it, and I am painfully susceptible to nostalgia. A rewatch the other day reminded me that Footloose is surprisingly good - cheesy and unintentionally funny, sure, but neither is it a bad movie as some would you have you believe.

Ren McCormack (Kevin Bacon) is a big-city kid who moves to the hick town of Bomont after his dad leaves home. He immediately butts heads with Reverend Moore (John Lithgow), who has helped pass a law outlawing dancing and rock music after the death of his son in a car wreck. After being targetted by a gang of local bullies, Ren enlists the help of feisty preacher's daughter Ariel (Lori Singer) and other townspeople to overturn the old law and make Bomont a fun place to live again.

Footloose's charms are very slight but undeniable. Surprisingly, the serious dramatic parts of the movie, particularly the tensions within the Moore family, hold up well, though they occasionally seem out-of-place in a movie with Kevin Bacon doing gymnastics around a grain mill. The main plot isn't implausible per se - it was loosely based on a true story, after all - but it's presented like a low-rent redneck Rebel Without a Cause: the tractor chicken scene being a dubious "highlight". The character interaction, and of course the music, is more enjoyable than the story anyway.

Herbert Ross's direction is perfectly competent, although the film often seems like a half-edited music video. The music is full of excellent pop pieces, many of which -Kenny Loggins's eponymous song, Deniece Williams's Let's Hear it For the Boy, Bonnie Tyler's Holding Out for a Hero - have become standards. The exception being the vomit-inducing Almost Paradise, which makes me want to throw a brick at someone's skull, but God knows I've listened to the soundtrack enough without having to subject myself to it.

Kevin Bacon gives an instant star turn; this isn't his first role (bit parts in Animal House and Friday the 13th) but he really shines here. Bacon really is a fine actor and overcomes the ridiculous aspects of his character to deliver genuine emotion and motivation. John Lithgow gives an excellent straight performance, making the Reverend a layered, sympathetic character, and Dianne Wiest contributes nicely around the edges. It's also amusing to see Chris Penn and Sarah Jessica Parker in early roles. The only blip is the obnoxious and wooden Lori Singer, who thankfully would mostly give up acting after this.

There's something to be said for nostalgia, and Footloose delivers in spades. Embrace the cheesy plot, silly '80s fashions and goofball music video scenes, and you have an enjoyable enough little film. Oh, and everybody cut footloose.