Buy the DVD:

Sponsored Links:

Footloose – Special Collector’s Edition

When “Footloose” burst onto the screen in 1984, it unleashed a litany of hit songs and launched Kevin Bacon into superstardom.

Bacon plays Ren McCormick, a big city teen who’s shocked when he moves to a small town and finds out dancing is against the law. With the help of a country boy friend (Christopher Penn) and a reckless local girl (Lori Singer), Ren takes on a prominent minister (John Lithgow) and the town council, to put on a senior prom.

Screenwriter Dean Pitchford – who conceived of the plot when he heard about a real town that had banned dancing – co-wrote all the songs, so they really are an integral part of the story. The title track (performed by Kenny Loggins) hit number one and was nominated for an Academy Award. Others, like “Let’s Hear It for the Boy” and “Holding Out for a Hero”, sold well, and are still considered classics of the era.

The collector’s DVD includes featurettes on the real town that inspired the movie, the making of the film, and the history of the songs. Bacon provides one of the commentaries; a second is done by Pitchford and producer Craig Zadan. They are both very interesting and enlightening (wait ‘til you hear why one of the studio execs initially rejected Bacon for the lead), though they do get a bit repetitive.

The movie itself is – on the surface – simplistic, but the freedom-of-expression theme elevates the story without getting overly preachy. Combined with the jubilant pop soundtrack, “Footloose” is still a winner.

Written by: Auriette Lindsey

Reviewers Rating: 9.5
Reader's Rating: 9.00
Reader's Votes: 1

Rate It