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I’ll never fully get used to or even like the idea of popular films from my early years getting remade, simply because there’s apparently no original ideas left in Hollywood. But the new FOOTLOOSE update looks more like a STEP UP movie than a nod to the source title film. It’s directed by Craig Brewer, who previously made flicks like HUSTLE AND FLOW and BLACK SNAKE MOAN… not exactly the guy you’d expect to be at the helm on this, but okay. This version stars Kenny Wormald (in the Kevin Bacon role), Julianne Hough (of DANCING WITH THE STARS fame), Andie MacDowell (of GROUNDHOG DAY fame) and Dennis Quaid (who I have to say looks convincingly unhappy here). Now granted, this movie is obviously not made for people like me, but in all honestly seeing these small town folks doing choreographed dance numbers and backflips off cars is a little much. Maybe Brewer can pull something great out of this, but I can’t even pretend to be excited about it. Maybe the new FOOTLOOSE can start up a franchise of “dance” films much like STEP UP did… oh, we should all be so lucky.
Writer/Director Craig Brewer (“Hustle & Flow,” “Black Snake Moan”) delivers a new take of the beloved 1984 classic film, “Footloose.” Ren MacCormack (played by newcomer Kenny Wormald) is transplanted from Boston to the small southern town of Bomont where he experiences a heavy dose of culture shock. A few years prior, the community was rocked by a tragic accident that killed five teenagers after a night out and Bomont’s local councilmen and the beloved Reverend Shaw Moore (Dennis Quaid) responded by implementing ordinances that prohibit loud music and dancing. Not one to bow to the status quo, Ren challenges the ban, revitalizing the town and falling in love with the minister’s troubled daughter Ariel (Julianne Hough) in the process.
FOOTLOOSE opens October 14, 2011
Born and raised in Dallas, Mark has been a movie critic since 1994, with reviews featured in print, radio and National TV. In 2001 he started the Entertainment section of the Herorealm website, where he contributed film reviews and celebrity interviews until 2004. After three years of service there, he started Bigfanboy.com, which has become one of the Dallas film community's leading information websites. Bigfanboy hosts several movie screenings in the Texas area, and works closely with film and TV studios and promotional partners to host exciting events and contests. The site also features a variety of rare celebrity and filmmaker interviews, and Bigfanboy.com regularly covers the film festival circuit as well. In addition to Hollywood reporting, Mark has worked for many years as an advertising and sci-fi/comic book artist. Clients have included Lucasfilm Ltd., Topps Trading Cards, The Dallas Mavericks and The Dallas Stars. From 2002 until 2015 he managed the Dallas Comic Con, Sci-Fi Expo and Fan Days events in the DFW area. He currently catalogs rare comic books and movie memorabilia for Heritage Auctions, and runs the Dallas Comic Show conventions, but remains an avid moviegoer and cinema buff. 
