There
isn't any logic, reason for remakes in Hollywood--"Clash of the Titans"
really? --and in most cases they are very poorly done, especially when a
'classic' like "Psycho" is redone frame by frame with Anne Heche and now, for whatever reason, they have remade the 1984 movie "Footloose". In a way the picture, far from being a 'classic', has developed a following due to the music and Kevin Bacon.

This new version pays tribute to the old one in many ways such as using four of the old songs, a yellow Volkswagen, the wine colored jacket to the main dance and a lot of the tired cliche, hokey dialogue. By the same token it tries to be up to date with
cellphone use, talk about the recession, showing the result of physical
abuse and though using modern dance moves the film is too rooted in the
past to appear modern.

Close
to two hours the first half of the movie is excruciatingly slow and
though the second half is effective it doesn't look like it will have
the following the older film has.

The direction by Craig Brewer aided by choreographer Jamal Sims shines in parts but they don't add up the whole. Kenny Womald is a much better dancer than Kevin Bacon and, in all probability,
didn't use a dance double as the latter did but he doesn't have the
break out vibe that Bacon had. Julianne Hough is a beautiful woman and an excellent dancer but looks too old to be in high school and/or Womald's love interest. (Whatever happened to Lori Singer?)

Among
the strong supporting cast Miles Teller as Womald's friend really
stands out while Dennis Quaid, Andie MacDowell and the other adults
don't overplay their roles and the other 'teens' hold their own.

There
certainly was no need for a remake of "Footloose" and I think it will
quickly disappear while possibly being a reason for many to check out
the 1984 version. For many, like myself, it is interesting to see them
side by side to understand why the original got the following it did and
what an actor, like Kevin Bacon, can bring to a film.