FootlooseMovie Reviews

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So-so

Avg. Critic Score: 58 out of 100 Mixed or average reviews Metascore^® based on all critic reviews

Information for Parents:

OK for kids 13+

Read Common Sense Media review

Critic scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating more favorable reviews.

91

Entertainment Weekly | Lisa Schwarzbaum
Stepping into sacred shoes once worn by Kevin Bacon, Wormald handily owns the role for a new audience. Same goes for a terrific Miles Teller (Rabbit Hole) in the sidekick role of Willard so memorably originated by the late Chris Penn. Read full review
83

St. Petersburg Times | Steve Persall
Wormald won't make anyone forget Bacon, but he dances better, and without a stand-in. Hough's dance ability is well-known, but she also displays flashes of acting skill. Read full review
75

San Francisco Chronicle | Mick LaSalle
The new Footloose does everything it needs to do. It's a vibrant youth musical that will appeal to audiences who haven't seen the 1984 original. And it has enough charm and life to it to compete with the memory of the earlier version. Read full review
63

Washington Post | Ann Hornaday
Footloose never needed to be dragged into the 21st century, but Brewer has made it look and sound a little bit more like the real world. Read full review
63

ReelViews | James Berardinelli
When the characters in Footloose are dancing and the music is blaring, the film comes alive. It has energy and personality. Would that the same could be said about the dramatic scenes, which are hamstrung by a combination of mediocre acting and atrocious dialogue. Read full review
60

Los Angeles Times | Kenneth Turan
Stays remarkably close to its predecessor in all the ways that count. Read full review
60

Variety | Rob Nelson
Paramount's Footloose reboot never quite cuts loose enough to distinguish itself from the original. Read full review
50

The New York Times | A.O. Scott
Somehow Footloose never finds its rhythm. The maudlin scenes drag on, and the livelier moments pass by too quickly. It only works when it settles down and lets the characters (and the audience) hang out and have a little fun. Read full review
50

USA Today | Claudia Puig
Silly as it was, the first movie had a more innocent and campy spirit than this calculated, if faithful, redo. Read full review
38

Chicago Sun-Times | Roger Ebert
This new Footloose is a film without wit, humor or purpose. Read full review

Metacritic link View more reviews for Footloose on Metacritic

Information for Parents

Common Sense Media says OK for kids 13+ Remake is surprisingly fresh but still faithful to original.

What Parents Need to Know Parents need to know that this remake of the classic '80s dance movie is faithful to the Kevin Bacon original, which nowadays would be rated PG-13. There's plenty of language ("s--t," "a--hole," and more) and some sexual content (from jokes about threesomes and boners to a scene in which a young woman decides to lose her virginity), but nothing overtly graphic or that teens wouldn't hear walking around their schools. There's also a scene in which a small group of teens passes a joint around and then races buses on a dangerous track. But overall the movie's messages are positive -- that teenagers have a voice, that they can make a difference, and that they deserve to be heard.

Families can talk about the relationship between "authority" and Ren. Is he rightfully accused as a troublemaker? When is it right to question authority? Should teens be allowed to complain about the rules and regulations imposed on them?
How does the movie portray teen drinking/drug use and sexuality? Are there realistic consequences?
What's the difference between Ariel's relationship with Chuck and her relationship with Ren? Why does Ren tell her he won't kiss her at first? Teens: Do you think some people hook up just to make their exes angry? How is Ren different than the average teen guy?
Those familiar with the original movie can discuss the differences between the two and the ways the new one updated the story. How is the 2011 version faithful? How is it different? Which do you prefer?

The good stuff

Positive messages: The movie offers several positive messages, from the superficial (it's never too late to learn to dance) to the substantial (teens need to have a voice and to be listened to in order to forge real relationships with their parents and other adults). Even the romantic relationships provide a valuable lesson -- Ren rebuffs Ariel's advances until he feels that she's ready for him and not just getting back at her aggressive ex. Ren's mission to get the local council to reinstate dancing is inspiring.
Positive role models: Ren works hard to fix his car, to create a petition to reinstate public dancing, and even to teach his new best friend how to dance. He's kind to Ariel and is unwilling to kiss her until he's sure the time is right. We even know he nursed his dying mother at the end of her life. He's an all-around cool and mature guy. His aunt and uncle are also good role models of supportive, caring adults who stick up for their nephew. Ren's fellow students are a more diverse group than in the original. On the downside, many of the teens do iffy things, from drinking to dangerous bus races.

What to watch for

Violence: Ariel's boyfriend, Chuck, hits her in the face and gives her a black eye. A fist fight erupts between Chuck (and his friends) and Ren and Willard. Ren and Willard also get into a fight at an Atlanta club. Chuck, Ren, and a few others dangerously race old, tricked-out school buses on a track, and there's a crash that could have hurt someone but doesn't.
Sex: There's a scene in which a teenage girl is obviously about to lose her virginity (she starts unbuttoning her top and asks her boyfriend to shut the door); she later confirms this fact by yelling "I'm not even a virgin" to her parents. Also a few kisses and flirting and jokes about boners, threesomes, and dancers' flexible bodies. More suggestive dancing (grinding, etc.) than in the original.
Language: Frequently used swear words include "bulls--t," "s--t, "a--hole," "dick," "ass," "piss," "dumbass," "screw," "prick," "hell," "damn," "oh my God," and more. One instance in which the derogatory word "fag" is used to describe Ren because he's a gymnast who likes to dance. The guy who says it is then called an "a--hole."
Consumerism: iPod is used and shown in several scenes.
Drinking, drugs and smoking: Teens are shown drinking; Chuck (who's not in high school but could still be under 21) smokes a joint with his friends, some of whom are still in school.

Common Sense Media An independent nonprofit dedicated to providing families the information they need to help kids thrive in a world of media and technology. © Common Sense Media Inc. 2010. All rights reserved.