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Movies / On DVD / Footloose
Footloose

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Footloose (1984)

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56 %
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Reviews Counted:32

Fresh:18

Rotten:14

Average Rating:5.6/10

Runtime: 1 hr 47 mins

Genre: Dramas

Synopsis: This classic tale of teen rebellion features a delightful combination of dance choreography and realistic, touching performances. When teenager Ren (Kevin Bacon) and his family move from big-city... This classic tale of teen rebellion features a delightful combination of dance choreography and realistic, touching performances. When teenager Ren (Kevin Bacon) and his family move from big-city Chicago to a small midwestern town, he's in for a real case of culture shock. Though he tries hard to fit in, the streetwise Ren can't quite believe he's living in a place where rock music and dancing are illegal. There is one small pleasure, however: Ariel (Lori Singer), a troubled but lovely blonde--who also has a jealous boyfriend. In fact, it is Ariel's dad (John Lithgow), a Bible-thumping minister, who is responsible for keeping the town dance-free. Ren and his classmates want to do away with this ordinance--especially since the senior prom is around the corner--but only Ren has the courage to initiate a battle. Ren's pent-up frustrations cause a confrontation with Rev. Shaw Moore and the local town council as he takes on the small-town establishment struggling to abolish the outmoded ban and revitalize the spirit of the repressed townspeople. Herb Ross's fast-paced drama is filled with such hit songs as the title track and "Let's Hear It for the Boy" and is a classic of 1980s Brat Pack cinema. [More]

Starring: Kevin Bacon, Lori Singer, John Lithgow, Dianne Wiest

Starring: Kevin Bacon, Lori Singer, John Lithgow, Dianne Wiest, Christopher Penn, Sarah Jessica Parker, John Laughlin, Elizabeth Gorcey, Frances Lee McCain

Director: Herbert Ross

Director: Herbert Ross
Screenwriter: Dean Pitchford
Producer: Lewis J. Rachmil, Craig Zadan
Composer: Miles Goodman

[See More Credits]

Reviews for Footloose

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1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
Bubble View | 1 2 >> >|
Arrange By:Fresh | Rotten | Comments | Name | Source | Date
 
 
Reviews
Tomatometer Critic Review Category
splat

A cynical and manipulative exercise with little feel for the teen culture it purports to celebrate.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Jan., 26 2006 03:16 AM

Time Out

tomato

Only the most cynical would never admit to tapping their toes to Loggins' title track.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Mar., 30 2004 08:19 AM

Channel 4 Film

tomato
4/5

Rob Gonsalves

Footloose wasn't exactly a critical fave, but it didn't try to be hip and it had a relatively light touch, with recognizable human beings on the screen.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Feb., 13 2008 07:46 PM

eFilmCritic.com

tomato

Variety Staff

Essential to the result is young Kevin Bacon, superb in the lead part.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Feb., 12 2008 12:07 PM

Variety

splat
2/5

Felix Vasquez Jr.

No review available.

comment Comment | Feb., 05 2008 07:07 AM

Film Threat

tomato
3/4

The movie features some good dancing -- not nearly enough, however -- and a fine, understated performance by Lithgow in a role that might easily lend itself to caricature.

Full Review Source: | comment 1 Comment | Jan., 30 2007 10:16 PM

TV Guide's Movie Guide

tomato

Dave Kehr

Herbert Ross directed this odd but reasonably effective blend of rock music and didactic melodrama.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Jan., 30 2007 10:15 PM

Chicago Reader

tomato
3/5

Rob Vaux

An 80s milestone, for better or for worse... and a key link to any game of Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon.

comment Comment | Sep., 02 2005 05:19 PM

Flipside Movie Emporium

splat
2/5

Philip Martin

No review available.

comment Comment | Jul., 08 2005 08:59 AM

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

tomato
4/5

Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat

A lively and entertaining youth drama about the coming of change in a repressive small town.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Mar., 31 2005 01:44 PM

Spirituality and Practice

splat
2/5

Todd Jorgenson

No review available.

comment Comment | Feb., 17 2005 10:31 AM

Denton Record Chronicle (TX)

tomato
3/5

Emanuel Levy

No review available.

comment Comment | Dec., 18 2004 08:43 PM

EmanuelLevy.Com

splat
1.5/4

Roger Ebert

Footloose is a seriously confused movie that tries to do three things, and does all of them badly.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Oct., 23 2004 10:39 PM

Chicago Sun-Times

tomato
4/5

Nell Minow

No review available.

comment Comment | Sep., 23 2004 06:37 PM

Movie Mom at Yahoo! Movies

tomato
3/5

Ken Hanke

OK teen flick that time has treated kindly.

comment Comment | Aug., 02 2004 11:18 AM

Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

tomato
3/5

Andy Klein

No review available.

comment Comment | May., 29 2004 02:51 AM

New Times

splat
2/5

Carol Cling

No review available.

comment Comment | Feb., 27 2004 02:56 PM

Las Vegas Review-Journal

splat
1/5

Bob Grimm

No review available.

comment Comment | Nov., 19 2003 11:10 PM

Las Vegas CityLife

tomato
3/5

Jurgen Fauth

No review available.

comment Comment | Oct., 16 2003 04:19 PM

About.com

tomato
3/5

Fred Topel

I know it's a classic, but I wanted more dancing. Great hair though.

comment Comment | Jul., 14 2003 12:38 AM

About.com

 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
Bubble View | 1 2 >> >|
all

Latest News for Footloose

October 26, 2009: Kenny Ortega Quits Footloose Remake Opens in new window
Citing disagreements over the tone and budget of the film, director Kenny Ortega has left Paramount's upcoming "Footloose" remake. More...

May 20, 2009: Chace Crawford Lands Footloose Lead Opens in new window
Zac Efron's loss is Chace Crawford's gain: Crawford, a member of the "Gossip Girl" cast, has been hired to replace Efron in the upcoming "Footloose" remake. More...

March 23, 2009: Zac Efron Declines Opportunity to Kick Off His Sunday Shoes Opens in new window
After more than a year and a half attached to the project, Zac Efron has pulled out of Paramount's "Footloose" remake. More...

October 28, 2008: Paramount Fast-Tracks Efron's Footloose Opens in new window
After watching "High School Musical 3" take over the box office last weekend, Paramount wasted no time in fast-tracking its Zac Efron-led "Footloose" remake. More...

See All

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