Footloose has the most 80s of all the 1980s film concepts. A rad urban teenager from Chicago has to move with his mother to a small farming community presumably somewhere in the American Midwest. To say that it's an adjustment for Ren (played by Kevin Bacon in a career-making role) is a bit of an understatement. It sorts of comes across as a sunset town (places where it was abundantly clear that black people were not welcome to stay overnight), but worst of all, there's no dancing. GASP. Dancing has been banned within the town limits of Bomont, thanks to an overzealous minister and a tragedy involving his drunk-driving son. Of course, Ren is not prepared to live in a place where his angst-ridden dance numbers are prohibited, so he channels his teenage rebellion into overturning the unfair restriction. Through the transformative power of music and teen love, he manages to convince the naysayers to allow the high school students a prom complete with dancing. And as cheesy as it sounds, it's a classic. Is it dated? Without a question. But is it also a delightfully entertaining time capsule by which future generations will define the early 1980s? Absolutely.
Audrey Fox is an ex-film student, which means that she prefers to spend her days in the dark, watching movies and pondering the director's use of diegetic sound. She currently works as an entertainment writer, joyfully rambling about all things film and television related. Add her on Twitter at @audonamission and check out her film blog at 1001moviesandbeyond.com.
