A Review of Footloose (1984): It's My First Time Seeing It, So Stop Giving Me Spoilers!
Can't ya'll let me experience the musical magic I missed?
What 100% of people in the 80s looked like save for Prince and Rick James
I’m to see Footloose - the first one. The one was released in 1984. I have to admit that I've never seen this movie before. I tried once or twice to watch it, but myself and this movie never connected. I always know when I see scenes of it. I used to dance to the theme song in gym class as a 1st grader. I know this movie, but I've never seen this movie. I already wrote a piece on ANOTHER song from this movie. It’s that popular. So I have not seen Footloose (1984), but tonight that's going to change.
Every person I've mentioned this to responds similarly.
"What! That's a classic!"
"I've seen it so many times."
"How have you not seen Footloose?"
"It's weird you haven't seen it before"
"Fu¢k you Michael you piece of shit." (Ok… no one said that one)
It's crazy! How good could this movie be? I guess I'll find out tonight. All I know now (thanks to Natalie and the Alamo Drafthouse bartender) is that Kevin Bacon and Sarah Jessica Parker are in it. Also Diane Wiest, John Lithgow, and Christopher Penn. Thank you soooo much for telling me everything about a movie I'll see tonight. You guys are the BEST! (That was sarcasm if you couldn’t tell.)
Nah I'm just playing around. If a movie has been out for 40 years it's ok to spoil it. What kind of asshole would care about that? A big one... A big one would. This has been my pre-movie breakdown. I'm excited to get back to this after seeing it all at once.
So… What Did You Think Of Footloose?
I cannot tell a lie. Footloose (1984) was a masterpiece. I wish I had seen it 35 years ago. It might have changed my life.
The music was 80s and epic. The pace was quick but let the characters breathe. The amount of explanation was on point, and the dancing was diverse, chaotic, and monumental. "Jumpback" to everyone who kept me away from this film, and big ups to Kevin Bacon, Lori Singer, Sarah Jessica Parker, Christopher Penn, Dianne Wiest, John Lithgow, and the rest of the team that made this modern classic. Well... it was modern at one point. I think this dance drama is a regular classic 40 years after it came out.
Now that I've seen Footloose (1984) I finally get the "Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon" people used to bring up all the time.
So my first viewing of Footloose (1984) was at an Alamo Drafthouse. Rather than going straight into film, the Drafthouse started with Queer Film Theory 101 which outlined in which ways Footloose (1984) was queer. The host went on for about ten minutes diving into the queerness of the “tractor chicken” scene, the queerness of growing up in a small town with repressive parents, and the queerness of the inclusion of Dianne Wiest as the mother figure. That's something Wiest is known for, but I suppose I'm not queer enough to under why. Still, that intro made the movie more amazing. If you're interested, check out Queer Film Theory 101.
So, my quickly decided viewing of Footloose (1984) helped me learn so much about the world. I finally have a good idea of how old Kevin Bacon is. I better understand wanting to get out of the house of repressive parents by going to college or running away. I already had a little thanks to The Bechdel Cast, but I also have a greater understanding of queer film theory. So for me, Footloose (1984) is less of a movie and more of a revolution. It's one of the few times I've seen a movie and knew I wanted to see it again before it ended.
Poor young Michael. He knows not what he missed.
If you are one of the 4 or 5 people who haven't seen Footloose from 1984, you might as well catch up to the rest of the world. It really is a great movie. 5 stars. No, I will not see Hamilton, but I'm excited to see Fame for the first time.
I used to be a meanie face poopy head about any sort of musical drama or musical comedy. I'm fortunate enough to have people reach out to me and let me experience the magic. I wouldn't have watched things like Schmigadoon or Encanto, the play of Rent or the beyond-beautiful Sasha Velour concert on my own. Then again I enjoyed Chicago (2002), Hairspray (1988), Tenacious D in the Pick of Destiny, School of Rock, and Idlewild. I was also a performer in a college production of Hair. Hm... I guess... I contain multitudes, but now I want more of that musical magic.
Footloose ends with a dance party, and you know I love that!
I hope to check out more musical magic I may have missed and I have Footloose (1984) to thank for that. I remember being told there was a time when musical movies were the "it" thing, and while I wouldn't say I wanted that era to return, I'm glad that it existed. So I'm going to dance my way to freedom and I hope you want to dance with me.
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