Footloose

I purchased this staple 80s movie yesterday with a gift card. Love it though, Kevin Bacon could definitely be put under suspicion. A little too loose with the dance moves if you ya know what I mean.

I remember when this movie came out. My mom loved it. Willard reminded her of her younger brother. We all know a Willard. I know several. The farm boy who learned to dance. But that isn't what the movie is about. Those of us children/teens of the 80s can sum up the story well. A preacher goes hell bent on saving the town of Beaumont from sin after his son is killed in a car accident. He leads the town in banning rock music, dancing and books. His logic was that dancing leads to sexual irresponsibility. His wife, a quiet little bird with common sense, tries to rope the Reverend in. "Kids looking at each other gets them excited! Are you going to poke their eyes out?!" "I thought you would support me, Vi. Meow. I'm going to roll over and go to sleep now for dramatic effect."

This Reverend took on so much. He deems himself "responsible for the spiritual life of this community" by passing laws. Wow. My pastors have a lot to live up to. Rev. Shaw had a whole community to take care of so he had little time left for his teenage daughter who likes to dance, loves rock and roll.

Things start heating up when Ren rolls into town and decides to hold a dance. Then the climatic scene...Ren has to give his speech and what does the Reverend's daughter do? What do all pastor's daughters do? They flip out and rebel! No, no, no...this girl could have turned from the very thing taking up all of her father's time (God) but she turned to Him. She gave Ren a bible. Deep down, she knew it wasn't God's will to ban certain kinds of music, dancing, drinking, gambling, and books. Ariel gave Ren God's words to try to get through to the people of Beaumont. Ren, who claimed to be such a horrid speaker suddenly becomes a professional in front of the board. There is a time to every purpose under heaven. There is a time to dance.

The town really gets fired up after Ren gives his speech. His mom gets canned from her job, bullies throw a brick through the window. People start freaking out all over the place and the Rev. was facing a monster of his own creation. The final straw was when the book burning began. Rev. Shaw unleashes his anger and gets to see what a hypocrite he has been. "When did you all decide to sit in judgment? When were you elected to save everyone's souls in the city of Beaumont? Satan is not in these books. He's in here...in your hearts. Go home and sit in judgment of yourselves."

And then, everyone starts treating each other with love and graciousness: a happy ending. Well, after the fight there's a happy ending. I love the fight, too.

Rusty: No fights, Willard (punch, kick, slap)
Willard: (getting punched) what do you want me to do, Rusty?
Rusty: Kill the son of a bitch!
Ren suddenly runs out of the barn because he just had this sneaky suspicion that Chuck was there beating up his friends...what a guy.
Chuck: Hey, it's Mr. Dance Fever.
Ren: Yeah you're a real g-d d--m hero when it's 5 to 1. (punch, kick, punch, punch).
Ren: Let's Dance!

A couple of final thoughts about the movie:
That show, Joan of Arcadia where God takes on a different character...well, I think God was Andy, Ren's boss. Watch Andy next time the movie comes on TBS some random Saturday afternoon (or borrow mine). He's this quiet, character who doesn't say much but holds a lot of wisdom.

What a sweet soundtrack. I bought it in college. Everyone should have a copy.

For never dancing, these kids sure had some stylin moves.

Question, why in the world did Ariel give Ren a musicbox? And he liked it! Corn.

Soooo, kiddies, what movie shall we review next? Sixteen Candles? Top Gun? What has my life turned into...