I just got back from one of the best - and most unexpected - cinema trips I've had in a long while. After much scepticism, sighing, huffing and puffing, I allowed myself to be dragged to see the new Footloose film. I know, it's a remake. And, I know, remakes are generally crap. But trust me when I say, this one's worth seeing.
I think what I loved about it was the fact that, unlike most other remakes I've seen, it didn't try to change things for the sake of being different from the original - it let you enjoy getting all excited and nostalgic when you saw bits you recognised. This film was, pretty much, exactly the same as the 1984 version, but with new actors and a (very unobtrusively) few modern updates (Wren has an iPod. That's pretty much it).
In many cases the characters were better than the original cast, I thought, and the music was a really nice blend of country, modern, and the original songs (one of which was a gorgeous acoustic arrangement). I was initially worried that all the songs would end up being "modernised" into hip hop and the whole thing would end up being a hideous Step Up/Save The Last Dance wannabe within the frame of Footloose. But it wasn't - I think they got the balance just right (she says, while listening to the soundtrack, freshly iTuned).
Beautifully shot, good music, loads of fun. Do yourself a favour - go see it.
