Mum's Monday: Footloose

This film starts off with the iconic, easy dance along and catchy theme song of the same name as the film.

It quickly turns to a quiet town where everyone is in church. Despite the reverend Rev. Shaw Moore (John Lithgow) is preaching it is good and clear to see that youngsters are going to be youngsters no matter what.

It is worrying to see the danger that Ariel (Lori Singer) puts herself in with her friends. This keeps you on the edge of you seat and you have to wander whether she would be doing this if her dad wasn’t so restrictive in his attitude. 

This film shows how much music can make you feel good, everyone is dancing and having a good time. The shock is when Ariel’s dad, Rev Shaw Moore, turns up. The silence is deafening. 

Ren (Kevin Bacon) is a new-comer to the small town. He is used to reading books that are disagreeable to the town and he then turns up at school with his car radio playing loud music. He clearly has a lot to learn about the town.

It is sad to hear the reason why ‘Rock and Roll’ music is banned in the town and although severe, I can see some of the logic in thinking that type of music is bad.

It seems driving tractors is not easy and can be dangerous, that you may want to check your laces. The sound track also really makes the scenes as well.

It is good how this film makes the one watching it see that music can make you feel good, is uplifting and can help when, after or after bad things have happened in your life. You can see why a blanket ban on ‘Rock and Roll’ music leaves the town quiet and subdued in comparison to the youngsters expressing themselves.

It is sad to see Ariel put herself in danger once again, she is definitely not small town. it is good to see that she wants to spread her wings and get away and experience the life she knows is out there, but this high-lights the more you try to restrict someone or something the more determined they are to go against it.

It is also sad to see that just because a new-comer is normal to the outside world he is classed as a trouble maker. The small town does feel like a close knit community bubble; Ren is about to pop.

It is good to see Ariel’s mum (Dianne Wiest) see things clearly and it is good to hear her speak out at last. She is quiet for most of this film but as this film shows, there is only so much a person can take. The script is clever in that we see that she has observed all that has been going on and puts across a good clear point of view. 

It is amusing but lovely to see Willard (Christopher Penn) learn to dance. It turns out after a blundering start he turns out to be a natural dancer. 

It is sad to see the reaction of the local people to the dance. It is sad to see disregard for children being in the house and can a dance really be worth losing a job over. This is sad to see and I worry for the characters.  

The council meeting is very well scripted. Using the bible is a well thought out idea, especially when Rev. Shaw Moore has the words he preaches in church turned back on him.

One of the townsfolk is a strong voice for Rev. Shaw Moore and the town but times seem to be changing. It seems Rev. Shaw Moore has lost the battle, is tired and defeated. This show that being so restrictive can be exhausting. 

It is good to see the film point out that a lot of people lose someone they love. It is not just the towns families that have lost people. It is happening all over. It is how you deal with the loss that what counts.

You can arrange a dance but then you have to get the people to dance.

And you can ‘Footloose’