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Most movie remakes are disappointing, falling far short of the original. However, that’s not the case with the new “Footloose,” an updated take on the classic ‘80s film that inspired teens and adults alike. Despite having big dancing shoes to fill, the revamped version lives up the original, maintaining the same story, just with more relevant language, dance moves, and attitude. The result: a film that still resonates with viewers today, but of course is more Millennial-centric…The film’s music also gets an update, but was carefully chosen to pay homage to the original. In fact, most of the songs are the same — “Holding Out for a Hero,” “Almost Paradise,” “Let’s Hear It for the Boy,” and of course the infamous “Footloose” anthem, but this time Blake Shelton replaces Kenny Loggins. A range of other contemporary artists including Cee Lo Green, Zac Brown of Zac Brown Band, and Victoria Justice are also included to appeal to Millennials. We doubt the new rendition of “Footloose” will have as profound of an effect on today’s viewers as the original, yet the music in the remake maintains the high energy and passion that the film stands for.

Although it’s been almost 30 years since the original “Footloose” was released, the film is still pertinent to viewers as the power of music and dance is timeless. It’s particularly relevant for Millennials as they consume music more than any other medium and they can’t imagine life without it. Moreover, musicals and music-oriented TV shows have found a place among the Millennial audience. Stemming from the “High School Musical” craze, now a plethora of programs from “Glee” and “The X Factor,” to “Hannah Montana” and “Victorious” center on music; clearly this medium is important to Gen Y.

And while Millennials have grown up with the release of many musical remakes including “Hairspray,” “Dirty Dancing,” and “Chicago,” “Footloose” arguably offers something different; music and dance don’t dominate the film. Instead, both are organically incorporated to further the story.

The biggest change in today’s “Footloose” is the depiction of a small town. In both films, the rural kids are prohibited from most typical teenage experiences, like playing loud music, dancing, and staying out past 10pm. Whereas the original “Footloose” depicted a closed-off rural community in Oklahoma, the new version presents an updated country setting in which the small town kids of Bomont, Georgia, don’t seem that different from students in urban places.

Shots of the hallway at Bomont High show thattheir clothes are fairly similar to most modern American youth; almost every student is wearing jeans, t-shirts, plaid shirts, or hoodies. Ren stands out from them having grown up in Boston, but Bomont teens aren’t that different, as he soon discovers. And even though they’re not exposed to as much as city kids since they’re sheltered under their town’s strict rules, they still know how to act — and dance — like kids in urban areas, as exemplified by their freestyle moves at the drive in. Even their country-line dance sequence isn’t so small town.

The film’s themes are also applicable to today’s teens as music still serves a similar purpose for them; it’s a type of self-expression that helps youth find meaning during their formative years. Ren’s angry dance for example — an essential part of both versions of the film — reflects a very Millennial-esque idea of going to an isolated place and letting off steam through song. The typical image of teens blasting music in their bedroom or car when they’re frustrated or upset is exactly what Ren does in the empty warehouse, but of course his outlet includes dancing.

The movie also addresses other Millennial-focused ideas: rebellion and political activism. Teens are always going to rebel, whether they’re surrounded by strict rules or not, but the film discusses this in a touching way about youth rebelling to deal with pain. Political activism is also presented through Ren’s eagerness to create a change and overcome the rules that are meant to be broken. These themes come across just as powerful in the reboot, bridging the gap between the two generations.

The updated film has charm, character, and all the right moves, keeping the original movie’ s message; regardless of one’s age, the film reminds us that sometimes you just have to cut loose!

Footloose