Cuttin' it loose in ‘Footloose'

Craig Brewer's "Footloose" is so familiar that one could argue the movie didn't need to be made at all -- just do a digital restoration of the original 1984 version and let theater audiences groove to Kevin Bacon's dance moves all over again.

Yes, Brewer sticks to the original story so closely that he shares screenplay credit with Dean Pitchford, who wrote the '84 version. Yes, he repeats music cues from the original soundtrack -- using both Kenny Loggins' original cut of the title song and a kicky cover by Blake Shelton, as well as Deneice Williams' "Let's Hear It for the Boy." And he even steals actual camera shots from the late director Herbert Ross, from the close-ups of shoes in the opening credits to the lead character's confetti-backed "Let's Dance!" shout.

But Brewer and his young cast -- led by newcomer Kenny Wormald and Julianne Hough -- pump so much energy and heart into this rendition that you can't help but like it.

This review is from The Salt Lake Tribune. To continue reading, please visit sltrib.com.