REVIEW: Not Just Your Average Remake, Footloose Has All the Right Moves

God save Craig Brewer’s Footloose, which is less a movie for today’s audiences than for yesterday’s — and I mean that in the good way. This is a pop entertainment made with an eye for detail: When our teen hero and the young woman he’s been wooing move in for their first kiss, the setting sun peeps out from behind their conjoined silhouettes. Corny, right? Get this: The rays beam out through a star filter. You can roll your eyes at the obviousness of it all, or you can marvel that a filmmaker cared to make a choice so traditional, so clichd, that it becomes a kind of pop-culture mission statement. It’s as if Brewer is taking a stand for movies that look like movies instead of audience hipness barometers. Brewer made a splash in 2005 with the well-received Hustle & Flow, and in 2006 squandered all the goodwill he’d earned from audiences and critics with Black Snake Moan, an even better and far more daring movie with Southern biblical righteousness deep in its soul. (Lots of viewers seemed to have trouble with the idea of Christina Ricci’s being chained to a radiator by Samuel L. Jackson, but in the context of the story and its setting, the image was hardly gratuitous.) Brewer, who spent most of his childhood in Memphis, is one of the few contemporary filmmakers I know of who can make movies about the South without sentimentalizing it, glorifying it or looking down on it. Which may be part of the reason this new Footloose is set in Georgia, while Herbert Ross’ 1984 original — the movie that made a star out of Kevin Bacon and became a pop-culture phenomenon in its own right — was set in Oklahoma. Shoving aside all the “Who needs to remake Footloose?” arguments that have swirled around in the past year — whoever needs to remake anything? — this new Footloose, while respectful of the original, is bold about staking its claim as an old-fashioned entertainment for the age of the iPod. Kenny Wormald, a dancer who grew up in Boston (he was born the year the original was released), stars as Ren McCormack, a high schooler who finds himself transplanted to the home of his Uncle Wes (a deadpan-jovial Ray McKinnon) after his mother’s death. The town is called Bomont, and three years before Ren’s arrival, a group of teenagers were killed in a car accident after a night of dancing and, as the high-stepping opening montage clearly spells out, drinking. In his grief, Reverend Shaw Moore (Dennis Quaid), the father of one of the boys, persuaded the city council to ban underage dancing in the town. And as it turns out, the reverend’s saucy daughter Ariel (Dancing with the Stars’ Julianne Hough) is the first local girl Ren notices upon his arrival. Ren is the quintessential good kid: He takes an extremely unglamorous job at a local cotton mill (its barnlike environs will come in handy later) and rebuffs a redneck stoner who tries, as a way of framing him, to hand him a joint. Still, Ren gets in trouble with the local authority figures, including Reverend Moore, who vehemently disapproves of Ren even though he barely knows the kid. And really, all Ren wants to do is dance. He unleashes his pent-up anger at the local grown-ups — in a version of Bacon’s original signature pissed-off dance — in an old barn, where he tumbles, scissor-kicks and swings from the rafters. (He’s a gymnastics kid, too.) Wormald makes an admirably low-key heartthrob, like a sexier version of the young John Cryer. And with his ruffian pompadour, he would have looked at home in 1984 or 1964: Leaping and kicking around that barn in his jeans and white Converse, he could be a Jet straight out of West Side Story. That’s the vibe Brewer taps so cheerfully here, and his performers are unapologetic about channeling the “Hey kids, let’s put on a show!” moxie that he asks of them. Hough isn’t as appealing as Wormald is — she has a shrewdly appraising demeanor, and she doesn’t soften up enough as the movie goes on. But her spitfire brassiness works well enough, particularly by the time her character gives Ren the bible — complete with applicable underlined verses — he’ll need to persuade the town elders to overturn their no-dance policy. As he guides us toward that teen barn-burner of a speech, Brewer does a hundred little things right: The local adult who secretly allows the kids to hold dance parties is the owner of the local drive-in where they hang out, and he’s a black guy (he’s played by Brewer regular Claude Phillips) — someone’s got to stand in opposition to the town’s clueless, squaresville white people. The movie’s second bananas — Rusty, played by a young dazzler named Ziah Colon, and Willard, Miles Teller (of Rabbit Hole) — are perfectly cast, and they’re part of a mix of friends Ren makes in his new town. (Like lots of young people in America, but not in the movies, Ren hangs out with pals of all races — Ser’Darius Blain plays his buddy Woody — without having a neon “Interracial Friendship” sign hanging overhead.) And just after the movie’s most misguided character, Quaid’s weatherbeaten reverend, confesses the error of his ways in front of his congregation, he announces the hymn: It’s “Just As I Am,” a song that speaks of humility and human frailty, not jubilance. It’s a little moment of grace tucked amid the movie’s unabashed pop-culture pleasures. And then there’s the dancing: There’s probably more ho-hum bumping and grinding than there was in the original Footloose, but much of the dancing is still great fun to watch — the sequences are exuberant and, thankfully, not cut to ribbons. There’s country line dancing (which Ren refers to, with wise-ass affection, as “the white man’s wet dream”), groups of black kids kicking it up on the asphalt, and, finally, the moment when all the young people of Bomont come together at their hard-earned prom. Whirling and shuffling on the dance floor, they’ve reclaimed a basic pleasure and a right. Dancing is just fun. You don’t need a remake of Footloose to remind you of that — though if you’re anything like me, you probably can’t remember the last time you did it yourself.

MTV's 'DISconnected': Maria Finds out You Will Discover Eyes Everywhere (Exclusive Video)

Incorporated in MTV's "Just A Little DifferenceInch campaign, its new original movie, DISconnected, explores youth culture as well as the drama from the digital world. As Well As The Hollywood Reporter posseses an early preview in the movie premiering Monday at 9 p.m. PHOTOS: MTVVMA's Chart-Topping Styles DISconnected follows four youthful individuals who live in different urban centers, but know each other in the live streaming website. No matter the length, their digital associations possess an approach to bleeding for their physical cell phone industry's. And all sorts of-in-one evening, they uncover that people interactions are resulting in their lives to spiral using their control. In THR's exclusive sneak look above, Maria (Lindsey Morgan) reaches a bar and among her pals carrying out a confrontation along with her boyfriend has entirely inflated online. While she tries to get her mind from this, she'll get caught in the compromising position and you'll find eyes everywhere. MTV's "Just A Little DifferenceInch campaign was produced to empower youthful people to recognize, respond to, and stop multiplication of digital abuse inside their existence and among their peers. Email: Jethro.Nededog@thr.com Twitter:@TheRealJethro RELATED Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi and Simon Cowell Have Mutual Love Fest for Each Other's Shows 'Beavis and Butt-Mind' Trailer Pokes Fun at 'Jersey Shoreline,' ཌ and Pregnant' (Video) More MTV Coverage on THR MTV

Tech summit sound system set

Favreau Mayer Multi-hyphenate Jon Favreau and Disney's Kevin Mayer are situated since the keynote sound system at Variety's Entertainment and Technology Summit, March. 17 within the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Marina del Rey.The confab includes showbiz and tech honchos to check out the changing business landscape for entertainment and technology industries.Favreau has extended juggled eclectic projects just like a author, helmer, producer and actor. Just like a director, his latest release was "Cowboys and Aliens."Mayer might be a button House's professional veep of corporate strategy and business development. He runs the crowd that examines potential purchases additionally to technology and business models.Variety's Entertainment and Technology Summit is co-situated by Digital Hollywood. Contact Variety Staff at news@variety.com

Touscoprod widens scope

Film crowdfunding website Touscoprod is broadening its scope with a new format open to all content, ranging from TV series to musicvids, toons and shorts. Paris-based Touscoprod was launched in 2009 by Nicolas Bailly and Barbara Tonelli as a full-service co-production and distribution Web platform. It helps to fund two projects a month. The website will now welcome all type of programs from cybernauts seeking financing. "The idea is to give filmmakers the opportunity to have their own webpage hosted on Touscoprod and manage it themselves," said Tonelli, who participated in a panel on crowdfunding at Mipcom. "That way, they'll benefit from our traffic and online community to build a buzz around their films and raise funds." The concept will remain the same: Web users can check Touscoprod's online catalog and invest $10 or more to become co-producers. Touscoprod keeps 10% of the project's profits for the company and gives contributors a return on their investment or a refund if a project isn't made. Touscoprod is also launching a free VOD platform. Tonelli said the company has signed deals with Univercine and KMBO, among other catalog rights-holders.Filmmakers who place their projects on Touscoprod will be able to buy titles on the company's VOD site and offer them to cybernauts who contribute to their projects' financing, explained Tonelli. Touscoprod has co-financed 19 projects and raised more than 600,000 ($800,000).One of its current films is "Confessions d'un enfant du siecle," toplining Pete Doherty and Charlotte Gainsbourg, based on the autobiography of 19th century French author, poet and dramatist Alfred de Musset. Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

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Lifetime Greenlights Movie About Mental Illness Starring & Produced By Kristin Davis

EXCLUSIVE: Sex And The City alumna Kristin Davis has signed on to star in and executive produce Of Two Minds, a Lifetime original movie that deals with mental illness. Tammy Blanchard will star opposite Davis in the film, which chronicles the relationship between a woman (Davis) and her younger sister (Blanchard), who has schizophrenia. British director Jim OHanlon (The Deep) will direct from a script by Richard Friedenberg (The 19th Wife). Also producing the movie are Frank Konigsberg and Daniel Ostroff. Filming is slated to begin in mid-November in Los Angeles. Davis, repped by UTA and Mosaic, will next be seen in Journey 2: The Mysterious Island. ICM-repped Blanchard is currently seen in Moneyball.

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Exclusive: Debbi Morgan Finally Talks About Her Hush-Hush Role on The Young and the Restless

Debbi Morgan There will soon be a lot of Harmony in Genoa City... and some folks won't like it one bit. Emmy-winning phenom Debbi Morgan - formerly Dr. Angie Hubbard on All My Children - will join The Young and the Restless on Friday, October 7 as the ne'er-do-well, drug-addict mother of Devon Hamilton (Bryton James). Fans are already familiar with Morgan's character, who was previously known as Yolanda when the role was played by Chene Lawson (2005-06). These days, Yolanda has gotten off the crack, named herself Harmony and has started a new life as a waitress in a Milwaukee diner. TV Guide Magazine went down to the Y&R set to chat with Morgan about her hot new gig and, of course, to fire off the million-dollar question: Will she and Peter Bergman (Jack) finally get around to that interracial love affair they weren't allowed to have 22 years ago on AMC?TV Guide Magazine: You've always been a big Y&R nut, right?Morgan: I have always loved Y&R! [Laughs] I always use to say to Victoria Rowell, "I hate you, Vicky! I wish they'd get rid of you so I could come on that show because you know they'd never have two black divas on at the same time! Or maybe you should go do Angie and I'll do Drucilla!" We used to laugh about that all the time. Who'd have ever thunk?TV Guide Magazine: Tell us about Harmony.Morgan: It's so nice to step into a new pair of shoes. From the moment you see Harmony she's 180 degrees away from Angie. Angie was the earth mother. Harmony has a real edge to her and, unlike Angie, she is not an educated woman. She had no relationship with Devon from the time he was born. She was an addict who gave her child to the grandmother to take care of, and when the grandmother died, the boy fell into the foster care system. Now she's got her act together, or at least she's trying.TV Guide Magazine: What brings her back to Genoa City? Morgan: She has no idea what's been happening with Devon - that his father, Tucker [Stephen Nichols], is the son of Katherine Chancellor [Jeanne Cooper]. In fact, that's still a big secret in Genoa City until Phyllis [Michelle Stafford] puts the story on the Internet. Harmony sees the news on a customer's laptop while working at the diner and makes a beeline to Genoa City to reconnect with Devon. Needless to say, she doesn't get a warm reception. Devon's furious that she abandoned him and doesn't want anything to do with her.TV Guide Magazine: What's Tucker's reaction?Morgan: It's revealed that Devon was the result of a one-night stand between Harmony and Tucker. That night meant the world to her - Tucker was the love of her life - but it meant so little to him that he doesn't even recognize Harmony when they meet again. Not a clue! It's like a dagger through her heart.TV Guide Magazine: And Mrs. Chancellor?Morgan: [Laughs] Oh, she wants Harmony to stay in Genoa City for her own selfish reasons. She and Tucker are at odds and she wants to stick it to him! Ulterior motives, baby! And Harmony knows it. She's not that stupid! I just love that Jeanne Cooper. What a hoot.TV Guide Magazine: How long has Harmony been sober? Does her druggie past remain a big issue here? Morgan: I would say she's been clean for the last year or so and you see her on the phone, checking in with her sponsor. There are always those emotional triggers that are a danger when you're an addict and the rejection from Devon is a big one. But she's holding on and keeping strong. When you feel you're alone and have no love in your life you can so easily relapse, so this is harder than she could ever imagine. But she's determined to stay and keep fighting in hopes her son will someday accept her.TV Guide Magazine: What's with your character's name change?Morgan: [Executive producer-head writer] Maria Bell told me she just hated the name Yolanda! And so, because Yolanda and Tucker both used to be in the music business, Maria came up with the name Harmony. The back story is that Tucker managed a rock band in the '80s and Yolanda was a groupie who followed the band around from city to city. She got pregnant by him and was afraid to tell him, so she went instead to the road manager who wound up offering her money to get an abortion. She was just livid! When she meets up with Tucker in Genoa City, he claims he had no idea the manager did that. She's not sure whether to believe him or not. She wants to believe she's not just a piece of something on the bottom of Tucker's shoe, but then he really goes after her, telling her she's a no-good mother.TV Guide Magazine: So I guess we won't see Harmony and Tucker resuming any kind of love affair... or will we?Morgan: Well, through all his anger she does find a moment of hope here or there, hope that maybe she did mean something to him. She thinks he protests too much! So I'm hoping we get to play with that a little bit more.TV Guide Magazine: What about Harmony and Jack Abbott? When you and Peter Bergman tried a romance back on AMC there were so many complaints from the audience that Bergman wound up getting fired.Morgan: Who knows? [Laughs] Maybe Harmony will turn out to be the black Erica Kane! People have already been connecting the dots and are assuming that Harmony will wind up with Neil [Kristoff St. John]. It'd be really great if we went somewhere unexpected. That was such a thing with Peter back in the day! AMC was getting all that hate mail and we knew they'd have to break up Cliff and Angie and that one of us would be out of a job. I just assumed it would be me, but it was Peter! He had just bought an apartment in NY. His wife was pregnant. I was so shocked they did that to him. But then one day Peter calls me from Los Angeles and says he's going to an audition to be Terry Lester's replacement on Y&R and I said, "Peter, do not walk to that audition. F--king run! It will be the role of a lifetime!" [Laughs] He tells that story to this day!TV Guide Magazine: Why did you jump to another soap so quickly? You are one of the rare few in daytime who has also juggled major films and primetime, too. Why not see what else is out there?Morgan: Being a woman in this business, being of a certain age group, being an African American, the jobs just aren't there for me in big numbers. Although right after I signed a two-year deal with Y&R, my manager got a call that there was interest to have me play opposite Denzel Washington in the movie Flight, which is shooting from October to December. [Laughs] The timing could not have been worse! But you know what? I'm OK with it, because I wasn't going to turn down a part like this on the No. 1 soap! Maybe if I was in my twenties or my thirties I might have held out. But not now. I took this job before it was announced that AMC was going to the Internet and now people ask me if I regret not staying there. Absolutely not! This is business.TV Guide Magazine: And, as you know, these shows would drop you like a hot potato if it suited them!Morgan: [Laughs] Ain't that the truth! On my first day at Y&R, I ran into Jacob Young in the hallway at CBS. We'd done AMC together and he just went to The Bold and the Beautiful. I jumped up into his arms and we just howled and howled with laughter at the craziness of it all!Subscribe to TV Guide Magazine now!

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First Look: Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman Team Up on The Brave and the Bold

Batman We sure are gonna miss Batman: The Brave and the Bold. Only a handful of episodes remain of the exuberant Cartoon Network series, and clearly there's no been no slacking off in the writers' room. This week's installment, "Triumvirate of Terror" (airing Friday, October 7 at 6/5c), is a charming and lighthearted tribute to the "Big 3" of DC Comics, with Superman and Wonder Woman teaming up with the Dark Knight. The trio meets at a diner for a meal of bacon cheeseburgers, fries and shakes while discussing what items to leave in a superhero time capsule. The fun doesn't last for long when their archenemies - the Joker, Lex Luthor and Cheetah - plan a team-up of their own. After years of futility they decide to switch adversaries: Luthor takes on Batman, Joker goes after Wonder Woman and Cheetah faces Superman.As always, the guest casting is superb, including The Cleveland Show's Kevin Michael Richardson as Lex Luthor, V vet Morena Baccarin voicing Cheetah and Hitchcock icon Tippi Hedren as Wonder Woman's mother, Queen Hippolyta.Also showcasing the series' whimsical tone is the episode's hilarious opening segment, featuring a baseball game between the Justice League and the Legion of Doom which includes a comically endearing pep talk from Batman: "Even in baseball, good always triumphs over evil."Subscribe to TV Guide Magazine now!

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