The film is surprisingly funny, thanks mostly to a great cast. Veteran actors like Dennis Quaid, Andie MacDowell, and Ray McKinnon and Kim Dickens from Deadwood make the most of their underdeveloped roles. The main focus is on the kids, who are all good, especially Miles Teller, who thrives in the role originally played by Chris Penn. Teller is effortlessly funny and charming, easily winning the audience over. He played a much darker role in Rabbit Hole last year. He is going to be a star.

Unfortunately, the dramatic segments of Footloose are less successful. The actors do a fine job, and the film’s heart is in the right place, but there is nothing we haven’t seen before. The film is at its best when it is just trying to be fun. It is fun. During the big climax, members of the audience were clapping and singing a long. I’m sure most of them wanted to get up and dance in the aisles, and I was right there with them. No one needed a remake of Footloose, but I thoroughly enjoyed the film we got. | Sean Lass