Think Footloose is a chick flick?
Matt explains why it’s aimed squarely at dudes
Theres a common misconception thatFootlooseis a chick flick.
How could it be?
I like it, and Im the manliest goddamn man there is.
I open jars that my wife cant.
I lift up heavy things, like shopping bags filled with jars.
I have a beard.
I stub my toe and call my coffee table a dickhead.
I eat steak and drink beer.
I know how to do a roundhouse kick.
I can do four different kinds of push up.
I am a manly man.
The propaganda campaign that has been running to dissuade men from watchingFootlooseneeds to be discredited.
Thats what this list is.
All you musclebound testosterone bags out there have been missing out on this classic piece of tough guy cinema.
Here are ten reasonsFootlooseis a film for men.
Of course, Lithgow is always a strong presence, regardless of the film.
Its cool, guys.
Tops off cinema with men is fun.
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2.
Kevin Bacon
My goodness, Kevin Bacon and John Lithgow in the same film?
This is an embarrassment of actorly riches.
Kevin Bacon gives us a different but equally important shade of masculinity with his performance as Ren McCormack.
Ren is a strong willed, excitable rebel.
Hes intellectual, warm, charismatic and has nice eyes.
Rens arrival really shakes up the small town and people band around him or come together against him.
Ren inspires those close to him.
He makes them better people.
Chris Penn
Chris Penn was a great actor and hes sadly missed.
Hes only a young man inFootloose.
Penns Willard is a frustrated man, but hes actually quite lovely.
Hes a proper character.
Willard is trapped by the idea of being a man.
Hes unsure of how to display affection to his girlfriend.
He doesnt know how to dance and hes worried people will find out.
Also, isnt dancing a little girly?
Hes angry and frustrated, but ultimately very insecure.
But this lesson isnt something we need to worry about.
Seriously, its fine.
Im not even confused.
Who wants a beer?
Kevin Bacon emerges from inside.
Kevin Bacon flying kicks a dude.
Their girlfriends cheer them on.
They pound dongs, but in the fighting way.
These guys are dick smashers!
Again, though, in the fighting way.
TheFootloosegang is constantly pulling off insanely dangerous high speed stunts.
For a start, they all ride motorcycles to their school dance.
Thats what a biker gang would do if they went to a school dance.
Although I cant help but imagine that a biker gang would be refused admission to a school dance.
Honestly, I dont know why they were even going to a school dance in the first place.
Theyre a biker gang they should be fighting with chains and discussing the latest episode ofSons Of Anarchy.
The main girl inFootlooseis rebelling against her strict upbringing by performing death-courting feats of physical stupidity.
Stop being such a Charlotte about it.
Then she almost gets hit by a train to impress Kevin Bacon.
This film is completely wackadoo.
Its for daredevils and inarguably has more in common withJackassthan it does theStreet Dancefilms.
So how do you top those mega-stunts?
Plus its soundtracked by that awesome Bonnie Tyler song,Holding Out For A Hero.
No, that songs fine, enjoy it.
Its a hardmans anthem.
Sing it while you lift weights and think about Kevin Bacon driving a tractor.
Its about a war on oppression!
(of dancing)
Kevin Bacon is a hero.
Just look at him.
A magnificent, glittering hero.
Who amongst us cant be inspired by this impressive young man?
And look at his jawline!
These guys wear a lot of denim.
To be young again, right guys?
Thats actually my one knock onFootloose; it makes me feel sad about the passing of my youth.
Does anyone else just feel sad?
Im too tough to cry, but if any of you cried I wouldnt say anything about it.
Especially not if youre doing pull-ups while you sob.
Its about male bonding and friendship
A running theme of this film is bonding and male friendship.
In particular, Bacon teaches Penn to dance.
Its just fun to watch.
Even Bacon and Lithgow.
One of the films real strengths is that it doesnt have a villain.
Theyre both OK guys, with different ideas of what the right thing is.
Maybe we could just talk to each other and be friends, you know?
Then we could build something together out of wood or fix a car or something.
It features touching romance
Look, I dont have a heart of stone, OK?
The romance that forms between Ren and the reverends daughter is incredibly fucking heartwarming.
All men like romance; that men dont is a misconception.
She needs him to help her focus what shes rebelling against and understand why shes so angry and crazy.
Then theres the romance between Chris Penn and Sarah Jessica Parkers characters.
He loves her but he doesnt like to show his feelings.
Hes also embarrassed that he cant dance and shes frustrated because she doesnt understand his behaviour.
Another relationship thats very sweet is that of the reverend and his wife.
Hes all bluster and power, but when it comes down to it, hes struggling.
Thats how grown up relationships can work.
Real men understand the value of a loving, supporting partner whose judgment you’re free to trust.
Its a touching sub plot thats just terrific to watch while eating beef jerky and doing squat thrusts.
This is whyFootlooseis a film for men because we dont know the power of dance.
Were the ones who need to learn the joy of cutting foot loose and fancy free.
Were the ones whove got this feeling that lifes been holding us down.
Were the ones who would benefit from rage dancing our troubles away in an abandoned warehouse.
So there we go.
Slumber party at my place, guys.
Bring some steak, some beer and your PJs; were watchingFootloose!
