City-boy Ren McCormick (Kevin Bacon) is new to an uptight small town where dancing has been banned. Ren quickly makes a new best friend in Willard (Chris Penn) and falls fast for the minister’s daughter (Lori Singer), but his love for music and dancing gets him into hot water equally as fast.  

For thoughts on Footloose, please check out our discussion on The Video Attic:

[youtube https://youtu.be/pPsN6xv-QFw?si=bn0pKBy3PAOj_gpz&t=53]

Video Quality

Footloose debuts on 4K UHD Blu-Ray with a 2160p/Dolby Vision transfer that arrives newly remastered courtesy of Paramount. This release comes with the original Blu-Ray disc from 2011, which was a release that ranks among the worst ever released by the studio with consistent digital manipulation and artifacts. While we never want to watch that disc again, having it here makes it easier to directly compare and see that this film has improved quite a bit over that trash fire. That being said, this is a Paramount disc, which means the odds of something being less than ideal are somewhat high. While there are some lingering issues, this ranks somewhere in the middle of efforts from the studio. The transfer is going to rank far from the best of the year, but it handily beats the previous HD option.

Where the previous Blu-Ray release was a waxy, textureless eyesore, this 4K UHD Blu-Ray retains a fair amount of natural film grain. Yes, you have some light grain management in spots, but, by and large, there is a sheen of lovely film grain present that resolves without much of an issue. The film has a naturally soft look that may cause some viewers to place blame on the restoration or encoding, as you long for certain details to be pulled into sharper focus. Still, if you compare things to the ancient Blu-Ray, you will notice a world of detail has been opened up – it just might not reach the textural brilliance of films from the era that chose a different photographic process. Skin tones look quite precise, and the transfer’s clarity gives you a strong amount of facial detail, including beads of perspiration. It might not be tack-sharp, but it looks nice enough for the source.

The Dolby Vision enhancement allows for natural, deep colors throughout, although anyone expecting a vibrant spectacle should put their expectations in check. Compared to other movies from the ‘80s, this movie is dramatically more subdued on an aesthetic level. There are standout moments in some of the lighting and production design elements in the finale, but the general palette is somewhat lifeless (which suits a town without dancing). Highlights are brighter and provide more stability without veering into blooming. Black levels are pretty deep and allow the picture to maintain a decent amount of depth and detail in darker environments. Even so, there are moments that succumb to crush. There is not an overwhelming amount of digital anomalies such as compression artifacts, banding, or the like, but it’s not flawless. Most fans will probably be happy to get some sort of upgrade for this one even if it’s not a 5-star stunner.

Audio Quality

Paramount “downgrades” the DTS-HD 6.1 Master Audio mix from the original Blu-Ray release to a DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio mix that is different in small degrees unlikely to be noticed by most. A new Dolby Atmos track could have been a great addition, but what we did get is no slouch. Seeing as this narrative is so closely tied to music and dancing, the memorable tunes take priority over all other elements. From the earliest moments of the film, the music envelops the room nicely which will have you moving and shaking. Dialogue and sound effects do not get overshadowed by any means, but the soundtrack is the main element giving this track any sort of workout. Everything sounds well balanced among the speakers with directionality never being an issue. This is a strong track that holds up well for the viewer.

Special Features.

Audio Commentaries: The Blu-Ray disc offers a pair of archival commentary tracks from the filmmakers and the star. Throughout these tracks you come to learn how this film came together, how it evolved throughout several drafts, the performances in the film, the shooting locations, the disagreements with the community, the response to the film, and more.
- Audio Commentary #1: Producer Craig Zadan and Writer Dean Pitchford

- Audio Commentary #2: Actor Kevin Bacon
Let’s Dance! Kevin Bacon on Footloose: A nearly 13-minute interview with Kevin Bacon in which he discusses his development as a performer, getting involved with Footloose, working with director Herbert Ross, the hesitation on the side of the studio, shooting in Utah, the music in the film, and more. This is a terrific piece.
From Bomont To The Big Apple – An Interview with Sarah Jessica Parker: An eight-minute featurette in which Sarah Jessica Parker reflects on the casting process, initially passing on Footloose to keep her hair, the excitement of independence on set, her thoughts on her character, her relationship with her fellow cast members, and more.

Remembering Willard: A six-minute featurette with an archival Chris Penn interview and newer sessions with Kevin Bacon and Sarah Jessica Parker in which they discuss Penn’s character, his efforts to get his performance right, working with Herbert Ross, and more.

Kevin Bacon’s Screen Test: A five-minute look at the original screen test that landed Kevin Bacon the lead role.

Kevin Bacon Costume Montage: A three-minute look at costume tests.

2004 DVD Archive

- Footloose – A Modern Musical, Part 1: An 18-minute archival featurette in which the cast and creative team reflect upon the production of the film, the development of the script, the town that inspired the film, the atmosphere on set, and more.

- Footloose – A Modern Musical, Part 2: A 12-minute continuation of the previous piece that drills down on some of the dancing preparations, the costumes, the picture’s legacy, and more.

- Footloose – Songs That Tell A Story: A 14-minute piece explores the crucial place of music in this film and how it factored into the era.

- Theatrical Trailer: The minute-and-a-half-long original theatrical trailer is presented here.

Final Thoughts

Footloose is a fun entry into the ‘80s movie pantheon that inspired you to want to move your body and sing at the top of your lungs. Kevin Bacon elevates this one with his charisma alongside a worthy ensemble. The actual script is not great, but it is just competent enough to hold this one up as a comforting classic from the era. Paramount Home Entertainment has given this one a 4K UHD Blu-Ray upgrade with a much-improved A/V presentation and a decent assortment of legacy special features. If you are a fan of the film and have yet to pick it up, this is the strongest presentation yet. Recommended

Footloose is currently available to purchase on 4K UHD Blu-Ray.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the 4K UHD Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Paramount Home Entertainment has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.