No Bacon in Footloose

A remake of the 80s dance classic Footloose, which made Kevin Bacon a star, will not include the famous actor, who serves as the inspiration for this blog.

Craig Brewer, director of the soon-to-be-released movie, approached Bacon about appearing in the new incarnation as Ren MacCormack’s deadbeat dad. Bacon, who originated the role of Ren, said no.

“Kevin was wise in saying no to it,” Brewer said. “I think he had the right reason for it. I think that he knew it would cheapen it somehow because if suddenly he showed up winking at the camera, it would have taken some of the teeth out of the narrative.” [Eonline]

Um, I don’t think that Bacon’s participation in the remake would’ve been the death knell. I think the decision to redo it to begin with was the first mistake. Subsequent mistakes include casting illustrious actors such as Julianne Hough, who is known to the world as Ryan Seacrest’s girlfriend.

Once again, I ask Hollywood — why won’t you leave my childhood alone and come up with some new ideas?

For the answer, I turn to Ecclesiastes: “What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.”

Here is one of my favorite scenes from the movie. I am a big gymnastics nerd.