Footloose – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Footloose

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

movie2011

52%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

A paint-by-numbers remake where teens dance to protest a town ban—with more grinding and innuendo than the original ever needed.

68%

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Footloose

movie

PG-13, 2011

52%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

A paint-by-numbers remake where teens dance to protest a town ban—with more grinding and innuendo than the original ever needed.

68%

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Screenwise Verdict

Look, this remake exists, but I'm not sure why. It takes the 1984 original and updates the soundtrack without adding any fresh perspective or creative spark. The result is a movie that feels both dated (a town banning dancing in 2011?) and unnecessarily edgy (so many sexual jokes).

The opening car-crash scene is genuinely intense—teens die on screen—and sets a heavier tone than the rest of the film delivers on. From there, it's a predictable march through the expected beats: new kid arrives, falls for the preacher's daughter, teaches the town to loosen up through the power of dance. The problem is that none of it feels earned or interesting.

If you have a 13-14 year old who loves dance movies and can handle PG-13 content, this might work for a casual watch. But honestly? There are better films that tackle grief, rebellion, and self-expression without the unnecessary grinding and innuendo. This one's a skip unless you're really curious or have exhausted every other option.

Age Fit

This is squarely for 13-15 year olds who can handle the mature humor, sexual references, and the graphic opening scene. Kids under 12 will find the content too intense, and older teens will likely find the premise eye-rollingly outdated.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

The film tackles grief, community trauma, and teenage rebellion with some emotional depth, but undercuts its wholesomeness with frequent sexual references (jokes about 'sluts' and 'wet dreams,' suggestive grinding, a girl briefly exposing a bra), a graphic car-crash opening that kills teens, and moderate language. The core message about self-expression and questioning unfair authority is solid, but the execution leans into PG-13 edginess that feels more gratuitous than meaningful.

Imaginative

This is a beat-for-beat remake of the 1984 original with updated music and dance styles but no fresh creative vision. The story hits all the expected notes—new kid challenges small-town ban on dancing—without adding new layers or inviting viewers to think differently. The dance sequences are competently choreographed but don't inspire creativity or exploration; they're just there to check the 'dance movie' box.

Safe

The PG-13 rating is accurate but parents should know this skews to the harder edge of that rating. The opening car-crash scene is graphic and startling (teens die), there are multiple sexual references and suggestive dancing throughout, a scene where a teen begins to undress (door closes), moderate profanity, and a physical brawl. Kids-in-Mind rates it 5.5/10 for sexual content and violence. It's not wildly inappropriate for the 13+ crowd, but younger viewers will encounter content that's too mature, and the sexual humor feels unnecessary.

Enriching

There are worthwhile themes here: coping with grief (Ren's mother just died), standing up to unjust rules, and finding healthy outlets for expression. The film does spark conversations about community trauma and the balance between respecting authority and questioning it. However, the execution is shallow—characters are thinly drawn, the romance is generic, and the 'rebellious dancing' premise feels dated and simplistic. It's mildly thought-provoking but doesn't offer much depth or lasting insight.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Tackles grief and loss in a way that could resonate with teens who've experienced family trauma
Core message about questioning authority and fighting for self-expression has merit
Dance sequences are energetic and showcase modern choreography styles
Could spark conversations about community rules, personal freedom, and healthy rebellion

⚠

What to Watch For

Opening car-crash scene is graphic and shows teens dying—genuinely startling for younger viewers
Frequent sexual references and jokes ('sluts,' 'wet dreams,' grinding) that feel gratuitous
Moderate profanity and a physical fight scene
The 'dancing is banned' premise feels incredibly dated and hard to take seriously in 2025

Conversation Starters

"Why do you think the town banned dancing after the accident? Do you think that was fair or helpful?"
"Ren just lost his mom—how do you think grief affects the way he acts in the new town?"
"When is it okay to break rules you think are unfair? How would you handle it differently?"
"The movie shows dancing as a form of expression and freedom—what activities make you feel that way?"

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