The remake of the 1984 classic Footloose is causing a lot of Hollywood hype prior to its Oct. 14 release date.
After seeing the movie myself, I quickly realized that it wasn’t dancer-turned-actress Julianne Hough’s or breakout heartthrob Kenny Wormald’s performances that left me wowed – but rather that of Miles Teller, who plays Willard, the best friend and sidekick of Wormald’s character Ren McCormack.
Unlike the originial Willard from 1984, played by acclaimed actor Chris Penn; Tellers’ face is not a familiar one, appearing only briefly in a few films prior to Footloose. However, I assure you it is not a face you will soon forget.
At 24-years-old, Teller gives a remarkably comedic performance as a Bomont high school student. He is nothing short of the classic small-town hillbilly stereotype, and his tendency to don overalls and cowboy hats makes his jokes and punchlines even funnier.
Willard, alongside McCormack, despises the prohibition of adolesecent dancing in Bomont, in fact, he goes so far as to describe the current dance regulations as total “boner-killers.”
He is not quite as eager to fight the law as out-of-towner McCormack.
After just a few short weeks with McCormack’s carefree Boston attitude, Willard is not only punching tough guys in bars but also dancing to Barbie stereo sytems with six-year-olds. This change in him, brought about by his newfound friendship, leads him to embrace the importance of dance and fighting for what he believes in.
He faithfully stands alongside McCormack as he fights for the Bomont’s student rights to a prom.
Although Willard’s outstanding show is strongly centered around his comedic talent, he proves himself a viable actor as he embraces multiple emotions throughout the film.
We see him sad, happy, upset, strong, determined, jealous and even in love. The most memorable scenes from the film include his unwavering desire to learn how to dance.
It is easy to say that while you find yourself rooting for the Bomont students throughout the duration of Footloose, you will undoubtedly be rooting for Willard in his journey of dance, friendship and love.
Check out the official Footloose website to learn more about Miles Teller and the witty Willard, http://www.footloosemovie.com/en_us, and don’t forget to check out his hilarious performance for yourself on Oct. 14!