When you think of 1980s cinema, you probably picture a pair of worn-out sneakers and a guy dancing his soul out in a dusty flour mill. That’s Ren McCormack, the fast-talking, quick-moving city kid who fundamentally changed how we view teen rebellion on screen. Honestly, it’s easy to dismiss Footloose as just another "dancing is illegal" trope, but if you look closer at the main character of Footloose, you see a surprisingly complex portrait of grief, displacement, and the universal need to be heard.
Ren wasn't just a rebel. He was a catalyst.
Moving from Chicago to the tiny, stifling town of Bomont wasn't just a culture shock for him; it was a collision of two completely different Americas. One world believed in the freedom of expression found in the clubs of the South Side, while the other—led by Reverend Shaw Moore—believed that silence was the only way to keep children safe from the tragedies of the past.
The Real Identity of Ren McCormack
Kevin Bacon wasn't the first choice for the role. Can you imagine? Producers originally looked at Rob Lowe and Tom Cruise. Cruise, fresh off the success of Risky Business, couldn't do it because he was busy with All the Right Moves. So, the role went to Bacon, who brought a specific, wiry energy that made Ren feel more like a real person and less like a polished Hollywood heartthrob.
Ren is a fish out of water. He's a gymnast, a music lover, and a kid who talks a little too fast for the slow pace of rural Utah (where the movie was filmed). Most people forget that Ren’s father had walked out on him. He wasn't just some bratty kid trying to throw a party; he was a young man carrying the weight of a broken home, trying to find a sense of belonging in a place that viewed his very existence as a threat to their moral fabric.
The Conflict That Defined a Generation
The core of the movie—and Ren's entire character arc—revolves around the ban on dancing. It sounds ridiculous today. But the script, written by Dean Pitchford, was actually inspired by the real-life events in Elmore City, Oklahoma. In 1979, the town still had a law on the books from the late 1800s that banned dancing within city limits.
The main character of Footloose doesn't just fight the law because he wants to party. He fights it because he recognizes the hypocrisy of the town's leadership. Ren sees that the "morality" they are pushing is actually just unaddressed trauma. The town had lost four teenagers in a car accident after a dance years prior, and instead of grieving, they chose to control.
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Ren’s superpower wasn't just his footwork. It was his ability to use the Bible against the people who were using it to oppress him. When he stands before the city council and quotes King David dancing before the Lord, it’s a masterclass in rhetorical strategy. He didn't tell them they were wrong about their faith; he told them they were wrong about their interpretation.
Why the Flour Mill Scene Still Hits Different
You know the scene. Ren is frustrated, he drives his yellow Volkswagen to an abandoned mill, cranks up the music, and just... explodes.
It’s one of the most iconic moments in film history. Interestingly, Kevin Bacon had several dance doubles for that sequence because the choreography was so demanding. There was a gymnast for the flips, a dancer for the spins, and a body double for the shadows. Yet, the emotional core of that scene is all Bacon.
It’s raw. It’s messy. It’s the visual representation of what it feels like to be seventeen and completely powerless.
Ren doesn't have a weapon. He doesn't have a political platform. He just has his body and the beat. This is why the main character of Footloose resonated so deeply with audiences in 1984 and why he continues to resonate now. Everyone has felt that "closed-in" feeling. Everyone has wanted to drive to the edge of town and scream into the void.
Comparing the 1984 and 2011 Ren McCormack
In 2011, Paramount released a remake starring Kenny Wormald. While the remake stayed fairly faithful to the original plot, the "vibe" of Ren shifted.
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- The 1984 Ren (Bacon): Was more of an intellectual outsider. He felt like he belonged in a New Wave club. His rebellion was quiet until it wasn't.
- The 2011 Ren (Wormald): Was more of a literal outsider, emphasizing the Southern-versus-Northern divide. He was a professional dancer, which changed the "angry" energy of the dancing to something more polished.
Purists almost always prefer Bacon’s portrayal. There’s a specific "everyman" quality to the original main character of Footloose. He didn't look like a professional athlete; he looked like a kid who spent too much time in his room listening to cassettes.
The Psychological Impact of Ren’s Journey
Psychologists often point to Footloose when discussing the "forbidden fruit" effect. By banning dancing, Reverend Moore didn't stop the kids from being "sinful"; he just stopped them from being honest.
Ren McCormack arrives as the "truth-teller." He forces the Reverend’s daughter, Ariel, to stop playing a double life. He forces Willard (played by the late Chris Penn) to find his own confidence. He even forces the Reverend to realize that you cannot protect people by taking away their joy.
What's fascinating is that Ren never actually changes. The town changes around him. Usually, a protagonist has a massive internal shift, but Ren starts the movie believing in freedom and ends the movie believing in freedom. His journey is about the endurance of the individual against the collective.
How to Apply the "Ren McCormack Mindset" Today
We don't live in a world where dancing is illegal (well, mostly). But the spirit of the main character of Footloose is still incredibly relevant. We live in an era of "gatekeeping" and "cancel culture" and rigid social silos.
Ren teaches us a few specific things about how to handle being an outsider:
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- Know your audience: Ren didn't just yell at the council; he researched their laws and their scriptures. If you want to change a system, you have to speak its language.
- Physicality matters: In a digital world, we often forget that moving our bodies is a form of mental health maintenance. Ren’s "angry dance" is basically a 1980s version of a high-intensity interval training (HIIT) workout for emotional release.
- Don't fight alone: Ren eventually realizes he needs Willard and Ariel. You can’t overturn a city ordinance by yourself. You need a crew.
The Legacy of a Character Who Just Wanted to Move
Footloose was panned by many critics at the time. Roger Ebert famously gave it two stars, calling it a "confused" movie. But critics missed the point. They were looking for a high-brow musical, while the audience was looking for a mirror.
The main character of Footloose succeeded because he was vulnerable. He cried. He got beat up. He felt lonely. But then, he put on that tie, walked into the prom, and demanded his right to exist.
If you're looking to channel your inner Ren McCormack, stop waiting for permission to be yourself. The town of Bomont didn't want him there, but he made himself indispensable anyway.
Next Steps for the Footloose Enthusiast:
To truly understand the impact of the film, watch the 1984 original and pay close attention to the scenes where Ren is not dancing. Focus on his conversations with his mother and the Reverend. These moments of quiet dialogue are where the expert-level acting happens. Additionally, look into the history of the Elmore City dance ban to see how closely the film mirrored the actual tension between the youth and the elders in 1979 Oklahoma. You’ll find that the reality was often stranger—and more bureaucratic—than the fiction.