Following the death of his mother, Bostonian Ren McCormack (Kenny Wormald) is forced to move in with his uncle (Ray McKinnon) in the sleepy and conservative town of Bomont, Georgia. After arriving in his new digs, Ren finds himself in a town where camo is cool and dancing is not just prohibited, but prevented by the power of the law and church, all under the watchful eye of a reverend (Dennis Quaid) who is directly connected to an accident that rocked the town and who set the no-dancing laws into motion. Now, Ren finds himself joining with his classmates to fight for their right to party and, of course, cut loose.

Footloose is set in an enchanting wonderland where a teenage boy is not afraid to treat the halls of high school as a runway, while still turning girls on. The rural wonderland is also a venue where high school kids actually dance by moving more than their hips in a trashy fashion within the dark depths of a stinky gymnasium. Bomont is a refreshing paradise, where the youthful citizens are petitioning not for the right to play video games or a lower drinking age, but for the right to engage in an activity that most young adults have forgotten is a great pastime.

Footloose constructs a world in which the urban hipster fuses with country, invoking the underground activity of dancing. The dancing gets a little help from a plethora of musical genres, including hip-hop, country, rock, all in a carefully constructed formula in which the good ole ’80s cheese ball classics from the original screen production, including the titular anthem, are included, resulting in twentieth century flashbacks with glimpses into a future where society is no longer holding out for a hero to give them a pass to enjoy themselves.

In Footloose, the hero enlisted to save the day is Wormald, a previous backup dancer for Justin Timberlake and the Pussycat Dolls, who has never carried a starring role in a major motion picture. (The only other acting-inclusive film credit on the twenty seven year-old’s resume is Center Stage: Turn It Up, a 2008 television film produced for Oxygen.) Maybe it’s his combined personas of James Franco and Danny Zuko, maybe it’s his superb moves on the floor, or maybe it’s because he’s a real life-Massachusetts boy who also has a burning passion for fancy footwork. But whatever the case, Kenny Wormald definitely proves himself a fresh face that Hollywood needs to start recognizing for more than just busting moves in the background while J.T. brings “SexyBack.” Either Wormald needs to broaden his horizons to include roles that are dancing-free, or the studios need to start drafting some films for this boy to star in. In other words, forget about those overrated “mainstream” dudes, and go for someone not as worn from all the flashbulbs. Zac Efron who?

Then, of course, there are other denizens of Bomont that help make this remix rave better than 1984. Former Dancing With the Stars pro Julianne Hough reminds us why exactly she left her day job, as she is perfect for the part. The Southern accent the Oregon-born performer acquired when launching her country music career certainly came in handy when playing the daughter of a preacher man, as well as Ren’s love interest. While Quaid is on cue with John Lithgow’s original portrayal, McKinon gives a much more light-hearted performance than that of his character’s retro incarnation.

Topping a film classic is no easy feat, but Footloose manages to do so just fine. With its swift and sexy dance performances, the new film is ready to endure a whole new generation of teen spirit. Footloose pays homage to a pop culture-defining picture, all while staying fresh and featuring an exceptionally promising new talent. Let’s hear it for the boy, as well as for one of the fall’s brightest films yet.