To me, this updating of the original 'Fame' beautifully highlights the joys and heartbreaks that come with dedication to the performing arts.
Fame (2009)
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:101
Fresh:28
Rotten:73
Average Rating:4.5/10
Consensus: Fame is ultimately undone by its choppy editing, its incomplete characterizations, and its apparent desire to appeal to the High School Musical generation.
Rated: PG [See Full Rating] for thematic material including teen drinking, a sexual situation and language.
Genre: Musical & Performing Arts
Theatrical Release:Sep 25, 2009 Wide
Box Office: $22,429,956
Synopsis:
A reinvention of the original Oscar®-winning hit film, Fame follows a talented group of dancers, singers, actors, and artists over four years at the New York City High School of Performing Arts, a...
A reinvention of the original Oscar®-winning hit film, Fame follows a talented group of dancers, singers, actors, and artists over four years at the New York City High School of Performing Arts, a diverse, creative powerhouse where students from all walks of life are given a chance to live out their dreams and achieve real and lasting fame...the kind that comes only from talent, dedication, and hard work.
In an incredibly competitive atmosphere, plagued by self-doubt, each student’s passion will be put to the test. In addition to their artistic goals, they have to deal with everything else that goes along with high school, a tumultuous time full of schoolwork, deep friendships, budding romance, and self-discovery.
As each student strives for his or her moment in the spotlight, they’ll discover who among them has the innate talent and necessary discipline to succeed. With the love and support of their friends and fellow artists, they’ll find out who amongst them will achieve Fame …
The cast includes Asher Book as Marco, Kristy Flores as Rosie, Paul Iacono as Neil, Paul McGill as Kevin, Naturi Naughton as Denise, Kay Panabaker as Jenny, Kherington Payne as Alice, Collins Pennie as Malik, Walter Perez as Victor, and Anna Maria Perez de Tagle as Joy. Their instructors include Debbie Allen as Principal Simms, Charles S. Dutton as Alvin Dowd, Kelsey Grammer as Joel Cranston, Megan Mullally as Fran Rowan, and Bebe Neuwirth as Lynn Kraft. --© MGM
Starring: Kelsey Grammer, Megan Mullally, Kay Panabaker, Bebe Neuwirth
Starring: Kelsey Grammer, Megan Mullally, Kay Panabaker, Bebe Neuwirth, Naturi Naughton
Director: Kevin Tancharoen
Director: Kevin Tancharoen
Screenwriter: Aline Brosh McKenna, Allison Burnett
Studio: MGM
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Reviews for Fame
Burnett's script almost sinks Fame, but the voice of Naturi Naughton, the heart of Dutton, and the energy of Tancharoen give it a pulse. Fame is erratic, but it definitely has a beat.
An enthusiastic yet familiarly recycled reinvention, which is kind of a shame.
The new remake of the 1980 hit 'Fame' is not going to live forever and has clearly not learned how to fly.
Remakes generally get compared to the originals and sometimes, as in this case, they don't measure up
This is not, in any sense, an accurate depiction of life at an arts school. It's a giant MTV VMAs performance.
...despite cliched characters and parents straight from central casting, the performance numbers are executed by some pretty talented kids and Megan Mullally and Bebe Neuwirth are intriguing as the school's singing and dance instructors.
The devotion to the PG rating is damning, because 8 p.m. shows airing on ABC Family can be edgier and more topical than the new "Fame."
A terrific score coupled with exciting choreography, tight editing and a talented cast make Fame a joyous and upbeat experience.
The movie is salvaged by a few well-choreographed dance numbers and some signature songs. The movie is geared to fans of MTV videos with short attention spans.
I'm gonna live forever? Fat chance. How can you expect to live forever when your target audience will lose interest the moment they hit puberty?
As a group this cast probably wouldn't even make it past Hollywood week on "American Idol".
It's almost fatally modest. But it has a sweet spirit, and it offers only one true moment of inadvertent camp: a (lame) finale featuring an African dance routine completely at odds with all the white bread we've just been served.
There are six new songs in the remake, but not one makes any impact, or is likely to end up as the ring tone of 2010.
First-time filmmaker Kevin Tancharoen struggles to flesh out the 10 characters we meet during their freshman year at PA.
Way back in 1980, when the Oscar-winning theme song of the movie Fame declared "I'm gonna live forever," it was easy to believe the lyric was an example of artistic license. Now, it's not so clear.
Latest News for Fame
September 24, 2009:
Critics Consensus: Surrogates Is A Passable Thriller
This week at the movies, we've got robot clones (Surrogates, starring Bruce Willis and Radha Mitchell), artistic-minded freshmen (Fame, starring Kelsey Grammer and Megan... More...
September 20, 2009:
Five Favorite Films with Fame's Kevin Tancharoen
Though barely into his mid 20s, Kevin Tancharoen is, as the cliché goes, already something of an industry veteran. With a background in both dance and filmmaking, he's moved... More...
June 17, 2009:
Trailer Bulletin: Fame ![]()
Following up on April's teaser, the "Fame" reboot now has a full-length trailer. Will it live forever? Head over to Yahoo! and see for yourself. More...
April 19, 2009:
Trailer & Poster review ![]()
More...
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