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Movies / In Theaters / Fame
Fame

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Fame (2009)

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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 [More]

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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    Halloween Dance
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    Here On My Own
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    If You Want Fame
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    Graduation Drums
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    Black and Gold
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Reviews for Fame

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21 - 40 (sorted by date)
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To me, this updating of the original 'Fame' beautifully highlights the joys and heartbreaks that come with dedication to the performing arts.

Full Review Source: ReelTalk Movie Reviews | comment Comment
09/27/09
Betty Jo Tucker
Betty Jo Tucker
ReelTalk Movie Reviews

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.

Full Review Source: tonymacklin.net | comment 1 Comment
09/27/09
Tony Macklin
Tony Macklin
tonymacklin.net

An enthusiastic yet familiarly recycled reinvention, which is kind of a shame.

Full Review Source: SSG Syndicate | comment Comment
09/27/09
Susan Granger
Susan Granger
SSG Syndicate

The new remake of the 1980 hit 'Fame' is not going to live forever and has clearly not learned how to fly.

Full Review Source: eFilmCritic.com | comment Comment
09/26/09
Dan Lybarger
Dan Lybarger
eFilmCritic.com

Remakes generally get compared to the originals and sometimes, as in this case, they don't measure up

Full Review Source: jackiekcooper.com | comment Comment
09/26/09
Jackie K. Cooper
Jackie K. Cooper
jackiekcooper.com

This is not, in any sense, an accurate depiction of life at an arts school. It's a giant MTV VMAs performance.

Full Review Source: Film School Rejects | comment 1 Comment
09/26/09
Robert Levin
Robert Levin
Film School Rejects

...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.

Full Review Source: Reeling Reviews | comment Comment
09/26/09
Laura Clifford
Laura Clifford
Reeling Reviews

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."

Full Review Source: HitFix | comment Comment
09/26/09
Dan Fienberg
Dan Fienberg
HitFix

A terrific score coupled with exciting choreography, tight editing and a talented cast make Fame a joyous and upbeat experience.

Full Review Source: Urban Cinefile | comment 1 Comment
09/26/09
Louise Keller
Louise Keller
Urban Cinefile

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.

Full Review Source: Entertainment Spectrum | comment 1 Comment
09/26/09
Keith Cohen
Keith Cohen
Entertainment Spectrum

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?

Full Review Source: CinemaBlend.com | comment Comment
09/25/09
Joshua Tyler
Joshua Tyler
CinemaBlend.com

As a group this cast probably wouldn't even make it past Hollywood week on "American Idol".

Full Review Source: Back Stage | comment 4 Comments
09/25/09
Pete Hammond
Pete Hammond
Back Stage

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.

Full Review Source: Chicago Tribune | comment Comment
09/25/09
Michael Phillips
Michael Phillips
Chicago Tribune
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

A bad film that at times is sublimely cheesy.

Full Review Source: Jam! Movies | comment Comment
09/25/09
Jim Slotek
Jim Slotek
Jam! Movies

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.

Full Review Source: Globe and Mail | comment Comment
09/25/09
Stephen Cole
Stephen Cole
Globe and Mail
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Teen musical remake has edgy content for a PG movie.

Full Review Source: Common Sense Media | comment Comment
09/25/09
Sandie Angulo Chen
Sandie Angulo Chen
Common Sense Media

First-time filmmaker Kevin Tancharoen struggles to flesh out the 10 characters we meet during their freshman year at PA.

Full Review Source: Detroit News | comment Comment
09/25/09
Adam Graham
Adam Graham
Detroit News

The production numbers are great, sometimes jaw-droppingly so.

Full Review Source: Dallas Morning News | comment Comment
09/25/09
Tom Maurstad
Tom Maurstad
Dallas Morning News

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.

Full Review Source: New Republic | comment Comment
09/25/09
Christopher Orr
Christopher Orr
New Republic
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Somewhere, Irene Cara weeps.

Full Review Source: WaffleMovies.com | comment Comment
09/25/09
Willie Waffle
Willie Waffle
WaffleMovies.com
 
 
21 - 40 (sorted by date)
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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 Opens in new window
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 Opens in new window
More...

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