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Movies / Upcoming / Fame
Fame

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Fame (2009)

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Reviews Counted:102

Fresh:28

Rotten:74

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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  • Caf Jam
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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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  • Hold Your Dream
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    Black and Gold
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Reviews for Fame

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81 - 100 (sorted by date)
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Tancharoen’s background shows and steps in to save the film: highlights include an infectious rap in the canteen, a Hallowe’en “Carnevil,” and a show-stopper in a club, courtesy of Naughton.

Full Review Source: Screen International | comment Comment
09/24/09
Fionnuala Halligan
Fionnuala Halligan
Screen International

A watered-down tone ... causes the movie to drift dramatically between its musical and dance sequences.

Full Review Source: Variety | comment Comment
09/24/09
Brian Lowry
Brian Lowry
Variety
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Mullally has the most poignant moment, admitting to her students that the reason she teaches is because fame, for her, just wasn't in the cards. (Stardom, more than in the first film, is golden here.)

Full Review Source: New York Daily News | comment Comment
09/24/09
Joe Neumaier
Joe Neumaier
New York Daily News

Some of the students specialize in classical music, others in dance, and still others in singing and acting, but the one thing they all have in common is their apparent enrollment in Clichés 101.

Full Review Source: DustinPutman.com | comment Comment
09/24/09
Dustin Putman
Dustin Putman
DustinPutman.com

As a demo reel showcasing seven promising young talents from their freshman through senior years, it's pleasant enough. As a movie dramatizing the talent and dedication required to make it, the Fame reboot has fleet feet but lacks heart.

Full Review Source: Philadelphia Inquirer | comment Comment
09/24/09
Carrie Rickey
Carrie Rickey
Philadelphia Inquirer
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

The new Fame has the feel of diluted imitation -- slick, superficial, short on heart.

Full Review Source: Philadelphia Daily News | comment Comment
09/24/09
Gary Thompson
Gary Thompson
Philadelphia Daily News

The '80s sensation is reborn for the High School Musical generation. But sadly, this one's all fame, no journey.

Full Review Source: E! Online | comment Comment
09/24/09
Peter Paras
Peter Paras
E! Online

While there are a few select highlights, it's nothing new and is certainly nothing exceptional or noteworthy.

Full Review Source: Deseret News, Salt Lake City | comment Comment
09/24/09
Jeff Vice
Jeff Vice
Deseret News, Salt Lake City

Lives are spared in this sugarless new version of Alan Parker’s movie and the TV show it spawned. But innocent songs and unsuspecting dance routines are hacked to bits.

Full Review Source: Boston Globe | comment Comment
09/24/09
Wesley Morris
Wesley Morris
Boston Globe
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

The 1980 film was not great, but its concept was fresher, the music and dance seductive and the stories emotional, but this recycled version is too slick, bland, and overly familiar due to Disney's High School Musical series and American Idol.

Full Review Source: EmanuelLevy.Com | comment Comment
09/24/09
Emanuel Levy
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com

Thanks to the blitheringly awful script -- credited screenwriter Allison Burnett disavows it, and he willingly put his name on Feast of Love and Untraceable -- we barely get to know any of the young lead characters.

Full Review Source: MSNBC | comment Comment
09/24/09
Alonso Duralde
Alonso Duralde
MSNBC

The new, unimproved Fame won't live forever except in DVD cutout bins, and remembering anyone's name will be a chore.

Full Review Source: St. Petersburg Times | comment Comment
09/24/09
Steve Persall
Steve Persall
St. Petersburg Times

Tancharoen doesn't weave the stories together gracefully, and the musical sequences are edited in the chop-chop MTV style that does no favors to the performers.

Full Review Source: Hollywood Reporter | comment Comment
09/24/09
Stephen Farber
Stephen Farber
Hollywood Reporter
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

This Fame is a film without the guts to show Idolized America that, as Debbie Allen so memorably said way back when, "Fame costs, and right here's where you start paying."

Full Review Source: Orlando Sentinel | comment 1 Comment
09/24/09
Roger Moore
Roger Moore
Orlando Sentinel

Forget about living forever: This new Fame will be lucky to hang around for a month.

Full Review Source: Miami Herald | comment Comment
09/24/09
Rene Rodriguez
Rene Rodriguez
Miami Herald

a front-row seat to a rousing Broadway production

Full Review Source: Filmcritic.com | comment Comment
09/24/09
Sean O'Connell
Sean O'Connell
Filmcritic.com

Familiar? Yes, but not nearly as vapid as most of the musical material out there that encourages teens to believe fame is all that matters.

Full Review Source: Associated Press | comment Comment
09/24/09
Christy Lemire
Christy Lemire
Associated Press
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Fame has today's usual gritty form of slick to it, but in every other way it's an Amateur Hour and a half.

Full Review Source: Baltimore Sun | comment Comment
09/24/09
Michael Sragow
Michael Sragow
Baltimore Sun

I actually feel stupider having watched this film.

Full Review Source: EDGE Boston | comment Comment
09/24/09
David Foucher
David Foucher
EDGE Boston

The new Fame is a sad reflection of the new Hollywood, where material is sanitized and dumbed down for a hypothetical teen market that is way too sophisticated for it. It plays like a dinner theater version of the original.

Full Review Source: Chicago Sun-Times | comment 5 Comments
09/24/09
Roger Ebert
Roger Ebert
Chicago Sun-Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
 
 
81 - 100 (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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