I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again…Hollywood has run out of ideas!! That’s why movies keep being remade. The latest remake, “Fame”, an updated version of the musical which was originally released in 1980, is in theaters now. I haven’t seen the original “Fame” in a long time, so this review is going to focus on the 2009 edition.
“Fame” follows a group of students at the New York School of Performing Arts over a four-year period, starting on Audition Day and ending on Graduation Day. The students are gifted in music, singing, dancing and acting, and over the course of their school careers, each meet with varying degrees of success. Some make it big, while others are told they will never be good enough. The school employs some unusual methods of learning, including Ms. Rowan the singing teacher (Megan Mullaly), who took her students to a karaoke bar and graded them on their performance.
Most of the cast is unknowns or relative unknowns, with the exception of the teachers. Bebe Neuwirth, Charles S. Dutton, Kelsey Grammer, Megan Mullaly, and Debbie Allen gave solid performances as the instructors and mentors of the students. Some of the other acting was not as polished but it was better than I would have expected for first-timers.
The movie features energetic dance sequences and amazing musical performances. When the NY School of Performing Arts puts on a show, no expense is spared!! Overall, if you are looking for a movie that will entertain and possibly inspire you to sing and dance, you won’t be disappointed with “Fame”.
