Fame

06.11.2009

Film Trailer

The musical from New York High School of the Performing Arts will probably achieve high numbers at the box office, with factors like music, dance, gorgeous boys and girls and big dreams. But the movie won't live forever.

Plot
The 2009-version of Fame is only loosely based on the original from 1980, a movie many still rate highly on their list of memorable films. We know the main ingredients, especially through the build up and introduction; a bunch of excited and nervous youth comes to an audition at the notorious school. Only 200 of the 10 000 applicants are offered a place there.

First day at school they are clearly told by the principal (played by Debbie Allen, a pleasant revisit from the first movie): This is no holiday. All art classes, be it dance, drama or music, happen during the first half of the day. The rest of the day is spent on ordinary High School curriculum. If the grades drop, your place at the school is gone. The principle is very clear about how hard you have to work to attain the fame so many of them dream about.

The movie is then split into chapters, one for each of the four years at the school. Some students are in focus: Denise, who play classical piano - but who dreams of becoming an R&B-singer. Jenny, the nervous drama student and Marco, the boy with the velvet voice are just some of them.

Quality and Theme
Here lies the movies first problem. We would have liked to see more of each student's path to graduation, but Director Kevin Tancharoen only gives us fragmented glimpses and unanswered questions. And no wonder, because with one hour and three quarters it's a tall order to follow as many as 10 students. It could have worked, had the stories been coherent and logical.

Instead we are met with a long line of clichés, easy solutions and trifling problems, which are blown totally out of proportion. How on earth did Jenny get into the drama course, when all we see is that she stutters through a dismal audition and afterwards labours terribly through the drama lessons? And the other nine are no better. We don't see the sweat, don't feel the hard work, and then of course don't feel the giddy feeling of victory that follows when the goals are reached.

Suitability
The movie is recommended from twelve-years of age.

Conclusion
What Fame 2009-version has, which will sell a lot of tickets, is some wonderful musical theatre scenes and new actors/actresses who will melt hearts. The music is nothing special, but the dancing and singing is at times spectacular. Maybe the disappointment is due to high expectations, but it should be possible to make better, far more exciting use of all this talent.

Facts
Director: Kevin Tancharoen Genre: Musical/Drama Actors: Asher Book, Kristy Flores, Paul Iacono, Paul McGill, Naturi Naughton, Kay Panabaker, Kherington Payne, Collins Pennie and more Language: English Nationality: USA Production Company: United Artists Length: 1 hour 47 mins Production Year: 2009 Age Limit: PG Suitability: Young people/adults BBFC's Consumer Advice: Contains mild language and sex references.