Fame

Fame won’t win any awards for best picture of the year, and it’s young stars won’t garner any acting praise. To many audiences, who fell in love with the film in 1980, this will be a disappointment, as re-makes often are. The two things Fame has going for it are inspiring messages and wholesome teen images. Especially when nowadays so many movies portray teens as either want-to-be Gossip Girls or teens yearning to bite Robert Pattinson. The world could always use more positive reinforcement for our youths, right? But what it lacks is interesting and developed characters tackling hardships and overcoming obstacles.

It was such an ensemble cast with so many no names that it doesn’t feel necessary to list all the actors, but it was nice to see Kherington Payne from So You Think You Can Dance moving and grooving, even if she basically played a more snooty, less electric version of herself. Sadly Kay Panabaker (Summerland), who’s got such a sweet face you just want to like her, was the flattest I’ve ever seen her. Debbie Allen returns to the school as Principal Angela Simms though one can explain how Lydia’s doppelganger has appeared at the school decades later. The best parts were Charles S. Dutton, Megan Mullally, Bebe Neuwirth and Kelsey Grammer as the wonderful teachers, but sadly they were rarely on screen. The most affecting parts of film were when they were in them.

Directed by Kevin Tancharoen, who’s most recent project was the TV show The Pussycat Dolls Present: The Next Search for the Next Doll, and written by Allison Burnett (Feast of Love and Resurrecting the Champ), the plot doesn’t differ much from it’s 80s counterpart. Teens with the desire to artistically express themselves audition to attend the New York City High School of Performing Arts and spend the next four years reaching for their dreams. The setup is broken into the same parts: the auditions, freshman, sophomore, junior and senior year. And you can see glimpses of the original characters in these new ones.

But while you felt for these kids almost 30 years ago, there’s not the same connection this time around. There are a few more characters to focus on, so many of the characters and their development get lost in the shuffle. Where the 80s teachers also had their chance to shine, you wanted more time with their updated versions. The issues of feminism, race and homosexuality were prevalent throughout the old film, whereas the biggest issue this time were parents who stifled their child’s artistic ambition. Oh and any hint of sex was thrown out the door. Yes, this version was more like its Disney counterparts, all shiny and squeaky clean. And while the music was enjoyable, I wish there had been grander dance scenes. The big finish was fantastic and the iconic lunchroom outburst was fun, but the rest of the movie fell kind of flat in that prospect. It reminds me of Center Stage, a very similar story that did the whole dance part so much better and with more gusto. In that the storylines were more serious but the film stayed light at heart.

This version of Fame didn’t quite achieve that balance, but what this new film does have in common with the old is heart and I think that’s the main goal of  both Fames. When the kids are dancing and singing you feel that they love what they are doing, even if you also chuckle at the idea of not so great actors aspiring to be great actors on screen.