Erica Schneider
Staff Writer
It’s hard to say if the remake of the 1980 film classic “Fame” will live forever in the memories of viewers.
While the much-anticipated film will appeal to preteen audiences, more mature viewers may find little to appreciate. The film follows the lives of six aspiring starlets as they strive to perfect their chosen craft in today’s performing culture.
The story begins in the audition room in which a music teacher (Kelsey Grammar), a vocals instructor (Megan Mullally), a dance teacher (Bebe Neuwirth), and a drama teacher (Charles S. Dutton) are judging the hopefuls. The principal is played by actress Debbie Allen, the only holdover from the original version of the film.
The young leading characters of the movie are Marco (Asher Book), the most talented of the bunch, and Jenny (Kay Panabaker), a driven actress/singer who is painfully uptight about her ambitions. The two share a predictable romance, which manages to last throughout the movie in spite of a brief break up.
Other characters include Alice (Kherington Payne), an egotistical dancer who, after attending dance lessons since the age of five, gets her big break with a prestigious ballet troupe. Naturi Naughton plays Denise, a classically trained pianist, who dreams of becoming a hip-hop singer. Although her father won’t allow her to follow her aspirations, she gains the support of actor/rapper Malik (Collins Perez) and music producer Victor (Walter Perez).
However, it’s difficult to care about many of the characters because viewers never truly get the opportunity to know them.
The plot is rather disjointed as the film goes from one dance/musical number to the next. The hodgepodge of characters makes it difficult to follow the constant scene changes.
Although the acting quality of the younger cast members wasn’t top notch, the choreographed dance scenes were incredible. The high-energy dance jam in the cafeteria, the “carn-evil,” the black and gold number and the finale graduation scene were superb and highly entertaining. The true talent and dedication the dancers presented during the scene makes viewers realize what true “Fame” is about.
The soundtrack contains 19 songs of varying intensity and tempo. Most are carried over from the original and were redone by the new cast members. However, some of the new artists include Anjulie, Santigold, Sam Sparro and Hopsin. Whether it’s rap, hip-hop,rhythm and blues or pop, this diverse soundtrack is sure to get viewers on their feet and dancing along.
“Fame” is a movie about following one’s dreams, hard work and never losing hope. However, the 1980 film addressed other issues of a social nature that were not portrayed in the 2009 version as well.
In an attempt to clean up the remake for a less mature audience, stage mothers, teen pregnancy and class structure were not mentioned.
Instead, the remake merely focused upon shallow issues, failing to reproduce many of the messages interwoven with the original.
Although the movie seemed to lack important aspects, such as character development, it certainly won’t disappoint evryone. “Fame” may fall under the category of just another “High School Musical”, “Bandslam,” or “American Mall,” which in the past have been popular amongst a younger crowd.
Whether viewers enjoy it or not, “Fame” will inspire audiences to follow and reach their goals. It was released Sept. 25 in theatres nationwide and is rated PG for thematic material including teen drinking, a sexual situation and language.
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