Fame
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) | Release Date: September 25, 2009
4.5
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Mixed or average reviews based on 44 Ratings
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14
Mixed:
9
Negative:
21
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User Reviews

User scoreBy dateMost helpful
3
grandpajoe6191Sep 27, 2011
"Fame", the updated version of the 1980's version, has nothing new. It's the same funky dances with dull music with a terrible cast. Most of all, they didn't fix the terrible wrap up the original one suffered. This is a movie where its"Fame", the updated version of the 1980's version, has nothing new. It's the same funky dances with dull music with a terrible cast. Most of all, they didn't fix the terrible wrap up the original one suffered. This is a movie where its terrible to the heart.… Expand
2 of 2 users found this helpful20
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6
WilliamCJan 14, 2010
From this moment forward, I'm going to completely forget that the original Broadway production existed. That's not to say that this rendition of Fame was better or worse, but I do believe that comparing them is not fair. You have From this moment forward, I'm going to completely forget that the original Broadway production existed. That's not to say that this rendition of Fame was better or worse, but I do believe that comparing them is not fair. You have to remember that there is nearly a 30-year difference between the media, which grants a large difference between what can and what will change. With that being said, I feel as if this movie actually did a decent job in doing what it was should - bringing an entertaining moving and showing what recalling happens in an art school. The plot as much goes in the same boat as sever that we have seen before. We watch the lives of several students as the go from bumbling and hopeful applicants in a prestigious arts school in New York City, to prospering and proud graduates. Yet it's not all fun and games, as each of the selected ten students have their own trials and tribulations in their friends of dance, music, and acting. Along the way, their teachers who add their own flavor and advice will guide them. These little gems by people like Kelsey Grammer and Charles S. Dunton layer on an impressive and applaud-worthy amount of attention and detail to what these kids should be learning. They fully immerse themselves into the role of molding their minds into what they need to be. For delivering the story of each of the characters, director Kevin Tancharoen did an interesting and stuck it to the parts that were only worth telling. When I say that, He doesn't show you each of their love loves, or what their careers are - in fact he barely gives them enough face time to know who they are - but sticks to what's enough to give them their motivation and drive. The passion of each character is what makes this movie and that's what pushes this movie along past it's four "years." However when done in this fashion, you do run into the issue of what I mentioned just a moment ago; not knowing who is who. It wasn't until the end of them move where I could clearly recognize anyone, let alone remember anyone's name clearly. I did say that I wouldn't compare this to the Broadway original, but considering that this was on Broadway, it's safe to assume that the music was left as well. One has to realize that you are watching a movie about NYC preps in arts school. Yet most of the musical numbers were not spontaneous or over-excessive (though the first main number did nearly break that second one). The majority had a purpose and flowed with the plot, which is always a plus, in the aftermath of the High School Musical trilogy. Yet the highlight of this little aural romp was the fact that overall, there was no true happy ending. Sure, people got what they needed, but not in the way that they expected it. It was true in the way that real life would finish out for kids. It… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
0
AhCOct 20, 2009
"Fame" proves the truth of the old adage that you can't ever, ever go wrong underestimating the taste of the American public. Incredibly bad acting, predictable plot, and the whitest couple to hit the screen since Brad and Janet. What a "Fame" proves the truth of the old adage that you can't ever, ever go wrong underestimating the taste of the American public. Incredibly bad acting, predictable plot, and the whitest couple to hit the screen since Brad and Janet. What a waste of time and money. I'm sure 11year old girls everywhere thought it was terrific. Hollywood truly has no shame.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
7
JacobIOct 5, 2009
Great movie if you like dancing, singing, and all other arts.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
3
CarolM.Sep 26, 2009
Original has heart where this one makes you not care about anyone. None of the actors are convincing, except maybe Megan Mulally when she reveals she teaches because she couldn't make it on Broadway.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
4
ChadS.Sep 28, 2009
An aura of prestige surrounding the High School of the Performing Arts was palpable in the 1980 Alan Parker film, largely due to a crucial scene where an aspiring dancer, who failed her audition, lashes out at the gatekeeper in a An aura of prestige surrounding the High School of the Performing Arts was palpable in the 1980 Alan Parker film, largely due to a crucial scene where an aspiring dancer, who failed her audition, lashes out at the gatekeeper in a profanity-laced tirade. The filmmaker's choice not to show a similar meltdown in this remake of "Fame", sets the wrong tone before "Freshman Year" ever commences. Without tears, without this outward display of vitriolic disappointment over being denied enrollment, the school seems like any other high school, a demythologization furthered by the revelation that its instructors are failed performers, and the period-specific but gravitas-killing prevalence of rap music, especially in the impromptu cafeteria jam session. Since the instructors are stripped of their mystique, and the curriculum seemingly over-tolerant towards popular culture, "Fame", at times, is undistinguishable from John Chu's "Step Up 2 the Streets". Even worse, despite its New York City setting, the film never truly steps up to the streets, never maximizes its urban milieu. Instead of a squalid comedy club where the students cheer on their drug-addled, Freddy Prinze-obsessed classmate, these kids go to a karaoke bar, smoke-free, of course, and no imbibing of alcoholic beverages. Ensemble pieces both, Parker's "Fame", nevertheless, had a heart(Maureen Teeny as Doris) and soul(Paul McCrane as Montgomrey), who've been updated in the remake as whiny lovers. Their spat, when measured up against drug abuse, abortion, homosexuality, and an unplanned excursion into the world of adult films, comes off woefully short as something of dramatic interest.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
10
EvanB.Sep 26, 2009
a great family movie with a little language.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
3
HaslynRSep 28, 2009
Stick to the original film. There are very few redeeming qualities in this film. It seems that the producers hastily slapped together an incoherent film with characters that are unappealing and very forgettable.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
1
SabrinnaDec 25, 2010
BORING. If these people are talented, it's actually very hard to tell. The original Fame movie was awesome. This movie is pathetic. It's that simple. Yes, they can be compared. If you're going to remake a cult classic, you should have a clue.BORING. If these people are talented, it's actually very hard to tell. The original Fame movie was awesome. This movie is pathetic. It's that simple. Yes, they can be compared. If you're going to remake a cult classic, you should have a clue. If you can't improve on it, leave it alone. These days there are many performing art schools and they don't all do hip-hop (shock horror!). In fact you may find that most artists are interested in diversifying rather than recreating the same-old same-old. My advice - Ignore this movie was ever made because it shouldn't have been.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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8
HaithamBayazeedJan 8, 2013
Actually, this is not a movie for family! It is the best musical movie for me, but still I guess not for family, more for teens, I really Like this movie, I really enjoyed it I will give it 10/10.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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8
yartatFeb 8, 2019
If you like great performances and charismatic characters you should watch this movie.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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0
GhengisJohnJan 31, 2016
An hour and forty seven minutes of musical hell, this "update" of FAME feels like it's been on forever long before the credits are ready to roll. It's packed from beginning to end with cringe-worthy moments, frenetic direction and unappealingAn hour and forty seven minutes of musical hell, this "update" of FAME feels like it's been on forever long before the credits are ready to roll. It's packed from beginning to end with cringe-worthy moments, frenetic direction and unappealing characters. Worst of all it commits the cardinal sin for any entertainment product in that it's boring, exchanging any of the edginess of the original for plots recycled from so many after school teen specials. "This is who I am Mom and Dad, SO YOU BETTER BELIEVE IN ME!" So many people try to give these kids advice but ultimately the only advice they need to follow is "DON'T BE AFRAID TO SUCCEED!"

I can't shake the feeling that the kids' embarrassing, amateur-theatre rendition of Chumbawamba's "I get knocked down" (a song released 12 years prior to the release of the film) is indicative of the disconnect that seems to exist between whomever wrote this script and whatever was culturally relevant to the movie's target audience. It doesn't help that the movie is filled with these bizarre interpretations of reality: The guy who decides the way to get ahead as a producer is to take an acting audition, the squeaky-voiced teacher who performs a horrifyingly awkward, nails-on-chalkboard rendition of "You Took Advantage of me" that somehow impresses the hell out of her students or the cafeteria where the kids are allowed to run all over the tables. It also doesn't help that there's simply too many characters and no time is spent developing any of them. If you're worried that this movie is being compared to the original unfairly don't be. You can rest assured it's terrible in it's own right.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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2
DawdlingPoetNov 28, 2021
The choreography is quite good, stylish - it was fun watching rooms full of people dancing away to sings and I admit I may have participated with the singing as well at times!. There is a plot, rather than it just costantly going from song toThe choreography is quite good, stylish - it was fun watching rooms full of people dancing away to sings and I admit I may have participated with the singing as well at times!. There is a plot, rather than it just costantly going from song to song, those are the main plus points. There are undoubtedly a number of cliches present, men 'admiring' female dancers for their suggestive moves and vice versa, etc. it doesn't exactly greatly break new ground but its alright as a film following a group of singers/performers trying to improve their craft and be taken seriously, professionally.

The vocals and dancing are the main appeals and their not bad, so I'd say its alright but its hardly a particularly good film as far as it having a clear plot direction as such. There are a lot of characters and it doesn't really center on any one person for the duration, so it feels like as a viewer we only see, or know, snippets about peoples personal lives, their background etc., which is a shame. It felt at times that there was a sort of forced melodrama present which didn't sit with me too well, almost as if its trying a bit too hard to be hard hitting but it doesn't quite succeed. Some of the cast (the young, teenage students) clearly aren't exactly top grade actors, sadly - not all but some scenes I felt could (perhaps should) have been cut.

I also felt, more specifically, that Kelsey Grammar was trying a bit too hard to be seen as the strict, perfectionist teacher unhappy with anything but the best from his students. It felt, to me, insincere, although im not arguing that he can't act as obviously he's a famous actor from other films and the TV series Frasier etc.

I suppose its mainly a musical/music based film and as that its alright (with the caveat of some scenes being slightly better than others), so it could be worse but as a film I'd say its not particularly good either. As the film continues, I felt it, if anything, seemed obviously desperate to try to stand out and I lost some of the enthusiasm I'd initially felt for it. If it concentrated purely on the musical numbers and all but cut the rest of the plot out, or certainly lowered the number of characters at play, it would've come across better/slicker. It just didn't really work for me, although I can't deny that the initial dance scenes and some of the singing/musical numbers are fairly decent.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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