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Movies / In Cinemas / Fame
Fame

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Fame (2009)

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28 %
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Reviews Counted:101

Fresh:28

Rotten:73

Average Rating:4.5/10

Consensus: Fame is ultimately undone by its choppy editing, its incomplete characterizations, and its apparent desire to appeal to the High School Musical generation.

Rated: PG [See Full Rating] for thematic material including teen drinking, a sexual situation and language.

Genre: Musical & Performing Arts

Theatrical Release:25-09-2009

Synopsis: A reinvention of the original Oscar®-winning hit film, Fame follows a talented group of dancers, singers, actors, and artists over four years at the New York City High School of Performing Arts, a... A reinvention of the original Oscar®-winning hit film, Fame follows a talented group of dancers, singers, actors, and artists over four years at the New York City High School of Performing Arts, a diverse, creative powerhouse where students from all walks of life are given a chance to live out their dreams and achieve real and lasting fame...the kind that comes only from talent, dedication, and hard work.

In an incredibly competitive atmosphere, plagued by self-doubt, each student’s passion will be put to the test. In addition to their artistic goals, they have to deal with everything else that goes along with high school, a tumultuous time full of schoolwork, deep friendships, budding romance, and self-discovery.

As each student strives for his or her moment in the spotlight, they’ll discover who among them has the innate talent and necessary discipline to succeed. With the love and support of their friends and fellow artists, they’ll find out who amongst them will achieve Fame …

The cast includes Asher Book as Marco, Kristy Flores as Rosie, Paul Iacono as Neil, Paul McGill as Kevin, Naturi Naughton as Denise, Kay Panabaker as Jenny, Kherington Payne as Alice, Collins Pennie as Malik, Walter Perez as Victor, and Anna Maria Perez de Tagle as Joy. Their instructors include Debbie Allen as Principal Simms, Charles S. Dutton as Alvin Dowd, Kelsey Grammer as Joel Cranston, Megan Mullally as Fran Rowan, and Bebe Neuwirth as Lynn Kraft. --© MGM [More]

Starring: Kelsey Grammer, Megan Mullally, Kay Panabaker, Bebe Neuwirth

Starring: Kelsey Grammer, Megan Mullally, Kay Panabaker, Bebe Neuwirth, Naturi Naughton

Director: Kevin Tancharoen

Director: Kevin Tancharoen
Screenwriter: Aline Brosh McKenna, Allison Burnett
Studio: MGM

[See More Credits]

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  • Teaser Trailer
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    Trailer
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    Set Interviews
    >
    Halloween Dance
    >
  • Caf Jam
    >
    Here On My Own
    >
    If You Want Fame
    >
    Graduation Drums
    >
  • Hold Your Dream
    >
    Black and Gold
    >
    Get on the Floor
    >
1 - 4 of 11

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Reviews for Fame

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1 - 20 (sorted by comments; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 3 4 5 6 >> >|
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The cinematic equivalent of America's Got Talent... Sadly, though, there is no Simon Cowell - and more importantly, no red buzzer.

Full Review Source: Sun Online | comment 1 Comment
09/25/09
Sun Online

The awful truth about no one from the Fame movie or TV show going on to become famous may not yet have dawned on the cast of this new and bizarrely pointless remake.

Full Review Source: Guardian [UK] | comment 1 Comment
09/25/09
Peter Bradshaw
Peter Bradshaw
Guardian [UK]
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

The world has hardly been breathlessly awaiting a new version of Fame and an older generation will probably find it uncomfortably corny with showbusiness schmaltz smoothing away the rougher edges of the more adult original.

Full Review Source: Daily Express | comment Comment
09/25/09
Allan Hunter
Allan Hunter
Daily Express

Virtually everything about Allison Burnett's screenplay is blander, dumber and less daring than the original.

Full Review Source: Daily Mail [UK] | comment Comment
09/25/09
Christopher Tookey
Christopher Tookey
Daily Mail [UK]

But its well-intentioned message and some likeable characters mean the teenage target audience should find plenty to enjoy.

Full Review Source: Daily Mirror [UK] | comment Comment
09/25/09
David Edwards
David Edwards
Daily Mirror [UK]

This film makes even the most gaudy of Saturday night TV talent contests look like Dostoyevsky in comparison.

Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
09/25/09
David Jenkins
David Jenkins
Time Out
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Tancharoen’s background shows and steps in to save the film: highlights include an infectious rap in the canteen, a Hallowe’en “Carnevil,” and a show-stopper in a club, courtesy of Naughton.

Full Review Source: Screen International | comment Comment
09/24/09
Fionnuala Halligan
Fionnuala Halligan
Screen International

Culturally derivative, structurally bland and almost meaningless.

Full Review Source: Times [UK] | comment Comment
09/25/09
Kevin Maher
Kevin Maher
Times [UK]
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Unconnected shreds of plot suggest severe editing at some stage and neither characters nor musical routines add up to much.

Full Review Source: Financial Times | comment Comment
09/25/09
Martin Hoyle
Martin Hoyle
Financial Times

The film does deliver a commendable message about the importance of talent and hard work as opposed to instant, Pop Idol-style celebrity.

Full Review Source: ViewLondon | comment Comment
09/25/09
Matthew Turner
Matthew Turner
ViewLondon

Fame 2009 has turns rather than scenes, and its interchangeable students don't have names to remember so much as tags: "angry", "nervy", "blonde". Most can sing or dance, though the relentless exhibitionism grows tiring.

Full Review Source: Scotsman | comment Comment
09/25/09
Mike McCahill
Mike McCahill
Scotsman
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Observer [UK] | comment Comment
10/15/09
Philip French
Philip French
Observer [UK]

Fans of the original won't care if this lives forever, but when the kids' High School Musical DVDs finally become too scratched to play, this should be waiting in the wings.

Full Review Source: Sky Movies | comment Comment
09/25/09
Rob Daniel
Rob Daniel
Sky Movies

This may not please MTV fans but will appeal to primetime TV family audiences who've grown to expect the slickness of The X Factor's production values. Loads of talent and plenty of pretty faces. What's not to like?

Full Review Source: Teletext | comment Comment
09/25/09
Victor Olliver
Victor Olliver
Teletext

The new Fame is a sad reflection of the new Hollywood, where material is sanitized and dumbed down for a hypothetical teen market that is way too sophisticated for it. It plays like a dinner theater version of the original.

Full Review Source: Chicago Sun-Times | comment 5 Comments
09/24/09
Roger Ebert
Roger Ebert
Chicago Sun-Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

As a group this cast probably wouldn't even make it past Hollywood week on "American Idol".

Full Review Source: Back Stage | comment 4 Comments
09/25/09
Pete Hammond
Pete Hammond
Back Stage

The movie is salvaged by a few well-choreographed dance numbers and some signature songs. The movie is geared to fans of MTV videos with short attention spans.

Full Review Source: Entertainment Spectrum | comment 1 Comment
09/26/09
Keith Cohen
Keith Cohen
Entertainment Spectrum

A terrific score coupled with exciting choreography, tight editing and a talented cast make Fame a joyous and upbeat experience.

Full Review Source: Urban Cinefile | comment 1 Comment
09/26/09
Louise Keller
Louise Keller
Urban Cinefile

This is not, in any sense, an accurate depiction of life at an arts school. It's a giant MTV VMAs performance.

Full Review Source: Film School Rejects | comment 1 Comment
09/26/09
Robert Levin
Robert Levin
Film School Rejects

This Fame is a film without the guts to show Idolized America that, as Debbie Allen so memorably said way back when, "Fame costs, and right here's where you start paying."

Full Review Source: Orlando Sentinel | comment 1 Comment
09/24/09
Roger Moore
Roger Moore
Orlando Sentinel
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by comments; UK critics are listed first)
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all

Latest News for Fame

September 24, 2009: Critics Consensus: Surrogates Is A Passable Thriller
This week at the movies, we've got robot clones (Surrogates, starring Bruce Willis and Radha Mitchell), artistic-minded freshmen (Fame, starring Kelsey Grammer and Megan... More...

September 20, 2009: Five Favorite Films with Fame's Kevin Tancharoen
Though barely into his mid 20s, Kevin Tancharoen is, as the cliché goes, already something of an industry veteran. With a background in both dance and filmmaking, he's moved... More...

June 17, 2009: Trailer Bulletin: Fame Opens in new window
Following up on April's teaser, the "Fame" reboot now has a full-length trailer. Will it live forever? Head over to Yahoo! and see for yourself. More...

April 19, 2009: Trailer & Poster review Opens in new window
More...

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