Rated PG, ""Fame"" is almost laughably bland and watered-down in its desire to appeal to the widest possible audience. It won't succeed in this goal, but it has enough pizzazz and glitz to captivate undemanding tweens.
The differences between the original version of ""Fame"" and the splashy new production reveal a great deal about the changes in the movie business over the last three decades. Alan Parker's ""Fame,"" released in 1980 tackled subjects like racial conflict and homosexuality; it had a gritty urban flavor mixed with high-powered musical numbers. This retooled version, directed by former music video whiz Kevin Tancharoen, tries to duplicate ""High School Musical.""
The plot avoids exploring controversial issues that seems to go hand-in-hand with a famous life: sex, drugs, rumors and hardships. The exception is when one character, goody-goody actress Jenny, is faced with the option of using sex to land a role in a TV show. However, the scene is incredibly awkward and completely unbelievable, just like the rest of the movie.
Although this new version retains the basic structure of the original by following several kids over four years at the grueling New York High School of Performing Arts, it has been diluted in almost every imaginable way. Even the Academy Award-winning title song is played only once, over the end titles in this movie.
The characters' stories in this picture, written by Allison Burnett, are pitifully thin. Lovers quarrels and family conflicts are at the most primitive dramatic level, and the characters have no vivid quirks.
Given the shallow roles, there probably was not much the actors could do, which explains the atrocious acting. However, a few of them demonstrate a strong screen presence. The standout in the cast is Naturi Naughton, a marvelous singer who nails her musical numbers. When Naughton's performing, you get a hint of the electricity and energy that the whole film should have had. Kherington Payne, former ""So You Think You Can Dance"" star, was a disappointment. Payne's dancing is superb, but seems to be her only asset for the big screen. Perhaps if Payne attended the school for acting, her performance would have been better. Several excellent actors—Charles S. Dutton, Bebe Neuwirth, Kelsey Grammer—have their talent wasted playing teachers.
Tancharoen doesn't weave the stories together gracefully, and the musical sequences are edited in the chop-chop MTV style that does no favor to the performers. The choreography is lively, though very few dance routines are played out at any length.
Overall, the new ""Fame"" is like a series of snippets and teasers for a movie still waiting to be made.
Grade: D
