Disclaimer: I, as an individual, live for films such as Fame. I enjoy them for their feel-good spirit as well as their ability to show off those who have been blessed with a gift for the arts. The musical numbers are almost always inspiring, and the way they come together marks that of true talent, giving me the itch to stand up and join the chorus.
Any time you decide to remake an old classic, you must be careful - especially when it comes to a musical. The choreographed numbers must be perfectly 'reinvented,' doing justice to the original while sparking interest in an entirely new generation. While I have never seen the original or the inspired TV show or stage play, I will say that Kevin Tancharoen's Fame is the perfect escape for any performing arts appreciator.
The film opens up on 'Audition Day.' The stakes are high and the tension is fierce as over 10,000 students compete for 200 spots at the prestigious New York School of Performing Arts. Throughout the rest of the film, we follow the freshman class through graduation day as they learn to cope with the struggles for attention, the false-promise of success, and the challenges of standing out in a highly competitive environment. Along the way, each student will discover their inner talent, utilizing it to determine their future as well as the price they are willing to pay for fame.
Mixing a group of fresh, hot talent with a few veteran performers, the film successfully delivers the master-apprentice relationship that exists within every trade. Kherington Payne, who enters the acting world after a stint on Fox's 'So You Think You Can Dance,' lights up the screen with her dynamic style and approach. She is complimented by Kristy Flores, Asher Book, Paul Iacono and Naturi Naughton, all of whom trigger heartfelt emotion and glee with their respective talents. Kelsey Grammar, Megan Mullally and Bebe Neuwirth give supporting performances as the school's teachers, holding their own amongst the up and comers, at times showing off their own hidden talents as well.
But in all honesty, the film belongs to the talent, and most of that comes from the new guys. The dances, the voices, and the monologues; each is presented with heart and soul, connecting with you and making you believe that each of these guys have a future within the industry. In reality, many of the actors are experiencing their first film role with Fame, but it hardly shows. Their talent shines through, allowing the graceful moves or soulful voices to overshadow any and all miscues that might result from inexperience in front of a camera.
Granted, many of the scenes are a bit cliché, especially the one involving a trip to an old-classmates' trailer, but that is what you have to expect from films such as this. Sure the story is going to be generic and the characters a bit over-the-top; but when you venture into these movies, you go for the entertainment value of the performers. You go to see the high-kicks, the charismatic numbers, and the trials and tribulations of those striving to be a star.
My lone complaint with the film is its end sequence. While most musically charged features go out with a bang, leaving audiences wanting more, Fame opts to go at it a bit differently. Here, a more serene approach was used, signifying a graduation and a move on to bigger and better things. This is not the end of the story for these guys, simply a branching off point for the many individual stories to take hold and develop. It didn't ruin the movie, and I do understand the difficulty of trying to integrate such a wide array of skills into one number. However, with a film such as this, you kind of expect it to be big - unfortunately, it wasn't.
