As a dedicated dance movie fan and broadway wannabe, you could say the expectations were definitely high when I bought my ticket to see the new Fame. I'm often a little dubious when it comes to remakes, harbouring an 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it' mentality, but the thought of taking what was one of the original movies to establish the teenage movie musical genre and plunging it into modern day was far too tempting to avoid. So I bought my ticket, excited but with slightly concerned reservations about the impending possibility that what I was about to watch had all the potential of resembling the trashy love-child of Hair and High School Musical. I left with a slightly different perspective.
It.
Was.
Fabulous.
Granted, I doubt any of the actors are going to win any Oscars, Emmys, Tonys or Grammys like their on-screen characters are so passionately striving for, but if you've got 107 minutes spare, I highly recommend submerging yourself in the lives of the students of New York's Academy of Performing Arts. 
This school (aka. PA) acts as the premis of the film, which is an updated version of the 1980 musical classic. A whole new gang have entered the hallowed halls of PA and are looking to make it big in the world of show business via their various performing disciplines. Over achievers, rough diamonds, shy violets and undiscovered talents - the school has them all and their willing to bust their guts and girdles in order to make it big. But as our hopeful heroes and heroines soon discover, finding fame brings its fair share of trials, tribulations and sudden bursts into song and dance.
Undeniably, it is Denise Dupree (played by up-and-comer Naturi Naughton) who deservedly steals the show. A piano player with all the promise of the next Mozart but lacking the passion to really achieve, Denise discovers her hidden ability to sing and joins a hiphop trio under the nose of her conservative parents. The pipes on Naturi Naughton are nothing short of enviable and are displayed in perfect pitch when she busts out Out Here On My Own and leaves cinemagoers utterly amazed.
Undeniably, it is Denise Dupree (played by up-and-comer Naturi Naughton) who deservedly steals the show. A piano player with all the promise of the next Mozart but lacking the passion to really achieve, Denise discovers her hidden ability to sing and joins a hiphop trio under the nose of her conservative parents. The pipes on Naturi Naughton are nothing short of enviable and are displayed in perfect pitch when she busts out Out Here On My Own and leaves cinemagoers utterly amazed.
Despite the extraordinary choreography featured in the dance audition, Black and Gold and graduation scenes and the sporadic moments which may make broadway wannabes like myself shed a regretful tear at not having pursued those NIDA dreams, there are a few questionable aspects to the film. The remake boasts a bigger cast than the original and this often makes it difficult to keep track of the principal characters. As a direct result, some lack the fleshing out they really need and a few of the story arcs fly a little too far under the radar which is dissapointing.But this being said, it contains all the teenage angst and visual direction one hopes for in a teenage movie musical, not to mention boasting a pretty impressive line-up of young performers who do the original proud. Hence, I have every intention of buying the DVD and soundtrack and belting out the lyrics to 'Fame' like they're going out of style, not that they ever will.
Popcorn Quality: 4/5
Starring: Kay Panabaker, Walter Perez, Naturi Naughton, Asher Book, Kherington Payne, Collins Pennie, Kristy Flores, Paul McGill, Anna Maria Perez de Tagle, Kelsey Grammer, Megan Mullally
Running Time: 107 mins
Recommended if you enjoyed: Any dance movie known to man, High School Musical, Rent, Hairspray
Trailer:
Recommended if you enjoyed: Any dance movie known to man, High School Musical, Rent, Hairspray
Trailer:
(Image Credit: http://hollywoodbay.fan-sites.org/category/fame/ )
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