Column:
'Fame' remake won't live forever
Published Sept. 29, 2009
In 1980, a group of teens danced on a taxi and proclaimed the world would "remember their name!"
Almost 30 years, a Broadway stage adaptation, two televisions spin-offs and countless renditions of the hit title song later, it was apparently time to remake "Fame." The original was an undeniable smash that had the world singing along. This version will not prove to be as memorable. The energy and talent of the young cast cannot save this glossy, but empty, remake. This new "Fame" does precious little entertaining and a lot of disappointing.
For those who haven't danced like Irene Cara in front of their bedroom mirror, a refresher: "Fame" is the story of students at New York City's top performing arts high school, chronicling the drama and joy on the way to the top in the schools of music, dance and theater.
Taking cue from the original, "Fame" is divided into five sections: auditions, then freshman, sophomore, junior and senior years. We meet a male dancer from Iowa who just wants to make it big, a sheltered classical pianist who's never stepped out of her comfort zone, a brooding seen-it-all rapper/actor from the other side of the tracks and other stereotypes you'd expect to find in a movie about a performing arts high school.
But the clichés don't stop here. Early on, they revive the original's cafeteria dance number that has since been seen popping up everywhere (and made officially lame thanks to the kids in "High School Musical"). This time around, the number feels stale, with all the energy and fun zapped out of it like day-old french fries in the microwave.
Similarly, the big-voiced Naturi Naughton (playing shy piano virtuoso Denise) is supposed to bring down the house with her seemingly "Dreamgirls"-inspried solo song. Instead, the number falls flat and forgettable. Unfortunately, the nonmusical clichés are even worse.
The silly dialogue is a real yawn, stupid at best and usually boring. It doesn't help with the overcrowded cast of characters, we never get to know anyone in the movie. It becomes trying to listen to them spew over the top speeches (because God forbid any character be developed beyond a one-minute monologue) about making it big when you just don't care.
If you look hard enough, there is some talent to be seen. Still, there is not much being done with it. We see a few impressive dancers (from characters whose names we never learn) and a nice song here and there. But sadly, this is not really a hotbed of young talent waiting to be discovered and if it is, you can't tell.
The teaching staff holds trusty television stars Kelsey Grammar and Megan Mullally, and though they give decent performances, watching them try to care about this drivel is exhausting. Not even Debbie Allen, veteran of the original film and TV show, can save this sinking ship.
It'll be hard for the audience to care, too. Unlike the 1980 original, this "Fame" will not live forever. Come three years, it probably won't be living anywhere but the Walmart $5 movie bin. If you're looking for an entertaining look at young talent in a performing arts high school, don't look here. Save your money, stay home and rent the original.