Having leapt over the ‘90s, we are in that predetermined sweet spot for reincarnating the hit films of the ‘80s. Nearly 30 years after its debut, Fame is due for its remake (so says the Hollywood brass). The original may have been rated R, carried documentary aesthetics, and treated its subjects with hostility; but this new take differs surprisingly little for a PG, kid-friendlier rehash.
As before we are taken to the prestigious New York Academy of Performing Arts. There, young students are auditioning for entry. We get to know a handful. Denise (Naturi Naughton) is a pianist. Jenny (Kay Panabaker) is too introverted to make it past auditions, but for narrative purposed she manages to squeeze through. Joy (Anna Maria Perez de Tagle) wants to act, as does Malik (Collins Pennie). Alice (Kherington Payne) and Kevin (Paul McGill) want to dance, while Marco (Asher Brook) is a star singer. Urging the scholars along is a cast from NBC’s Must See TV including Kelsey Grammer, Bebe Neuwirth, and Megan Mullally.
With his big screen debut, director Kevin Tancharoen did an admirable job. The dance scenes are well shot, lit, and cut. Now I may be mistaken, but there seemed to be much more singing and dancing in this version. Let’s consider that a good thing since most people wanting to see this are looking for performances. Of course the songs didn’t engage as effectively as the title track from the original, but that’s a sign of the times.
On the downside there was much less focus this time around on the characters, and this is character driven. The students have fewer quarrels with their parents. Few mature over the years. The additional teacher roles enforce preachiness. The 1980 version simply gave us a wondering eye and followed the kids through senior year. Here it’s like theatrics is a priority, with the PG factor coming in second. The R rated anger and sex drive of the original is replaced by thwarted attempts at kissing and repeated use of “screw this”. Regardless it’s a darker, more disturbing picture than rival High School Musical. These kids have much more authentic situations, though some of the outcomes could have been more believable with a harsher follow through. Dramatic break-up scenes are not earned by having your girlfriend deny some chap. Still what happens to many of these kids can sure kill a mood. Happy endings are few and far between, but that’s the biz.
Overall it’s near par with the original, because the original wasn’t flawless. Where I can give this points for more inspiring teachers, improved dances, a boundary pushing PG, and more energy; I can also subtract for a lack of originality, weaker songs, and less focus. Fame is not a film made for me but it’s flashy enough for most and down to Earth when it counts. **½
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