When bad reviews and moderate box-office results came through for the re-invention of "Fame", I decided why not go for it after all. After that, this looks like a movie I can tell one of my friends about. And now that I still have the movie on DVD for over 4 1/2 weeks, I can still tell someone I know about it. "Fame" doesn't live forever but I was impressed by the flaws, clichés, and sometimes sentimentality of this film. In other words, it's funny, fast-paced,and just terrific. Set in modern-day at the Performing Arts High School in New York, this movie deals with over 10 students who goes through four years (plus auditions) of love, heartbreak, joy, and raising your voices. Some might have a problem with the quickness of the four years combined together and some of the actors looks too old to play teenagers. But I didn't, so I basically stuck with it and it even surprised me for 107 minutes. The "teenagers"/newcomers in "Fame" are surprising and fantastic. For example, Naturi Naughton (who played Lil' Kim in "Notorious") steal some of the scenes of the film whether it's from singing the original tunes from the original film, "Fame" and "Out Here on my Own" or from going by her parents' wishes as a classical pianist and becomes a singing sensation. Kay Panabaker and Anna Maria Perez de Tagle (from Disney Channel) are superb, especially when they sing. Collins Pennie is phenomenal as Malik and he, like Naughton, steals some scenes. Much as the same goes to Asher Book, who as Marco, develops some joyfulness and emotional content through the film. Even the adult actors like Debbie Allen (from the movie and T.V. show of the same name), Kelsey Grammar and Megan Mullally has their moments as well. This IS a movie directly for the teenagers if the kids can't handle this movie. It has its moments and sometimes the sentimentality will put a smile on your face. I enjoyed it, so why don't you go for it. Go, remember its name....if you have to.
Review of Fame
