Movie Review

Fame (2009)

Reviewed by Lisa Schwarzbaum | Sep 23, 2009

Lisa Schwarzbaum

Lisa Schwarzbaum is a film critic for EW

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EW's GRADE

Details Release Date: Sep 25, 2009; Rated: PG; Length: 107 Minutes; Genre: Musical; With: Debbie Allen, Asher Book and Naturi Naughton

Image credit: Saeed Adyani

BABY, REMEMBER MY NAME Naturi Naughton sings from the heart in Fame

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NYC high school students sing, dance, emote in acting classes, and otherwise insist that America's got talent, but this unnecessarily tepid, conservative remake of 1980's far more famous and affecting original Fame suggests otherwise. Why settle for this dull, safe production — at once airbrushed in plot and undisciplined in execution — when you can watch Glee? The teachers (including original cast member Debbie Allen as school principal) turn out to be the best part of the show. The kids try hard, but mostly look grim while pretending to smile. C

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Originally posted Sep 24, 2009 Published in issue #1069-1070 Oct 09, 2009 Order article reprints

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