Fame: Review By Angelo Liberati, CPA

This movie is basically mediocre. The story is mediocre. The acting is mediocre - both students and adult teachers. The premise is mediocre. The music is mediocre.

However, the stunning singing voices of some of the young actors in this movie - playing the students - is something to behold.

There are several problems that I found with this movie. First of all, there is an 'Audition Day' - at the beginning of the movie - where supposedly 10,000 talented young people audition at the High School of the Performing Arts, but only 200 were selected for the incoming Freshman class. How do 10,000 students audition in one day?

Another problem with this movie is that it whizzes through four years of high school - for this incoming Freshman class - faster than you can say 'Peanut Butter Cups' 10 times.

Kelsey Grammar plays a piano instructor at this High School for Performing Arts. Kelsey is a fine actor, but his talents were wasted in this movie, principally because he does not have more screen time.

Charles S. Dutton,another fine actor, does well in his role as an acting, or theater, instructor. He personally takes an interest in a student named Malik. With no explanation in the movie at all, Malik suddenly turns to singing Rap, instead of pursuing his studies in acting and/or the theater.

This movie is also outdated. Though appropriate in the 1970's, when the original "Fame" came out, fame, stardom and opportunity are much easier now for budding performing artists , mainly due to the onset of reality television series such as "American Idol".

I saw this movie with my wife, Susan, on Saturday, September 26, 2009 - the second date that this movie was out - at the 8:30 p.m. showing at the Palisades Center Loews Multiplex Cinemas, Auditorium number 8, in West Nyack, Rockland County, New York State.