Iffy for 12+
Teen musical remake has edgy content for a PG movie.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that this remake of the 1980 movie musical Famehas been heavily marketed to tweens and teens on television and online.Although it's rated PG (unlike the original, which was rated R), it feels more like a PG-13 movie, especially in regard to underage drinking (the high schoolers are shown drinking several times, and in one scene a girl gets so drunk that she throws up) and language, which includes more than a few uses of "s--t," "a--hole," "bitch," and the like. The sexuality is also more obvious than in most PG movies, with several kisses and one video-taped "casting couch" make-out session. On the bright side, there's considerably less consumerism than in comparable teen-focused movies, the cast is incredibly diverse, and the underlying messages about working hard and fighting for your dreams are definitely worthwhile.
- Families can talk about how "fame" is different now than in the '80s. With so many mediaoutlets for getting your name "out there," is it even necessary to go through lots of special training to be discovered?
- The teens drink pretty openly at parties and clubs. Is this common behavior for teens?
- Are the parent-child relationships in the movie realistic? What about the choices that some of the characters have to make about work vs. school?
- If you've seen the original, you may want to compare the two movies. How is the music different? Which version has stronger characters?
The good stuff
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Messages: The movie aims to convey positive messages about hard work and following your dreams. It doesn't sugar coat how hard it is to succeed as a performer (some students are told frankly that they won't make it, and others have to make very difficult choices), but it also promotes dedicating yourself to whatever you feel passionate about. All of the students have overcome personal odds to be at the school, and a couple of them make decisions to follow their own dreams instead of those their parents have imposed upon them.
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Role models: The students are an impressively diverse, tolerant bunch. Almost all of the students work hard and are wholly committed to their art -- but they're also typical teens who sometimes drink and lie to their parents. One boy gets mad at his girlfriend when another guy comes close to assaulting her (not the best example for teens), and two others are resentful when their friend is offered an opportunity that they aren't. Some of the parents aren't very sympathetic to their kids' dreams (though most of them come around).
What to watch for
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Violence: No on-screen violence (though performers definitely fall down several times), but Malik discusses his family's violent past, including how his little sister was killed by stray bullets from a gang-related shooting. One character looks poised to jump in front of a subway train but doesn't at the last minute.
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Sex: Several kisses, some involving major characters and others between extras in the background. A couple of the kisses are quite passionate, and one (within the context of a "casting session") ends up briefly horizontal. A character warns his girlfriend that another guy is hitting on her and only wants to "hook up"; another girl seems to be flaunting her boyfriend to annoy her stuffy parents. Some of the dances are quite sensuous.
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Language: More swearing than you'd expect in a PG-rated film, including several uses of "s--t," plus "bulls--t," "ass," "bitch," "hos," goddamn," "a--hole," "my God," "hell," "screw," "retarded," and more.
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Consumerism: Considerably less than many teen-targeted films; mostly just minor references to YouTube, OK magazine, and Sesame Street (one of the students lands a spot in the cast).
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Drinking, drugs and smoking: Most of the extracurricular scenes involve obvious or implied underage drinking -- often at parties, but also at a club. In one case, a teen girl purposely gets drunk (to "expand her life experience") and throws up; she subsequently says she'll never do it again. Teachers are present at some of the occasions when teens are drinking.
Fan Reviews provided by
5
Awesome by c4given
Great movie...if you like dancing, you will love this. Don't listen to the hairbrained idiots that leave negative reviews....this IS NOT A SMALL children's movie, but it is artistic and wonderfully entertaining. So IF YOU'RE A PARENT, BE RESPONSIBLE AND WATCH IT YOURSELF FIRST...don't send your under 12-yr olds alone!!
2
PG?? Seriously???? by mom2mygirls
My 11 year old daughter had her heart set on taking 5 of her friends to go see this movie for her birthday. I did have my reservations, but it was PG....so against my better judgement, I agreed. Next time, I will follow my gut!
This movie has no business being rated PG. How in the world did that get passed? If you are looking to take your kids to a "family friendly" movie, I suggest you pass on this one. If you are in doubt, be aware that there are several swear words, (a--hole,b--ch,GOD----, sh-t, and a few others) as well as several sexually charged story lines. One of them is way too graphic for little ones, and involves a boy looking to "hook-up" and attempting to force a girl to kiss him. Additionally, there are instances of both attempted suicide, and underage drinking.
That issue aside, I felt that were too may characters and too little story development. This movie would be appropriate for older teens, but NOT the "tween" age group.
4
ignore the reviews - go see this movie! by lagallagher
What is everyone's problem?? I can't for the life of me understand all the crappy reviews of this movie! It is VERY entertaining. Extreme talent. Good acting. Good story. Loved the way it was shot. No, I'm not a tween. (well... ok, I HAVE a tween.) Yes, I saw the original. No, it's not the original. If you want the original, see the original. I've seen it twice so far and loved it both times. Okay... in the original R-rated version, Maleek (sp?) would have said, "F--k this!" instead of "Screw this!" but do we really need that? And in the 70's, every movie had to flash boobies, but somehow I managed to survive this one w/out them. No doubt my daughter and her friends will drag me back for a 3rd viewing and I will happily go! Go see it... it's great!! Not perfect, but you will be thoroughly entertained. I was pulling for these kids! I cared about them. What more do you want from a movie???
5
Powerful - must see! by lvviewer
I loved it. Follows a class at a performing arts high school in NYC from tryouts through freshman year through senior year. What talent! The music and performances are butt kicking... Must see it!
4
remake unremarkable by quietone72663
I was a teenager when the orginal Fame was in the movies. I loved that one. Songs and dances were a part of the story, in the latest version the song and dance are basically the entire story none of the characters or the plots are fleshed out lest they interrupt yet another song and dance number. As much as the singing and dancing were good, seeing what changed at the school over time and what stayed the same within the student body would have made this a much better film,
4
good stuff! by racheln
I thought this movie was great! Of course if you're attached to the broadway musical you may not like it as much because it's a remake of the ORIGINAL MOVIE...not the stage production. I really liked it. I liked the split scenes. Any scene where they combined all the different arts was amazing! I thought the actors all did a good job. I liked how it was a musical without being a traditional song-every-other-sentence kinda musical. I also enjoyed seeing the teachers played by actual actors who were skilled in what they taught on screen (ie: kelsey Grammar actually did study the piano, Megan Mullaley actually did sign on broadway etc) It would have been cool to have seen more of the teachers perform.
the only thing that bugged me was that it seemed like they ended up cutting out a lot. I think the characters were supposed to be more developed but for some reason they ended up having to cut out a lot...hoping the DVD will have some more extended scenes and such. )
2
Fame - so very very sad by vonfuzzner
I wanted to like this movie. I really did. I remember the original show fondly. Debbie Allen was the toughest, most awesome teacher you could ever imagine. The dancing was cool, the students were engaging. This, though. Not so much. Debbie Allen was relegated to the background, rarely to be seen, and never doing what she always did best - coaching dancers. The movie has far too many characters and subplots for the viewer to track, and they are never allowed to get deeply engaged with any of the characters. I left not caring about a single triumph or tragedy and was simply relieved to see the credits roll. I expected much better from this franchise, and I will not be going back if they create another. Sorry, guys. I was rooting for you, I really was, but this was just too far of a miss for me.
4
Great movie by miss1198
better than i thought it would be, should have had more dancing scenes in it though! It's definitely a great movie to watch if you are passionate about performing arts, very inspirational.
3
Fell Short by Moxymeloxy
I was excited to see this move having grown up with the television show, Fame. Unfortunately, I found it disappointing. While the cast was talented and the dance numbers were really terrific, the movie fell short on plot. Several themes were touched on vaguely through the characters in the ensemble cast. One story was the most cohesive, dealing with a girl coming into her own against the "planned" future mapped out by her father. But the other characters' stories are weakly presented and leave you feeling little investment in the relationships and their outcome. At the end of the movie, a character tells another, "Of course I'm going to come see my best friend graduate." Best friends? Really? I had no idea they even knew each other beyond a couple interactions.
If you love dance and music, there are some scenes worth seeing, but if you're looking for character development and an enriched story, you'll probably leave disappointed.
4
Inspiring!! by betsymcb
I really enjoyed this movie...the incredible dancing and singing was very inspiring...the filming was great! I only wish that the characters had a bit more depth to them. I don't think they were quite as complex as they could have been! Lastly, I wouldn't take very young children to this movie because there were definitely some mature parts! Overall, it was great and you should definitely take the time and money to see it!!