FAME

I give Fame an 8 out of 10 as far as dance movies go. Because that’s what it is, a dance movie. It aims to capture the broad, American-dreamy audience of "American Idol," but only succeeds in picking up the same girls who watch Dirty Dancing (10 out of 10), Center Stage (9), Step Up (6) and Save the Last Dance (-2). It was entertaining and beautiful, giving me goosebumps at several points, but ultimately unmemorable. A movie called “Fame” should, of all things, be memorable.

Any movie attempting to cover an ensemble cast over four years of their lives has its work cut out for it. The scenes lacked the deep emotional appeal they could have had, if any scene had been given more than 4 minutes to play itself out (at least, that’s what it felt like).

Fame is still worth watching, most notably for its stand-alone performances and the rollicking, adrenaline-soaked lunchroom jam session at the performing arts school.