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Fame (2009)

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 10, age appropriate for kids over 14; suggested age 12.
  • Is it any good?

    2.0
  • Common Sense says

    Teen musical remake has edgy content for a PG movie.

Themes in this movie include:   dating/crushes, family relationships, friendship, growing up, honesty

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 12–14

The good stuff

  • 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.
  • 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 out for

  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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).
  • Drinking, drugs, & 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.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Fame (2009)

Parents need to know that this remake of the 1980 movie musical Fame has 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.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about how "fame" is different now than in the '80s. With so many media outlets 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?

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Our Members Say

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See all 23 member reviews

Most Recent Reviews

  1. Teen Reviewer Age 15
    I rate this title on for age 12 and give it 3.0
    My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language
    • Drinking, smoking, or drug use

    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages

  2. Kid Reviewer Age 11
    I rate this title on for age 14 and give it 3.0
    My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate language

    good for 14+ and maybe 13 but a "pg" movie shouldnt be like that

    i like the movie personally but, i would never let my kids watch it or use such language....i have seen some languages like some britsh like my step-mom would say "bloddy hell" like on movies but i would never let them swear and yes im 10 and if my mom heard me say something like that she would beat me to a pulp and im not sure if any of you approve but a kid shouldnt curse and sure of course yea you hear it all over home,school,almost everywhere but that would be like a 50 yr old melesting a 6 yr old not something you would want to see happen to your child ......and i disapprove of someone who doesnt know right from wrong watching it

  3. Teen Reviewer Age 16
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 5.0

    Wow it wasbeyond amazing

  4. Teen Reviewer Age 16
    I rate this title iffy for age 12 and give it 3.0
    My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language
    • Drinking, smoking, or drug use
    • Negative role models

    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages

    Good For 13 year olds but younger i wouldn't do.

    It was agood film but a bit to rude for a PG kids as little as 6 were coming in to watch the film.There is the kissing and what not but at one point a couple were kissing and i thought it would go alot further.The launguge isn't to appropriate and there isn't really much of a messege.But don't get me wrong if your child is about 14 then you should see it but younger no.

  5. Teen Reviewer Age 13
    I rate this title iffy for age 12 and give it 5.0
    My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate language

    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages
    • Good role models

    TEENS

    This is my favorite movie, I just love it! there is a lot of swearing because it is set in a highschool environment. however there are many good role models and the main messages is very possitive. The messages are basically to just follow your dreams, never give up pursuing your dreams, and to have fun while doing it.

  6. Kid Reviewer Age 11
    Lives in Oklahoma
    I rate this title off for age 12 and give it 1.0
    My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language
    • Drinking, smoking, or drug use

    • My highlights are:
    • Good role models

    Should not be rated PG

    The lanuage is very servere for a PG movie. the kissing is not appropiate especially for the audiance the movie is made for (9-12). i dont think the underage drinking is appropiate for this kind of movie. on the plus side the characters work hard to try to achieve a goal. all in all should NOT be rated PG.

  7. Teen Reviewer Age 13
    I rate this title off for age 11 and give it 2.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive consumerism
    • Negative message
    • Negative role models

    crap

    my please the hsm tween set but not anyone else the original was rated r this is pg says a lot right there

  8. I rate this title iffy for age 12 and give it 3.0
    My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate sexual content

    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages
    • Good role models

    Great talent and singing, you will defiantly see people from Disney channel and other t.v. shows. It was a good movie. I woulden't really want a little kid to see this movie.

  9. I rate this title iffy for age 12 and give it 3.0

    Despite What Review Above Says.... It Is PG-13

    Great dancing, singing, talent. Though nothing really innapropriate there is an underlying 'teen' feel. You know... Slightly disorganized, but the kids are great.

  10. I rate this title iffy for age 12 and give it 5.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language
    • Drinking, smoking, or drug use

    Could have been PG-13

    Fame is a remake from a movie made in the 1980s or something. That movie was rated R, so they had to tone it done quite a bit to make is PG. But I don't think they toned it down enough. There's a lot of sensual dancing, and a handful of language. (Some other stuff, too.) But overall, I loved the movie.

  11. Parent Reviewer
    I rate this title iffy for age 10 and give it 1.0
    My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language
    • Drinking, smoking, or drug use
    • Negative role models

    I would only take 14 year olds or older to see this movie. However, save your money.

    Highly disappointed! Saw many highlights on Nickelodian Channel that did not include the language, drugs, alchohol, sex or gun violence. We went to see it because my children are dancers. We were looking forward to a much better film!

  12. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    I rate this title on for age 13 and give it 1.0
    My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language

    Should be rated PG-13

    The original is so much better. There can't even be a comparison. Certain scenes were good and if they had followed along that pathway and gone edgier and darker it would have been really good, but alas they did not. It should be rated PG-13. There was a fair amount of language and a few minor kisses. But lots of provocative dancing.

  13. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    I rate this title on for age 10 and give it 5.0

    Perfect for all ages.

    Love it! The movie was absolutely amazing! Really enjoyed it,, didn't expect it to be this good,, but it really was awesome! Would go watch it again! :) The songs are really something,, enjoyed them,, its a very nice movie to go with either family or friends or even alone,, i rate you should goa nd watch it!

  14. Kid Reviewer Age 12
    Lives in Arizona
    I rate this title on for age 10 and give it 4.0
    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages
    • Good role models

    Sends good messages but should have been PG13

    I LOVED IT!!!! I agree with most other people, that it should have been PG13 and deffinetly had more of a PG13 feeling about it. Language wasn't very appropriate, although I really could care less, I am fine with it and as long as I don't repeat it so are my parents. Overall, I believe it sent good messages about being who you are and 'Holding Your Dream'. It included strong characters and characters who really came out of their shell. A great movie!

  15. Adult Reviewer
    I rate this title iffy for age 11 and give it 5.0
    My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language
    • Excessive consumerism
    • Negative role models

    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages

    watch for venom

    I loved it, but i would not let my niece or nephew go see it because of the language. The review above failed to mention the g-d, only used once but that should never be in a PG movie. During one moment when a couple kissed which was PG a young boy in the audience went ewwww, which made us all laugh. It was a good movie, some intense moments but i will not spoil it for those who have not seen it.

  16. Kid Reviewer Age 8
    Lives in Kansas
    I rate this title on for age 8 and give it 3.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language
    • Drinking, smoking, or drug use

    • My highlights are:
    • Good role models

  17. Teen Reviewer Age 16
    I rate this title iffy for age 12 and give it 3.0
    My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate language

    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages

    Surprise by the rating

    I thought the language was really strong for a PG movie. My friend and I were pretty sure it was a PG movie when we went in, but during the movie we began to question it because of the amount of strong language used. Also, the scenes seemed a little choppy, but overall, I enjoyed it. Highlights: The dancing and singing was really good!

  18. Kid Reviewer Age 10
    I rate this title iffy for age 11 and give it 3.0
    My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate language
    • Drinking, smoking, or drug use

    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages

    pg?

    i really didnt expect this movie to have so much language in it if its rated idk.... pg! on the other hand it was a pretty good-ish movie and it tells you to follow your dreams

  19. I rate this title iffy for age 11 and give it 1.0
    My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language
    • Drinking, smoking, or drug use

    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages

    Dance and Musical Numbers Were Good, The Rest Wasn't

    Our family enjoys musical performance of just about any type, but especially singing and dancing. So we were pretty excited about the new Fame coming out. Unfortunately, it didn't live up to our expectations. The dance, music, and acting class performance scenes were well done. However, there was an excessive amount of cursing for a PG film. Kissing was mostly appropriate (mostly between high school aged characters) and not excessively gratuitous except for one scene in which it looked like it was going to proceed to the next step. There was also a scene where an underage girl drank until intoxicated. While most movies with this level of questionable material wouldn't normally deter me from allowing my kids to see it, when it's a bad movie there really isn't a need for the exposure to it. The movie lacks a strong plot line, character development, and acting by a number of the younger actors. It almost appears as though they had to edit out SOOO much material that what they had left just couldn't hang together as a story.

  20. I rate this title iffy for age 12 and give it 3.0
    My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language

    i love asher book he is sooooo hot

    should be rated pg-13 i love asher book he is soooooo sexy omg amazing he has such a good voice!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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