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What’s the Story?

Reviewed by Heather Boerner

This revered dance movie is about hard-working, ambitious, and talented teens who grow up too fast and make big mistakes. FAME follows five 15-year-olds -- the ambitious Coco (Irene Cara), the inventive Bruno (Lee Curreri), the sheltered Doris (Maureen Teefy), the erratic Ralph (Barry Miller), and the melancholy Montgomery (Paul McCrane) -- as they grow up and graduate from the High School for the Performing Arts in New York City. Along the way, they develop their personal identities, take risks, fall in love for the first time, have sex, and reach for the stars.

Is It Any Good?

5

As a teen movie, Fame doesn't pander. It doesn't play the sex scenes for their own sake. It takes these teens' lives seriously, and is refreshing in that way. But, it's not just a character study in coming-of-age. It's chock full of memorable and joyous musical scenes.

For lovers of dance movies, there's nothing better than watching the students practice their leaps, jetees, and ballet toe dancing. But it's even better when, free of the constraints of teachers and class and technique, the students burst with youthful joy in pure movement. Numbers "Hot Lunch" and "Fame" are by far the highlights of this part of the film.

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