Looking back, it’s probably more of a guilty pleasure film now, but Fame has always been one of my favorite movie musicals. There’s just something raw to the film’s story. Despite being a polished film, the movie does an excellent job of carrying the desperate desires of students who love performing arts at the New York Academy of Performing Arts. As a bit of a “drama geek,” I guess that’s what I connected with most, so the movie was both inspirational for me and a comfort that I wasn’t the only one who wanted to perform as I grew up.
MGM is hoping there’s more to the 1980 musical, so 27 years later they’re remaking the movie, with a slated summer 2008 release according to The Hollywood Reporter. The remake has been given a $25 million budget and a writer and director have been hired, although names have not been revealed yet.
According to MGM Chief Operating Officer Rick Sands, the remake will keep many of the original musical elements, although the remake will be updated. I wince to think what might be given the axe, and what pop-music junk might be tossed in it’s place.
Imagine it: Fame, offering Britany Spears a chance at a film comeback, co-starring Justin Timberlake, Kelly Clarkson, and Sanjaya. Ugh.
What scares me even more are the potential spin-off possibilities for such a remake. The initial movie led the way to a TV show and international stage show. Forget about the movie itself. Here comes another attempt at Fame the reality series. Here comes “Fame” the traveling musical, a la Disney’s High School Musical. Executed properly, MGM could stand to make a fortune, but the scary thing is it doesn’t even have to be all that good for that to happen.
Do I sound cynical? I guess I’m just tired of seeing classic movies I grew up with be torn apart and remade for an extra buck. Leave the memories of young Irene Cara, Paul McCrane, and Maureen Teefy alone. Take the concept and making something original for God’s sake, but leave me my classics.
