Directed by Kevin Tancharoen

So you want to be famous. Talented? Check. Confident? Maybe. Intelligent? Potentially. Able to withstand the expectations, workload and finding the balance between working harder than any other high school student and not taking yourself too seriously? Um…

In summary, that’s what ‘Fame’ appears to be attempting to be about. As a film on its own, it’s entertaining but plotless. An hour into the movie, and one is still unable to determine the overall arch. It is filled with intriguing subplots – but due to the nature of the medium, it is too restricted to tell them with any real detail.

We follow a group of friends through their four years at the School of Performing Arts, referred to as P.A. They’re one of

the lucky 200 selected out of the 10,000 hopefuls who auditioned to attend for the chance to have their gifts nurtured and prepare them to be professional dancers, musicians, singers, actors, directors and so on.

As we do learn, however, the pursuit of fame isn’t an easy road. Some will make it. Plenty won’t. One boy is ripped off by a fake film producer in hopes to have his short film produced. Another girl risks her integrity for a role on a television show. Two students give up their education when their careers launch.

It’s a world where relationships aren’t as important as pursuing your dream, getting that job, getting into one of the most prestigious dance companies in New York.

But someone seems to get it, after enduring a few mistakes. “Success is love,” Jenny points out in a monologue to her drama class as she tries to define success. The P.A. isn’t there as a stepping stone to being featured in tabloids. It’s about nurturing the students’ craft. It’s about giving them the grounding to make it out there in the real world. And the teachers at the P.A. are realistic, gruff but kind. Malik’s drama teacher wants him to be honest about who he is, to accept what he cannot change and to accept that is all part of his story – imploring him to tell it. Four years later,

and the message finally sinks in. Presenting his story in rap, Malik finally embraces himself.

If there’s anything worth taking out of Fame, it’s that. Be yourself. Don’t work to please someone else. Don’t risk what you value in pursuit of being famous – because that isn’t success.

I give this movie 3 out of 5.