The film begins with a busy first day of auditions, full of excited and nervous students hoping they with be accepted to the prestigious school where, more often then not, students go on to become professional musicians, actors, and dancers.     Jenny (Kay Panabaker) is one student who makes the cut; an actress who must overcome her shyness if she wants to succeed. Marco(Asher Book) is the best singer in school , and soon falls for Jenny. Denise (Naturi Naughton) secretly wants to pursue a singing career instead of playing the Cello. Kevin (Paul McGill) is a dance student from Iowa, with big dreams, but doubts his talent. Neil (Pail Iacono) is an aspiring director, to my confusion, because there doesn't seem to be a film program at the school. Finally, Alice (Kherington Payne) is the impressively talented dancer. Along the way, the students learn about the difficulty of making it in showbiz. Some head toward success while others learn that they don't have what it takes. 

   While the flashy trailers might lead you to believe that this film is relatable to everyday high school students, it isn't. I should have taken a hint from the PG rating. With all the flashy musical numbers and dramatic dancing scenes, someone forgot that the characters needed to be three-dimensional and believable. Kudos to the filmmakers for trying to explore the lives of more than six students plus teachers, however, the trade off is that those lives are no more than cliche stories about oppressive parents, budding romances, and dreams left unrealized.

   The subplots though, lack any suspense, riding instead upon the struggles of each individual student. (Apparently, being a performer is hard. I know! Who would have guessed?) If that wasn't bad enough, the performances of the students seem forced and awkward much of the time. The best performances are, unquestionably, by the veteran actors, including; Kelsey Grammer (Frasier), the music teacher; Megan Mullally (Will & Grace), the voice coach; and Charles S. Dutton, the drama teacher.

   What the film lacks in substance, however, it makes up for in entertainment value, especially if you enjoy watching people who know how to dance and sing, which these people do. The soundtrack is also very catchy and "dancable." I dare you to try getting title song, “Fame,” out of your head once you hear it.

   If you go into the theatre expecting a deep, and thoughtful movie about what life is really like for performers, you won't be happy. However, if you go in hoping to be entertained and amused, you won't be disappointed.