My bottom line on the movie? Sensational. A casting director's dream ensemble and exceptional performances. Beyonce was extraordinary. Having had a “physical” makeunder, without makeup as a teenager in Detroit just starting out, she was no diva, just a young pretty girl, and in terms of acting, she “pulled back” dramatically….not the Beyonce of Destiny's Child and beyond. But she proved she has more than a versatile voice and genuine acting ability; she has true star power. Though it's hardly working against her, she also had un-buzz, compared to the noise surrounding the incredible Jennifer Hudson, whose blockbuster talent was simply a surprise because of her failure to make it happen on “American Idol.” While Hudson is indeed a wonder – a remarkable NO-AMATEUR-HERE REVELATION as a singer and actress-- I think Beyonce deserves a little more applause for a flawless performance as Deena Jones, the character based on Diana Ross, who led the Supremes (here disguised as the Dreams)Gordy moved to crossover superstardom (nearly an impossible feat) before going out on her own.

Yet, while Beyonce's relationship with Curtis Taylor (in his “Gordy”-inspired, controlled performance by the versatile Jamie Foxx) is well-drawn, Eddie Murphy was stunning as James “Thunder” Early (an amalgam of performers, I'm guessing, inspired his character) Hudson and the rest of the cast move the story along, the problem is not the dazzling direction by Bill Condon; it's the story itself, paradoxically, too soft in an ugly time; strangely weak for something based in truth, I suppose, it ultimately falls away, as events in real life do: friendships fade, marriages end and people linger around the edges of grief, sometimes there is no real engine to a life's story, the motor slows. Despite a great klieg light feel throughout, there was something missing, which is why both Murphy and Hudson have won Golden Globes and SAG awards for their performances but the movie itself has not been nominated for “Best Picture.” It's a very good movie, not a perfect one.

And, it's very, very much worth seeing. The trials of Martin Luther King, Jr., the riots in Detroit, the times as they changed, the music as it changed…all were part of the backstory of this film and their inclusion was deftly done and merits note. They added a song for Beyonce to sing, to an already weakish score, except for the impossible-to-forget “And I Am Telling You,” which Jennifer Hudson sings with passion and power…just as the other Jennifer (Holliday) made her indelible mark on Broadway twenty-five years ago when she – and that show-- lit up the Great White Way.

It may be that “West Side Story” was the last time that a musical could translate to film; maybe modern material makes it even more difficult. After all, “Rent” won a Pulitzer on Broadway, but bombed at the movie box office. It didn't work anywhere near as well as “Dreamgirls” does….Beyonce in a thousand costume changes, Murphy and Hudson and everyone, truly, who flickers across the screen against the backdrop of the grimy, behind-the-scenes details about the company that became a genre of music.

Despite its minor story, and perhaps, pacing flaws, so much is right about this movie musical, especially the performances and direction that pulls you in, that the sparkle, glitter and glamour just push you along.

On a cold midwinter's night, it's a dream.

Dreamgirls is a musical based on a fictional 60s girl group named the Dreamettes. It is based on the Broadway musical of the same name. It's also loosely based on the Supremes. The girls try to become singers and they end up meeting Curtis at a talent contest. They lost the contest to another act. Curtis offered them the chance to sing backup for an R & B singer named Jimmy Early. Why they were touring with Jimmy, one of the girls (Lorell) falls for Jimmy. Another girl (Effie) falls for Curtis. After the Dreamettes toured with Jimmy for a while, Curtis decided to let the girls go out on their own. The only problem was, he wanted to make changes to the group. He wanted to changed the way they dressed and the wigs they wore. The biggest change was changing the lead singer. He wanted Deena to sing lead instead of Effie. Effie was always the lead singer, but he wanted Deena to take over temporarily because he thought her voice would appeal more to a pop audience. Effie didn't like it and accused Curtis of having an affair with Deena. She was talking into staying with the group, but she stared to develop an attitude. She tried to out sing Deena while they were recording their album. She also walked off of the stage during a televised performance. She and Curtis had a fight. Not too long after that, she was replaced by another girl. This is when Effie sings the power ballad “And I Am Telling You”. Years go by and Deena and the Dreams become one of the biggest girl groups of that era. Deena also ends up marrying Curtis. Lorell was still dating Jimmy after eight years. Effie was struggling to regain her career while being a single mother. I won't spoil what else happens.

My thoughts on the movie

I thought it was a really good movie. I wasn't sure if it would live up to the hype that it received. Sometimes highly publicized movies aren't always as good as they are hyped up to be. This wasn't the case with this movie. Speaking of publicized movies, it was good to see an African – American movie get the same amount of press as a big budget Hollywood movie. That's not usually done unless it stars Denzel Washington or Will Smith.

I thought the acting was really good. I was skeptical about Beyonce and Jennifer's performances because I have read a lot about the backstage drama with these two. I read that Jennifer's performance was better than Beyonce's. I was afraid that Jennifer's performance might not have been as good as they said. Fortunately, they were right. I think she did a good job considering this was her first job. Personally, I think Beyonce did a better job than some critics gave her credit for. I didn't know what to expect from Anika Noni Rose (Lorell) because she was overshadowed by Beyonce and Jennifer, but I was pleasantly surprised. She was good as well and was funny. Jamie Fox, Eddie Murphy, and Danny Glover (Jimmy's former manager) did the best jobs in the movie. It was different to see Jamie Foxx play a bad guy in a movie, but he pulled it off. It was weird to see Eddie in a supporting role when I'm used to seeing him play the lead.

It was too bad Danny Glover's role wasn't bigger because he was pretty good.

The singing in the movie was great. All of the singers had powerful voices especially Jennifer Hudson. I think the standout performances were Jennifer's “And I am Telling You” and “I am Changing” and Beyonce's “Listen”. All three of those songs were incredible. You might have to put your fingers in your eyes for some of the parts because they got really loud.

I thought the plot of the movie was good, but underdeveloped. It was interesting to see the Dreametts make it in the business. The problem is, we don't know how long it takes them to become successful. They had hit records when they were singing backup with Jimmy, but it was never known how long it took. The same thing happened when they branched out on their own before Effie left the group. They had hit records, but it wasn't known how long it took for them to have hit records. Did their success happen overnight or was it a struggle? It appears as if it happens instantly.

The plot of the movie involved two love triangles that were both downplayed. Jimmy, Lorell, and his wife were involved in a triangle, but you would never know it. His wife only appears in the movie twice during his performance. She never even had to be a factor. Also, Jimmy and Lorell's relationship happened offscreen. You would never know that they were a couple if she didn't say they were.

The other triangle involved Effie, Deena, and Curtis. Curtis's relationship with both women was downplayed. The most he and Effie do is kiss and she had to practically force the kisses on him. They never had moments when you knew they were in a relationship. The same thing pretty much happened with Curtis and Deena. They went from being accused of sleeping together to years later being married. Apparently, Effie was right to accuse them of being together since they were obviously a couple. I would have liked to have seen more of both relationships.

Trivia

Jaleel White from TV's Family Matters has a cameo early on in the movie.

Loretta Devine, the original Lorell from the original Dreamgirls, makes an appearance in the movie. She played a woman who sings at the nightclub that Effie was singing at.

Usher Raymond and Andre Benjamin (OutKast) were offered roles in the movie, but they turned them down.

Dawn Lewis, from TV's A Different World, makes an appearance as Jimmy's wife.