Dreamgirls (Two-Disc Showstopper Edition)
Starring: Jamie Foxx, Eddie Murphy, Jennifer Hudson, Beyoncé KnowlesDirector: Bill Condon
Studio: DreamWorks
MPAA Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Format: Anamorphic, Color, Dolby, NTSC, Widescreen
Running Time: 130 minutes
DVD Release: May 1st 2007
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DVD Review
The spirit of Motown runs through the long-awaited film adaption of the Broadway musical Dreamgirls, which centers around a young female singing trio who burst upon the music scene in the '60s, complete with bouffant hairdos, glitzy gowns, and a soul sound new to the white-bread American music charts. Sound familiar? You aren't the first one to draw comparisons to the meteoric rise of the Supremes, and despite any protests to the contrary, this is most definitely a thinly veiled reinterpretation of that success story. The Dreamettes--statuesque Deena (Beyonce Knowles), daffy Lorell (Anika Noni Rose) and brassy Effie (Jennifer Hudson)--are a girl group making the talent-show rounds when they're discovered by car salesman and aspiring music manager Curtis Taylor Jr. (Jamie Foxx). Sensing greatness (as well as a new marketing opportunity) Curtis signs the Dreamettes as backup singers for R&B star James "Thunder" Early (Eddie Murphy). But when Early's mercurial ways and singing style don't mesh with primarily white audiences, Curtis moves the newly-renamed Dreams to center stage--with Deena as lead singer in place of Effie. And that's not the only arena in which Effie is replaced, as Curtis abandons their love affair for a relationship with star-in-the-making Deena.
Besides the Supremes comparison, one can't talk about Dreamgirls now without revisiting its notorious Oscar snub; though it received eight nominations, the most for any film from 2006, it was shut out of the Best Picture and Director races entirely. Was the oversight justified? While Dreamgirls is certainly a handsomely mounted, lovingly executed and often vibrant film adaptation, it inspires more respect than passion, only getting under your skin during the musical numbers, which become more sporadic as the film goes on. Writer-director Bill Condon is definitely focused on recreating the Motown milieu (down to uncanny photographs of Knowles in full Diana Ross mode), he often forgets to flesh out his characters, who even on the Broadway stage were underwritten and relied on powerhouse performances to sell them to audiences. (Stage fans will also note that numerous songs are either truncated or dropped entirely from the film.) Condon has assembled a game cast, as Knowles does a canny riff on the essence of Diana Ross' glamour (as opposed to an all-out impersonation) and Rose makes a peripheral character surprisingly vibrant; only Foxx, who never gets to pour on the charisma, is miscast. Still, there are two things even the most cranky viewers will warm to in Dreamgirls: the performances of veteran Eddie Murphy and newcomer Jennifer Hudson. Murphy is all sly charm and dazzling energy as the devilish Early, who's part James Brown, part Little Richard, and all showman. And Hudson, an American Idol contestant who didn't even make the top three, makes an impressive debut as the larger-than-life Effie, whose voice matches her passions and stubbornness. Though she sometimes may seem too young for the role, Hudson nails the movie's signature song, "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going," with a breathtaking power that must be seen and heard to believe. And for those five minutes, if not more, you will be in Dreamgirls' thrall. --Mark Englehart
On the DVD
The two-disc edition of Dreamgirls includes videos, documentaries and other behind-the-scenes features. Diehard fans will love the almost two-hour "Building the Dream" documentary, which goes into loving detail about how the film got to be made. But it's the shorter segments that really capture the viewer's attention. The two auditions included in the set are a contrast in style. Pop singer Beyonce Knowles sells herself in full hair, makeup and costume; that she is a tad pitchy at times is almost beside the point. Tony Award winner Anika Noni Rose's audition is a tour de force; singing strong and with conviction and passion, Rose is fully in character regardless of the fact that she isn't dressed for the role. Oddly enough, the audition tape of Jennifer Hudson, who won an Academy Award for her breakthrough role as Effie, is nowhere to be seen. Sure, we all know what a powerhouse she is today. But it would've been nice to see what the filmmakers saw in her back then, when her competition included her American Idol castmate (and that season's winner) Fantasia Barrino. Hudson's performance of "Effie, Sing My Song"--which was not seen in the theatrical release--is included in this set, as are 12 extended musical numbers. Another nice touch is the inclusion of a dance rehearsal choreographed by Fatima Robinson (who has worked with the Backstreet Boys, Mary J. Blige, and Michael Jackson). Watching the rudimentary piece (with stand-ins subbing for the stars) come together gives the viewer appreciation for the intricate work that goes into each 3-minute musical number in the 130-minute film. Also included are a sequence of enhanced storyboards, a look at how the film's editor went about editing the picture, and a look at how the costumes played a part in the film. --Jae-Ha Kim
Beyond Dreamgirls
 Other Musicals on DVD |  More Motown on DVD |  The Soundtrack |
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User Reviews
rubbish - Rating: 1/5
well what can i say about this film, not much,some of the songs are good,and the singing is ok. the whole story is rubbish the film is over long and becomes very silly and boring, so all in all i dont think it was any good and is a complete wast of time and money......i have loved diana ross for years and this film is just something made up by some bloody fool.
Great adaptation but it's no Chicago - Rating: 4/5
I deliberately waited until all the hype was done; all the awards were won, and until I was no longer tired of Beyonce to view "Dreamgirls." It is indeed an excellent presentation.
This film is a roman à clef about the onset and heyday of Motown and in particular one of the most popular R&B groups, The Supremes. We witness their ascent to fame, the divisions between the manager's wants and public tastes and their struggle to remain in vogue in a changing world of popular music.
Director of Chicago, another fantastic musical, wheels in a star cast fully showcasing the razzle-dazzle and enchantment of the songs and glittery costumes and wigs by bringing in "Dreamgirls" to the screen. This excellent Broadway production of the 80s put Jennifer Holiday on the map. Apart from top-notch production standards, wonderful costumes, fantastic music, and excellent performances all around, "Dreamgirls" is indeed another wonderful presentation of a slice of African-American life/culture.
After watching this I didn't think it was much of a musical so I don't feel its right to compare this to `Chicago' excluding one major scene on stage. I thought all performances were equally fascinating. It's a shame Florence did not have the happy ending Effie did, but such is life. Jamie Foxx gave an understated performance which I found believable. Eddie Murphy also gave a great performance whose impact and appreciation may have been lost due to Eddie's past comedic roles where he basically did the same kind of voice and facial expressions he used here for the Character of Jimmy and I am so glad he got a chance to sing a few songs. I felt this was a strong performance by Eddie especially the scenes where he didn't say a word and his face said it all. It would have been nice to see him win the Academy Award. But there is no denying that Jennifer Hudson overshadows all these Hollywood heavies in this movie with her knockout performance as Effie White. She owns every scene she is in. The part given more meaning for those of us who saw her through the "Idol" drama where she was accused of not having the "Depth" to compete. Well, after I first heard her sing on Idol I too believed she did not belong there....She belonged in a higher place....her voice was a force of nature. Her talent was bigger than IDOL. The dream has really come true for this dreamgirl and I certainly understand the standing ovations it got in some theaters and friends of mine who went to see it in theaters I attest to that.
I expected more - Rating: 4/5
I liked the movie, but for some reason I was expecting more. Lots of acting talent and the music was good.
Dreaming of a Winner - Rating: 3/5
Yes, I know this particular review is a little "late" considering that the movie appeared in 2006, was nominated for Oscars, won an Oscar, won a Golden Globe, etc. I have just now gotten up the nerve to watch it because I was afraid I would be disappointed. Much to my surprise, I was not. Don't get me wrong: the movie does have its flaws. I found that when there wasn't any music, the movie tended to drag. But, thankfully, there's enough of music and the viewer can fill in the rest however he/she pleases!
"Dreamgirls" is the movie adaptation of the Broadway hit that originally starred Jennifer Holiday in the role of Effie (played here TO THE MAX by Jennifer Hudson). It was loosely based on the rise (and downfall) of the 1960s-70s meteoric hit group "The Supremes." Set in Detroit in the early 1960s, Beyonce Knowles is cast as Deena Jones (loosely derived from Diana Ross); Jennifer Hudson is cast as Effie White, and Anika Noni Rose plays (very effetively) the third Dreamgirl, Lorrell Robinson). Jamie Foxx plays agent/manager Curtis Taylor, Jr. and Eddie Murphy plays Jamess "Thunder" Early. Both Jennifer Hudson and Eddie Murphy logged Oscar nominations; Hudson won for best supporting actress; Murphy lost in the best supporting actor category.
Beyonce does a very good service to Deena Jones; Anika Rose is fabulous as Lorrell Robinson. As stated above, however, it was Jennifer Hudson whose performance blew me out of the water. Effie is the true talent of the three songstresses. She can belt out a tune like nobody's business; however, Jamie Foxx decides in order for his group to become a mainstay, he must pander to the white audience and make his group sound "less black." Therefore, he switches lead singers in mid-stream: Effie now plays second fiddle to Deena. When everyone finally reaches their breaking point, Jennifer Hudson sings "And I'm Telling You I'm Not Going," and, honey, if you are not moved by that song, you're dead. I got up from my chair and screamed after it was over--that's how moving it is.
I was disappointed in Jamie Foxx's playing of his character, Curtis Taylor, Jr. He was supposed to be mean (he tried to be), but he just did not pull it off. There was some controversy about Eddie Murphy not winning an Oscar for his portrayl of James "Thunder" Early, but after viewing this movie, I can understand why he didn't win. If you are nominated for an Oscar in a supporting category, then you HAVE to do something memorable in your role. I'm sorry but to me all he was doing was an overblown rendition of his James Brown schtick from Saturday Night Live. It just wasn't enough.
The movie is directed by Bill Condon, who I believe wrote the screenplay for "Chicago." He needs to stick to writing. The movie's pacing and shooting were done haphazardly; little or no continuity. The staging of some of the songs were downright boring. In "And I'm Telling You" all you get is one light (looks like it's coming from a spaceship) and then Effie disappears.
All in all, though, I still liked the movie. Run time is 130 minutes and it is rated PG-13 for some language and references of drug use. This movie really is a 3-1/2 star movie, but as you all have heard me complain ad nauseum, there are no half-star ratings!
Disappointing - Rating: 1/5
I was really, really disappointed by this film, especially after all the reviews pegging it as a harginger of the rebirth of the musical movie genre... There are some good performances, most notably Jennifer Hudson (omigod she's so cute!) and Eddie Murphy (wow, I'm impressed) but the script and the libretto are disjointed and artlessly blunt. The earlier musical numbers suffer from the adaptation to screen, with too many montage sequences and not enough full performances. The musical numbers in the second half of the film get better treatment, but by then it's hard to care. Stylistically, the music is packed with anachronisms (particularly in the early, R&B years) and the plot just jumps around, counting on viewers to either play catch-up or ignore the fact that the entire film is dramatically flat and is a stitched-together patchwork of poorly scripted, poorly directed scenes... Indeed, the whole production seems to rely on the good will of the audience, but having given that good will for the full two hours, I feel entitled to point out that the emperor ain't got no clothes. Didn't do much for me, but I'm kinda picky. (Axton)
