Dreamgirls

02/10/2007 Posted by westello

My first impression is what a disappointment. Such a lot of talent for not much of a film. It might be the source material; the Broadway musical may have not been a great story to start with. But it is a cookie cutter film where you know virtually everything that will happen. It dragged on and is over two hours (take note). No one has a real personality but Effie. Jamie Foxx was disappointing and should have either been a real cad or a driven businessman but he seems to be walking through this film. Beyonce is a beautiful young woman with a fabulous voice and the best dance moves but she is not a seasoned actress yet and it shows. The one time when she gets the chance to give her all she does ("Listen") but her character doesn't really follow up on her newfound courage. Eddie Murphy was good, not great, and I would be sad if he were awarded an Oscar for a pale James Brown imitation. Jennifer Hudson is the shining star in this film from the very first opening. She acts circled around people who should be better than her. Her singing is dynamite. She should take the Oscar. She is worth seeing the film for but rent it rather than go to the theater. The characters have a dizzying array of hairstyles and costumes which are fun to see evolve as the years go by. You end up wondering if Beyonce felt a little bit of discomfort in playing a character who allows someone who is a friend to get bounced from her group (Destiny's Child, anyone?). It is really hard to swallow that neither of the remaining two Dreams would even try to find Effie after she leaves the group. (And her illness isn't that hard to diagnose either.) Well produced and Jennifer Hudson is worth seeing but will not rank with the great musicals.

Pros: Jennifer Hudson, musical highlights

Cons: pedestrian script, too long, not up to the hype

02/03/2007 Posted by fed_rojas

Perhaps some people are creating expectations about this movie, so when I went there I was expecting more. The story itself is just another "poor gets rich, rich gets nasty" tale, with a "happy ending", which for me is almost corny. It maybe was motivational or inspirational back 20 years ago, for me now it is so out of reality and just keeps our society numb on realizing that the American Dream of today is so much harder to obtain, than our parents' generation. Jamie Foxx singing is almost pathetic, and all the others, they might be good singers, but not good actors/actresses, so I am not in favor of their Oscar nominations. It is Oscar's not Tony's.

Pros: Music, 70s recreation

Cons: Out of reality with the times we live

01/31/2007 Posted by teddybare29

I dont care about whether Beyonce Knowles is a great actress or that Jennifer Hudson is a better singer. I loved this movie. I believe movies should entertain, and this one does. Its imperfect artistically, but the music and the dancing and the singing made me happy. Jennifer Hudson will be a huge star. She has qualities that cannot be put down on a piece of paper. She made me love her character. I cried when she sang Im not gonna leave. Beyonce Knowles singing was great too, and she player her part as the singer that couldnt sing as well, but had the face in a believable way. Not a great movie artistically, but for pure entertainment, GREAT. Oh yes, I never knew Eddie Murphy could sing like that. WOW. Have told all my friend to see this move. I will see it again myself.

Pros: Inspiring music

Cons: A little hammy

01/26/2007 Posted by laurette10

The actors are good looking, the costumes (although anachronistic) are beautiful, everyone can sing. So what has gone wrong with this film? Maybe you don't mind watching the history of American popular music being butchered on screen, but I did and do. A movie that can make me sorry for Berry Gordy must really have some serious "truthiness" problems. On top of that, let's face it: the songs of this musical just aren't up to the Motown originals. For a real taste of Motown, put on Smokey Robinson and the Miracles or the Supremes, pick up Gerri Hershey's beautifully written book, Nowhere to Run, and let your internal movie projector light up. One final snark: Why put Hinton Battle in a movie if you aren't going to let him sing and dance?

Pros: beautiful actors, some good voices, the costumes glitter

Cons: everything else

01/20/2007 Posted by emmapal

I always thought musicals were wierd but this one was great. Jennifer and Beyonce deliver great performances both in singing and acting. Eddie Murphy deserved his globe.

01/16/2007 Posted by panchamora

I think Chicago was way better than this...the plot was good but I think the media put too much on Beyonce's performance when in reality the true star was Jennifer Hudson...wow! can she belt out some tunes and her acting is off the top...the characters in the movie are great but the ending just leaves you kind off disappointed like, this is it? The costumes and make-up are great and yes, it does tell the story of the music business from a different perspective and a different time...

Pros: great costume design

01/06/2007 Posted by creativelolita

There are people who want to love "Dreamgirls" and others who want to pass it off as another silly musical. A fair reviewer would do neither. The movie tells the story of a fictionalized "Diana Ross and The Supremes" but the bigger story belongs to Effie White, a part played by American Idol castoff, Jennifer Hudson. You'll watch Hudson effortlessly sing and act circles around her co-stars and watch the gorgeous and talented Beyonce pale in comparison. The cast is good but Hudson is great. The plot drags in places but there's enough visually to pull you through those times. This is definitely a popcorn sing-a-long kind of flick. Audience members were clapping after songs, screaming "Yeah, girl!" and really having fun with it. However, unless you are a fan of musicals, don't see it. This is THE ULTIMATE musical.

Pros: Good visuals, good acting

Cons: Can drag on during some of the numbers, plot is now cliche

12/30/2006 Posted by jaymaygm

Over twenty years ago when we saw Dreamgirls on Broadway, with Jennifer Holiday, we thought this would never come to the big screen. Well it did, with another Jennifer. And she is not Holiday, and no one else is, but Hudson does her own interpretation of Effie. And she is nothing short of terrific. And kudos to Eddie Murphy. We don't know if that was him really trying to sing like the late James Brown, or not, but he pulls the acting gig off. This is not a great movie or musical. I think the late Michael Bennett might be proud though. We don't have big musicals anymore, but really enjoyed this holiday movie. Beyonce can sing, but acting is something else. And a waste of talent for Jamie Foxx.

Pros: Very Good Holiday, Feel-Good Movie!

Cons: Beyonce, Jamie Foxx

12/18/2006 Posted by iplyruf

The long waited film of the year has opened with enough hype to make one believe it is worthy of an oscar. This overdirected version of the Tony Award winning stage show stumbles in comparison. Beyonce is a singer, lest we forget, because we see little of it, acting that is, through the film inspite of a poorly added song just to give her a vehicle that says "original." I truly believe not one of the cast members ever saw the original. Saddly, Jennifer Hudson struggles, or was extremely poorly advised, to tone down her vocals. Actually I just think her youth and inexperience is showing. In the breath holding wait for the eleventh hour song, "And I'm Telling You I'm Not Going," one can turn blue waiting. Poor direction is also prevelant here. We lose the fact that Effie is madder than hell. All in all it is an OK film but still falls radically short. Go to a matinee and save a couple of bucks.

Pros: okay fun

Cons: misses expectations