Big, flashy, flawlessly produced musical starts out wonderfully with twenty minutes of rockin´ performances at a talent contest, but eventually becomes so unbearably glossy that it completely distances itself from the audience.
Recent musicals like Moulin Rouge and Chicago seem to know they exist in this Hollywood musical-land and have fun with the idea, while films like Ray and Walk the Line provide a number of musical delights set against a tangible true-story background.
Dreamgirls attempts to have it both ways, and succeeds at neither; when straight lines of dialogue are executed in song and dance, this becomes The Umbrellas of Cherbourg without the irony.
Story involves a trio of young African-American singers (somewhat based on Diana Ross and The Supremes) who revolutionize the music industry but fall prey to the greed of their manager (Jamie Foxx); material could have been much more involving in a more straightforward film.
Still, it´s beautiful to look at and exceptionally made; entire cast is excellent, with newcomer Jennifer Hudson (a failed American Idol contestant) stealing the show: her character is the only one with real depth, and it wasn´t provided by the screenplay.
Eddie Murphy also good as James “Thunder” Early despite a mishandled drug-addiction subplot.
