"Dreamgirls" - the Hollywood Musical is Reborn (Again)

"Dreamgirls," based on the hit Broadway play from the 1980's, has finally made it to the big screen thanks to Bill Condon, who wrote "Chicago" and is the writer/director of "Gods and Monsters" and "Kinsey." Condon serves as both writer and director here and proves he is the right man for the job. Condon has created a rousing hit that should bring life back into the genre that was reborn with "Moulin Rouge" and "Chicago," but stumbled in the last few years with "Phantom of the Opera," "Rent," and "The Producers," all of which failed at the box office.

"Dreamgirls" tells a now familiar story of three African-American women (Beyonce Knowles, Jennifer Hudson, Anika Noni Rose) trying to make it big in the world of rock music. The women (none too subtly based on The Supremes) catch their first big break after losing a local talent contest when they are picked to be backup singers for Jimmy Early (Eddie Murphy). Soon they are propelled into the world of rock music and come across the usual pitfalls (jealousy, fame, egos) that befall most performers who get too much too soon.

Managed by Curtis Taylor, Jr. (Jamie Foxx), a car salesman who uses the profits to help front the act, the girls eventually are good enough to go on their own but not before Taylor decides that the heavyset, grand voiced Effie (Hudson), the lead singer, should be the backup while the more quiet but sexier Deena (Knowles) should assume the role as lead singer. Then the problems begin, as Effie's ego, much like her voice, is too large to handle the demotion. As was the case with The Supremes' Florence Ballard, Effie's continuous bad behavior eventually leads to her dismissal from the group and back into the real world where no one is exactly welcoming her back with open arms.

The main story of "Dreamgirls" is the film's biggest fault. We've all seen the rags to riches to rags story before and the film offers nothing new on the subject. Condon wisely keeps the story flowing with rich musical numbers that will make the audience tap their feet and smile.