Dreamgirls (2006)

Starring Beyoncé Knowles, Eddie Murphy, Jamie Foxx, and Jennifer Hudson

Dreamgirls is a luscious movie musical, propelled by a plot driven by ambition, deception, betrayal and redemption. A young African-American all-girl group (who call themselves “The Dreamettes”) competes at an amateur talent show. Before they know it they are singing backup for the famous Jimmy “Thunder” Early, played with sly and rapacious charm by Eddy Murphy.

Danny Glover is aging agent Marty Madison, who takes an interest in the young group. His acting is effortless; we’re on his side every moment he’s on the screen, even when his stars are stolen out from under him by an ambitious car dealer-turned-agent named Curtis Taylor, Jr. (Jamie Foxx).

Foxx is convincing as Curtis, who dreams of starting a record company and getting rich. He knows the way stars are made: payola payoffs to radio station DJs so that his group gets airtime. Teamed with a talented young songwriter (CC White, played by Keith Robinson), the Dreamettes record their first record, which payola (and their talent) transform into a hit. Curtis manipulates the group to appeal to wider audiences, replacing then getting rid of the lead singer.
Jennifer Hudson is outstanding as Effie White, the lead singer shuffled aside to make room for Deena (Beyoncé). Hudson proves the she deserves her growing fame as a singer as she outperforms Beyoncé time after time in musical numbers. She has a beautiful strong voice, and one wonders about the American Idol judges who, several years ago, decided Hudson doesn’t have what it takes to be a star. She well deserves the awards she's received for this role.

Deena (Beyoncé), the new lead singer, is better-looking and has more mainstream appeal than Effie. She helps the group break through to Pop music, and suddenly the group is “Deena and the Dreams.” There’s definitely a resonance between this story and that of “Diana Ross and the Supremes.” They garnered similar mainstream adulation, fame, and fortune.

As Deena, Beyoncé lets us feel what it’s like to be suddenly famous and rich, even as doubts emerge about what it cost to achieve them.

The movie contains some glorious music: some of the song performances rival music videos in visual flair and ideas. The film is a rich and entertaining tapestry. It feels natural when the performers express their deepest emotions and thoughts in songs. Director Bill Condon did a good job adapting what was originally a Broadway musical into this entertaining movie.