This musical has some of the most incredible music I have heard in a long time. Jennifer Hudson's performance is out of this world. I watch or listen to this DVD frequently because of the music. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys this type of film.

This movie is my first experience with "Dreamgirls" Magic, and that does not bother me in the least as I was amazed by the spirit and style of this incredible little musical. Jennifer Hudson and Eddie Murphey are by far the best two actors, but none of the talent is worth lament. Like all good musicals, the songs are what truly keeps this going and they are amazing. However, this does have a hell of a good story and plenty of rousing dance sequences. It's thrown together fairly randomly, but it works in its own artsy way. All in all, I love it.

LOVE THIS SHOW. GREAT DVD AT A FRACTION OF THE COST. I ALSO ORDERED THE SOUNDTRACK FROM AMAZON AT A FRACTION OF THE COST.

Somewhere out there, Jennifer Holliday is shaking her head and sighing. Jennifer was nearly 25 years ahead of her time when she starred in the Broadway version of "Dreamgirls" as Effie. Today, she's seen the show come to film and make another Jennifer, Jennifer Hudson, a star. Timing is everything. Hudson was poised like no other entertainer, to pick up the strings and threads left by the amazing Aretha Franklin as a queen of the soul sound.

Amazing that she is propelled into the role by a movie, and not by a record. "Dreamgirls" is loosely based on actual Motown events, on promoter/producer Berry Gordy (Curtis Taylor, played by Jamie Foxx),an amalgam of a black male singer that is a combination of James Brown-Marvin Gay (James "Thunder" Early, played by Eddie Murphy) and a trio of female singers sketched after the Supremes. Like the Supremes, the trio starts with three girls who have been singing together forever (Effie, played by Hudson, Deena, played by Beyonce, and Lorrell, played by Anika Noni Rose) and who finally break into the Motown scene as backup singers. Involved in the success of the group is Effie's brother, who writes their songs (C.C. White, played by Keith Robinson).

The movie takes the players through love and hardship, from gaining respect to being a multi-platinum success, with the downside issues that come with fame. Characters betray each other, love each other, find redemption.

The music is spectacular, so much that I purchased the soundtrack. The world talks about Hudson's incredible solo of "And I Am Telling You (I'm Not Going)." I equally enjoyed her solo takes on "I Am Changing" and "One Night Only". She's incomparable. The group performance (with Eddie Murphy as lead) of the anti-war anthem, "Patience", was a highlight for me. And there is a sweet, sweet moment at the memorial service for Thunder, when Loretta Devine (from the Broadway production and the TV show Boston Public) sings "I Miss You, Old Friend".


The costumes are equally well done, and the screenplay works hard to make the production flow (although it doesn't succeed nearly as well as "Chicago" did). It takes Dreamgirls from the tough times of the black music circuit in the 60's, to actual footage of the race riots and Martin Luther King, to the glitz of Miami and the disco scene, and the ennui that was Hollywood in those days. There are some "down" spots, an example of which is Thunder's drug problem...the script has focused on his womanizing, and the addiction issue comes out of nowhere.


Completely entertaining, musically outstanding, "Dreamgirls" is a great addition to your collection of DVD musicals.

I am not normally a fan of musicals, and this was DEFINITELY a musical, but I was mesmerized from the first solo by Jennifer Hudson, and after that I was hooked. I have never been so impressed by the power of a musical to reach into one's emotions and actually add to the power of a drama. I usually just wait out the singing parts of award winning movies with musical numbers (or fast forward on DVD), but not this time. Jennifer brought tears to my eyes twice during this movie and in general the singing really enhanced the overall experience. Hurray for Dreamgirls. I'm so glad they decided to make the play into a movie, so that more people can experience it.

I love DreamGirls it has a great picture and its definitely a movie you want to add to your collection.

Knowing it was a musical I was prepared for a fair portion of singing but had not expected a movie hardly with any spoken lines! There must have been about 1 full hour of song and to make matters worse most of the material ranged from forgettable to outright unmelodious or awkward. The cast certainly proved they could sing but with hardly a spoken line and without a decent storyline it made for very long and dull viewing.

This movie is so good. It depicts the story of an African American singing group through their journey of fame and fortune in the '60s and '70s. I love this movie. The acting and singing is great. This is by far my favorite musical. The songs are so well written and beautifully song.

One of the more difficult to get through movies you'll experience in a long time. Do not be fooled by the "Best Picture" award. Most musicals feel a need to advance some hint of a plot either with - or between - the songs. Not this film. It simply enjoys its own awful songs too much to let the audience in on any sense of what is going on.

And did they give Jennifer Hudson the Best Stereotype Award? In a one-dimensional role requiring exactly no range from an actress, she hit all the right notes. They give ACTING awards for being yourself in front of a camera now?

Might be the worst "Best Picture" ever.

The great Jennifer Hudson comes out of nowhere to wow us. The audience stood in the movie theater!

It isn't really motown. It is more MoWood or HollyTown. Any big budget production out of Hollywood comes with the Hollywood gloss. Always has, always will. Hollywood is not in the business of educating the public. Hollywood's business is to make movies that appeal to the widest possible audience. Once I accept that simple fact, I'm able to just relax and enjoy the flick.

Beyonce can't act and Jamie Foxx can't sing. The script is good but not great. Jennifer Hudson gives a great performance and can sing like a bird. Eddie Murphy's performance is great only in the sense that it is great in relation to the rest of his career. Fortunately, there is nothing so bad in the movie that it kills the fun. Amazing how a high production value can compensate for a lot of venial sins. The singing is great and story perfectly functional. Dreamgirls didn't change my life or inspire me in the slightest but it did entertain me for the entire running time. Dreamgirls did the job it was made to do.

This movie is totally boring. There is no plot. I am glad I just rented it from the local library.

Excellent Blu Ray disc. The movie itself is outstanding!!! If you have a Blu Ray player, this movie is worth adding to your collection.

Anika had the feistiest character. I thought she was witty and interesting. I enjoyed this movie. I love music, especially that the 60s and 70s R&B flavor. Some say they thought there was too much singing. Well, it was based on a musical. This was a Moviecal, and much singing should have been expected, considering most of the actors/actresses were singers, including Jamie Foxx.

I give the movie 4 stars because of it's spirited plot, but I think there should have been more to Deena and Curtis's relationship. They seemed more like they worked together than husband and wife. And I lost respect for Deena when she stole her girlfriend's man. Well, at least the cast the right person (Beyonce) into that role. She does strike one as such. She's okay but her role could have had more fire. I well know that Beyonce could have pulled off a more interesting character than the low-keyed one they put her into. That's why I feel there should have been more substance to her relationship with Curtis (Jamie Foxx). When they finally broke up, she did nothing except packed her suitcase. Married people who are breaking up don't just do that. And they don't make up a song, nine to ten. No fanfare (other than the song "Listen") to their breaking up. Good Movie. I recommend owning this one.

DREAMGIRLS opened on Broadway in 1981 and was in the running for a film version long, long before it closed in 1985. Very loosely based on the lives and career of The Supremes, it told the story of a black girl group whose cross-over from "race records" to the pop charts fuel the success of an increasingly cut-throat recording mogul--and find the price of fame and fortune in the recording industry too high for their liking.
While it borrows a great deal from numerous music personalities and stories of the 1960s and 1970s, DREAMGIRLS is essentially a riff on the career of The Supremes and the group's relationship with Motown founder Berry Gordy.

The Supremes were originally created by Florence Ballard, a powerhouse vocalist who worked with Diana Ross and Mary Wilson as back up singers. Berry sought a group that could cross over into the pop charts and reformulated the line-up, moving the prettier Diana Ross to lead--and ultimately dismissing Ballard from the group entirely, replacing her with Cindy Birdsong. After the music industry turned its back on Ballard, she declined in alcoholism and poverty and died at age 32. She is widely regarded as one of the great tragic figures on the long list of American rock and roll casualties.

When DREAMGIRLS opened on Broadway in 1981 critics praised its powerhouse performances and its dazzling staging--but were somewhat less favorable toward its script and score, noting that the characters were one-note and with one or two exceptions that the score was neither memorable nor able to capture the sharply crafted pop hooks of the Motown style it tried to mimic. Even so, the play ran five years, and over the years numerous studios, producers, directors, and stars have took a crack at bringing it to the screen--something that didn't happen until 2006. And once more critics praised its powerhouse performances and dazzling staging--and were considerably less enthusiastic about its script and score.

The great flaw in DREAMGIRLS is that, while it centers on the story of Florence Ballard, neither the stage nor screen version actually has the nerve to play it out: it, the rivalry between Ballard and Ross, and the brutalities of the music business are actually somewhat underplayed in an effort to place every character in a softer light. As for the music, the score does include the stunning "I'm Telling You I'm Not Going," but the original criticism stands: although pleasant enough, the songs are not particularly memorable and they do indeed lack the sharp, slick edges of the Motown sound that inspired them.

Like many another period film, the look is not really accurate: instead of accurately depicting the 1960s and 1970s it is that era as seen through a modern filter, the 1960s and 1970s as we tend to recall them rather than as they actually were. Even so, there is plenty of visual splash; the costumes, the concert stagings, and the overall art design is quite fine, and you never actually question accuracy while it unfolds before. And then there are the performances.

With the exception Jamie Foxx, who seems slightly miscast in the role of music manager and producer Curtis Taylor, DREAMGIRLS is filled with memorable performances. Although she does not imitate Diana Ross per se, Beyonce Knowles captures Ross' look and sense of style remarkably well; Danny Glover offers a memorable turn as agent Marty Madison; and overall the supporting cast is quite fine. But the big noises her are Eddie Murphy as James Early, a role based on several singers of the era but most particularly on James Brown, and Jennifer Hudson as Effy White, the role based on Florence Ballard.

Murphy's film career has been very up and down over the years, ranging from the popular 48 HOURS to the diastrous HARLEM NIGHTS, and he is at present best known for such mild comedies as DR. DOOLITTLE and NORBIT. He typically plays himself--but DREAMGIRLS puts him on the acting map in a serious way. Not only does he does he offer an extraordinary bit of work as the flamboyant but self-destructive R&B singer, he tears strips off his musical numbers. Prior to her appearance in DREAMGIRLS, Jennifer Hudson was best know as an also-ran on television's American Idol, which entirely failed to anticipate the depths of her vocal talents and acting skill. DREAMGIRLS, however, exploited what television missed--and while it is technically a supporting role, Hudson's Effie White is the glue that holds the whole thing together. It is easily the most remarkable screen debut since Barbra Striesand's 1968 FUNNY GIRL.

DREAMGIRLS is not a "perfect" film, much less a "great" musical. As previously noted, the script is a bit weak and the music slightly below expectations, and when all is said and done it's a bit too glossy for its own good. But it is easy on the eyes, the cast is solid, and you'll never be less than amazed by Murphy and Hudson. The one-disk DVD offers extended scenes but little else; if you are a hardcore fan you'll no doubt want to go with the double disk special edition. Recommended.

GFT, Amazon Reviewer

I was rather disappointed upon watching this movie.

I merely gave it 3 stars for the singing, which was wonderful! Beyonce and Jennifer were spectacular. However, I don't think that the movie lived up to all of the hype that was made over it. Through the movie I tried to get into it, but I just never could... the movie just seemed to be very boring.

So I decided since eveything was in such a hype of dreamgirls I would watch it.
Bad idea. Has anyone ever seen movies like Cabaret or hell even Sound of Music?
That is how you do a musical, not some horrible cheesefest of actors. I don't know about anyone else, but I am really tired of Jamie Foxx and his horrible attitude towards almost anything. By the time this movie started to get an interesting plot it was almost over, and the music wasn't even that catchy at all.
It was annoying after awhile, actually. I enjoyed this movie when they weren't singing, but it was just painful when they were.
Also it was extremely perdictable. I knew what was going to happen before it did, which makes it boring to watch.
The only reason it is getting any stars at all is because of Eddie Murphy and when they weren't singing.

really loved the music story good too. the HD transfer 3 out of 5.
the extras really good too.

I saw the movie in the theatre, but the HD DVD was astounding, especially with surround sound. If you can't get enough singing and dancing in a movie, this one is for you! The background information with the package makes it a great value.

The recommendation for DREAMGIRLS is based on the performances of all the leads especially Eddie Murphy, Jennifer Hudson (who won a Best Supporting Actress Oscar), and Beyone Knowles. A film which is loosely based on the Motown Story and particularly the group The Supremes. This reviewer enjoyed the film, however, it is one of those films where one viewing is enough and would not want to see again. The production values and direction are excellent along with the music and their set pieces are first rate. However, the story is predictable following a template of a typical rock'n'roll rags to riches to break-up plotline. The audience can predict what is going to happen after each scene in the film and what characters are going to do what. Eddie Murphy should have won the Best Supporting actor in the film instead of Alan Arkin's performance in LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE. However, perhaps the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences was in a way gave it to Alan Arkin because of his past work (and he is getting on in his years). Also, Eddie Murphy released NORBIT during the voting period of the Academy Awards and everyone forgot about his performance in this film. Overall, a good film which warrants only one viewing and then put it on the shelf as a museum piece.

There are lots of reviews on this movie, so i wont get into that. I'll focus on the hd-dvd perspective. This movie has brilliant colors and sound that are greatly taken advantage of with hd-dvd. the colors jump off the screen and the sound was amazing! i really enjoyed this movie and it could easily be used as one of those movies to show off your hd setup :)

I felt so positive after the movie was done. I went through several emotions. I laughed! I got angry! I was saddened. I believed these characters and that's what makes this a wonderful movie. Jennifer Hudson was awe-inspiring as Effie.

I liked this movie and I ordered it as a result of all the reviews but I preferred Sparkle

I think that most people are familiar with the story even before seeing the movie - about a singing group similar to the Supremes, with enough fiction to keep the writers and producers from getting sued by Diana Ross or Berry Gordy. Also, Jennifer Hudson's loss on American Idol and subsequent Oscar got tons of press.

The movie lives up to most (although not all) of its publicity. There are one or two scenes that run a little long, most notably, the scene where Effie finds out that she is being cut. My wife thought that the singing was too shrill, but I don't agree - but the scene is VERY intense and gets a little unpleasant to watch because Effie's pain is that intense and that raw. And Jennifer Hudson is THAT good.

The truth is that it's a very good story, carried out by a cast that is extraordinarily talented. Eddie Murphy hasn't been this good in years (except for the Shrek movies) and he shows why he was able to sell so many years ago. Jamie Foxx handled the role perfectly without turning it into a caricature. And Beyonce demonstrated that she CAN act.

This movie starts out strong but, becomes tiresome in the middle. Hudson is pretty good considering but, I don't think her performance is Oscar worthy. When I think of all the performances over the years that got snubbed at the Oscars, it's a crime to see this young lady walk away with an Oscar for just a "good" performance. Dustin Hoffman "Toosie", Phillip Seymour Hoffman and Robert De Niro "Flawless", Richard Harris and Robert Duvall "Wrestling Earnest Hemingway" even Sean Penn in "Fast Times at Ridgemont High" oh well, the list goes on and on. It's an OK story that has been done before better. Even though Hudson's vocals are good, they are not show stopping! Rent it don't buy it. 2 1/2 Stars.

What planet am I on.....isn't this earth? I have to check because I recently saw a terribly boring and vastly overrated movie called Dreamgirls. You would think from all the hype this movie got it would have been the best musical since the Wizard Of Oz! Instead what I saw was another example of a bunch of snob critics trying to sell me a chocolate covered lemon. I won't criticise each aspect because there isn't anymore time left to spend on this waste of a good two hours of time. Jennifer Hudson.....an Oscar.....for this.....FOGGEDDABBOUDDIT. And just when you thought Grease 2 was as bad as it gets. This is worse!

With all the hype about this film/musical being based loosely on the Supremes, I expected to be treated to some 60s music, or at least an approximation of the Motown sound of the period. It seems as if the singers in this film have the talent to sell that sound, if in fact it had been incorporated into the movie, but it's not there. With the many references to the events and culture of the 1960s in the script I'd think the film would at least make an attempt to emphasize that unmistakable Motown sound, but I guess the context here is the 1980s Broadway show and its made-for-Broadway musical schlock and NOT mid-60s soul music. That is a shame and it ruins this film for me. Cue up any Supremes song from 1965-67 before you watch this film and then decide whether this stuff has anything to do with the kind of music they made.

If this is not important to you, if you think a film succeeds based on extravagant costumes, big Broadway-Vegas production numbers, lots of attractive faces, and utterly forgettable but loud music, then you may enjoy this.

It was a struggle for me to sit all the way through this debacle. What this show represents is something close to my very worst nightmare: the American Idolization of golden era Motown.

In fact, DREAMGIRLS is entirely bereft of the spirit and genius that went into Berry Gordy's legendary hit-making factory. It's more like a bad soap opera rife with melodrama, clichés, and some truly awful acting.

Jamie Foxx plays a character modeled on the control-freak record label founder. Mostly, he walks around with his hands in his pockets, looking moody. He actually seems more like a cartoon than a flesh-and-blood figure, which is a big disappointment in view of Foxx's considerable acting talents.

Eddie Murphy is cast as a sort of James Brown/Wilson Pickett/Marvin Gaye soul daddy, but he is never compelling in the role, to put it charitably. Admittedly, it doesn't help that his stage material is putrid; however, even if the songs had all the luster of those original Holland-Dozier-Holland nuggets, "Party All the Time" Eddie simply doesn't have the musical chops or the imagination to make the character believable.

You wouldn't think this would be a problem for the larger-than-life Beyoncé, but her portrayal of a pop sensation based on Diana Ross is surprisingly wooden and lifeless. There is no trace of emotional depth behind her blank Barbie doll face. Her singing and dancing, too, seem forced and mechanical, like products of a Detroit auto assembly line.

Jennifer Hudson's performance is especially tiresome. In true American Idol fashion, she deploys endless vocal pyrotechnics as a cover for weak material and an absence of soul.

Sometimes a movie is so bad it makes you laugh out loud, but I couldn't manage it in this case. I guess I'm too big a fan of the classic music that inspired this film. It's saddening to witness one of America's foremost cultural achievements reduced to such piffle on the big screen.

I do give props to Jennifer Hudson for her performance whose voice is very strong in this movie and carries Effie quite well. I wouldn't have thought to nominate her for an Oscar, but she did well, and I'm glad she got it. It wasn't because she is a brilliant actress, it was because for a girl who got kicked off American Idol, she had a brilliant voice that was finally revealed. It is definitely Tony quality, but since it was in a movie, it's Oscar worthy. Secondly, for a newcomer to acting, her enthusiasm was decent. Dreamgirls is entertaining, dazzling, well-editted and well-put together. But no wonder it didn't receive Best Picture. It doesn't have the depth of Ray or the Grab-them-by-the-heart-strings sense that a Best Picture film should have.

Despite not being nominated, I though Beyonce, Jamie Foxx and Danny Glover did a great job as well. This movie should have won at least for editting and costumes.

"DREAMGIRLS" was a great movie. I thoughly enjoyed every moment of it. The acting was excellent even for first timer jennifer Hudson.I wasnt a fan of hers on American Idol but I sure was in this movie.The music just blew me away,it was so good.

Firstly I really enjoyed the musical numbers from every character. The loose story of the Supremes, I mean Dreams is fairly entertaining but not as engrossing as I would have hoped. I found I didn't really care that much about any of the characters. I especially didn't like the Hudson character Effie. I was hoping for her fall since her first minute on screen. She has a nice voice, but I couldn't stand her character. I guess I was hoping this would play less like a broadway show and go deeper into the characters like a movie. As it jumped forward in time, often I was hoping it would slow down a bit to see the transformation that every character seem to go through. This is worth seeing if only for the great music.

Dream Girls DVD

Dream Girls is a musical obviously based on the Supremes and other black vocal artists from that era. I got James Brown ,but I'm not sure about the others. Jenifer Hudson plays a young black woman with an attitude and a big voice, could it be that she is a young black woman with an attitude and a big voice. Maybe she wasn't acting. I'll hold off in judging her acting abilities until she has a different role.

All in all an enjoyable movie. (I don't typically go in for musicals, but this one is good.

Recommended for musical fans who grew up in the 1960's.

Gunner, December, 2007

The sole star of this film is Jennifer Hudson. This is her film alone. No one elso matters. Her singing of And I'm Telling you That I'm Not going is one of the true masterpieces ever recorded. It will send chill's down your back. Forget about everyone else and concentrate on watching Miss Hudson's performance. A STAR IS BORN.

I am probably one of the last people in the U.S. to see the movie DreamGirls. I watched it yesterday on DVD. And I am telling you . . . if you are human, still have a beating heart with any appreciation of music, when Jennifer Hudson sings her two leading songs ("And I Am Telling You" and "I Am Changing"), she will bring you to your knees - if not literally - then emotionally. Wow! Quality, production, cast and content are off the charts. I sat spellbound and I am not typically a fan of musicals. I am more geared toward mysteries and suspense, but I am changing . . . because DreamGirls is probably hands down the best movie I have ever seen!

While the Oscar snub was certainly shocking I can't say that it wasn't justified (not that the lineup for 2006 impressed me in the least). `Dreamgirls', while probably one of the most entertaining films of the year, was far from the best.

It delivers in many ways. It's visually stunning, from the set pieces to the beautiful cast. It's very easy on the ears. The musical numbers (for the most part) are all brilliantly structured and add layers to the film. In fact, the films biggest and key emotional scenes are in fact musical numbers. Both `And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going' and `Listen' are the most emotionally connected scenes in the film for through music they convey the very feelings of the singer. It also delivers, to an extent, in the acting department as well. Eddie Murphy is fantastic as James "Thunder" Early and delivers a career best performance. Beyonce Knowles shocked me with her delivery of Deena Jones and Anika Noni Rose beautifully captured the immaturity and naivety of Lorrel Robinson. In fact everyone delivers decently here except for Jamie Foxx who was, without a doubt, miscast.

Sadly, with all this delivery the film fails to deliver in the one area that matters the most; substance. By the time the credits begin to roll `Dreamgirls' is nothing more than a fun time. The characters, while superbly acted, lack any real depth and the film fails to evoke any real emotion in the audience. With all the hype surrounding this film you'd expect to be really moved, really taken-a-back by it's magnitude but in the end it doesn't really do any of that. One may be blinded by the glitz and glam upon a first viewing, as I was, but upon second and third viewings it becomes apparent that the film feels kind of empty, especially when the music has stopped.

The film tells the story of aspiring musical act `The Dreamettes' who finally get their big break after aspiring music manager Curtis Taylor Jr. sees them perform in a talent show. He persuades them to sing backup for R&B sensation James "Thunder" Early and thus their showbiz life begins. The group suffers from internal struggles when lead singer Effie is pushed aside so the slimmer, more socially termed `pretty girl' Deena can sing lead vocals. This seemingly small gesture drives a wedge in friendships and relationships, working and social, and creates a whirlwind of tragedy and in the end justice.

Now, I left off one key element to the film for a reason...and that is the fact that arguably there was no bigger star in 2006 than the beautiful and talented Jennifer Hudson. I don't necessarily agree with her Oscar win, but I was so happy for her because she delivered on all fronts and was so gracious with all the accolades she was receiving. She handled herself like a true star, and that is commendable. As Effie White she truly breathed life into this film and serves as one of the only actors here to actually flesh out her character. With all the `lack of depth' found in `Dreamgirls' it is refreshing to see Jennifer grab a hold of Effie and make her real and relatable to the audience. So I am here to tell you that Jennifer ain't goin nowhere, and that is a fact!

So, the film is, like I said, extremely entertaining and a truly fun filled time. Parts are corny (that whole "Steppin' to the Bad Side" part was dreadfully painful to watch) but as a whole it is just good ol' fun. But that is it. It is a fun film, but not a deep one and not one that deserved to win Oscars (aside from some technical, musical and acting recognition). So, do I feel that the Oscar snub was truly a `snub'? No, but I don't feel that that really takes away from the appeal and the good time that a film like `Dreamgirls' brings to the table.