It captures none of the essence of the 1960s...is overwrought and over-extended in the bargain

Rating: 5/10 (14 September 2009)

Tom Eyen's stage musical becomes super-slick and commercialized tale of stardom for three black female singers from Detroit. Director Bill Condon, who also did the adaptation, relies greatly on whiplash editing to move his narrative along (and to get easy laughs and applause from his audience), though he fumbles the integration of music and conversation in key scenes while quickly losing believability in his characters. Taking place in the early 1960s, the film offers not a breath of realistic nostalgia--it's all been processed and punched-up to look like a modernized view of the past. Better 'inspired by' than actually based upon the career of Diana Ross and the Supremes, the story holds attention for about one-third of the way. Yet, with supporting characters either falling by the wayside or disappearing altogether--and snatches of romantic interplay caught on the fly--we never get truly involved in the lives of these people; the thin writing leaves them two-dimensional, and the occasionally poor lip-synching to the music-tracks separates us from the drama. Not much in "Dreamgirls" feels heartfelt, however those simply wanting a roller-coaster ride of emotions, fashions, and song will no doubt enjoy it. Still, the film doesn't leave much of an impression behind. Like a glossy advertisement, it comes and goes painlessly. ** from ****