A decent adaptation, but no "Chicago."

Rating: 7/10 (28 January 2007)

A few years ago, there were many predictions that the movie musical was going to make a triumphant return, after several decades confined largely to Disney animated productions (even Disney has gotten out of the habit of employing music in its productions, sadly). "Chicago" won the Oscar for Best Picture (enraging many LOTR fans, but since the production crew got their just deserts for the third film, it doesn't bother me; one Oscar is enough), and "Moulin Rouge" was also successful. However, the momentum stalled after that; now, "Dreamgirls" gamely attempts to restart things, with "Chicago"'s writer onboard as director as well. The results are good, but not at the level of 2002's Best Picture.
I won't recap the story, other than to say it is a fairly straight-up adaptation of the history of "The Supremes", with a happier ending for the ousted original lead singer. Said singer is played by Jennifer Hudson, who was apparently on "American Idol," a show I've never watched more than five minutes of, so I wouldn't know; she has won rave reviews for this performance, and an Oscar nomination. She's fine, but nothing spectacular (as opposed to Catherine Zeta-Jones as Velma), and her big musical number verges on incomprehensible on a number of points. Speaking of the music, this is my biggest problem with the film, for two reasons (and this is a musical, so issues with the music present a considerable problem): (1) the film initially appears to be adopting the "Chicago" approach of not having the characters spontaneously burst out into song, but find some other outlet for music (in this case, it's a film about singers, as opposed to "Chicago"'s creative fantasies); however, things abruptly switch over to spontaneous song, and, quite frankly, I don't think it works; it doesn't help that the lines continue to blur between stage and spontaneity throughout the film. (2) The music is just not that memorable. I walked out of "Chicago" humming about half a dozen songs, and bought the soundtrack. There's not one song from the proceedings that I really remember.
I've already talked about Hudson, so the rest of the cast deserves mention. Jamie Foxx is fine, although he never ever sings, which seems rather odd. Beyonce Knowles' casting as the Diana Ross character is fascinating, given that it speaks to her own history as the breakout star of the black female threesome "Destiny's Child;" her acting is fine, and her singing is great. Eddie Murphy, the film's other Oscar nominee, gives an excellent performance, and he can sing.
I'd say a 7 out of 10 is appropriate.