Where A Star is Born In Jennifer Hudson

Rating: 7/10 (16 February 2009)

When I saw the trailers for "Dreamgirls", I thought it was going to be special. From reading, reviews I discovered I wasn't the only one with this ecstatic feeling. I was hoping this movie goes beyond the standard-fare, historical period piece. I was a bit disappointed that the story was just mediocre at best and that I have seen more better stories based on the music industry in the Motown era in the 1960's.
What saved the movie was the beautiful performance by the lovely "American Idol" finalist Jennifer Hudson, who melted my heart with her beautiful voice and her incredible talent for acting. A real improvement from that stink-bomb "Fantasia". Jennifer does everything in her power to support her character Effie,even if her character at times comes off as unlikable. Whenever she belts out her voice, the most vocal critics stop and take notice as the lures you into her clutches, making you want to get up and give her a standing ovation. Hudson was a surprise at the 2007 Oscars being that she was only in a handful of roles, she went on to win an Oscar for Best Supporting Oscar and rightfully so. Hudson was the meal ticket to this movie. Whenever she was off-screen I waited anxiously when she'll be coming on next.
The other performers did a pleasant job too like Jamie Foxx, Eddie Murphy, Beyonce Knowles among others gave it their all. Keith Robinson, who played Effie's (Hudson) composer brother C.C. was noteworthy and comes off as a likable character, though his scenes were brief. The characters in the long run were not well developed overall, and at times they drag the scenes whenever Hudson's not present and also the characters you've seen before in all its clichéd Hollywood glitz.
Beyonce looked pretty in all her fashionable trends that fit the piece the film was set in. But it was mostly just window dressing, at least until the end of the movie, which was too little and too late for further development in her character of Deena.
The costumes were very out of places at times and didn't always fit the time period the movie was set. Even Jennifer Hudson's costumes were hard to configure at times. The choreography was laughably ridiculous as we see preppy kids dancing like puppets, without any hint of soul in their moves. Jennifer did her work perfectly, but the props and costume department didn't do much to compliment her versatility as a star. I gather she was supposed to be a frumpy singer in an all-girl singing group that pays homage to The Surpemes, The Vandellas and the Marvelettes. Okay, but get her some costumes that fit the era the movie was set in. However, Beyonce's make-up was beautifully done.
The story doesn't offer very much. And all the clichés come to life here. The familiar story of rags to riches. Let fame get to their head. Then their fame takes a downward spiral, only to discover they had a good thing coming all this time. Thank you let us continue.
Now the music is a different story. I though about 80% of the music is quite catchy. Hudson's song melted my heart like a hot knife through butter, Beyonce's solo song was tremendous, even Eddie Murphy, who's not a singer was quite catchy as a tribute to James Brown in a soulful performance. You must get the DVD. If you don't you don't know what you're missing.
At times the camera work can make you dizzy. It's like they're shooting an overlong music video at times. It works for action flicks or comedies, but in "Dreamgirls", it doesn't work here at all. The lighting was quite pitiful and never quite set the mood of the film. Just a bit of laziness in that area.
If you wish to see the movie, see it for two reasons: the terrific performance by Jennifer Hudson and for the groovy nostalgic tunes that pay homage to the Motown era of the 1960's.