Eddie Murphy Sings!!!!!

Rating: Null/10 (23 January 2007)

As a "baby boomer" and fan of the "Supremes", how could I not like a movie not-so-loosely based on the fantastic trio from the 60s. The "Motown-type" soundtrack was great, as was the casting and acting, especially Eddie Murphy who put his "grinning Cheshire cat" acting style on hold long enough to portray a very believable "James Brown-type" character. He richly deserved his Best Supporting Actor Oscar nomination. Newcomer and Golden Globe winner Jennifer Hudson can really wail in the R&B style of Aretha Franklin, and the make-up artists actually had her more attractive at the beginning of the film than co-star Beyonce. Ahhh. Beyonce. Absolutely one of the most breathtakingly beautiful women that I've ever seen...and she can sing and act. The only negative comment that I can make about this otherwise superb film is the editing. When the semi-documentary turned into a semi-musical with the actors singing their lines, many of the scenes with both Hudson and Beyonce went much too long and way too loud, as these ladies of superior lungs literally blew out my eardrums with prolonged singing/screaming, literally forcing me to stick my fingers in my ears to protect my hearing. But other than this slight inconvenience, the movie is a solid 9, and most will agree that it should have gotten the Best Picture nod along with its eight other Oscar nominations.