WOW! ten times over! A++++++++

Rating: 10/10 (20 January 2007)

Okay maybe by the time I've seen Dreamgirls 1000 times, I will begin to notice the faults then recall this review but right now, it's flawless to me. Don't get me wrong, trust me, I waited long enough to see it, I had been the #1 in line to deem it "an over-hyped Beyonce commercial" and over-praised but then I saw it and wow! I take back all my preconceived notions and instead tip my hat to everyone involved with this masterpiece. Take a bow, you all deserve it.
Now the part about the whole "overhyped Beyonce commercials" does actually exist in the film but I'll explain that later in my review. Besides, what else can you expect when Beyonce's mirroring Diana Ross in the role? Anyhow, the film begins with a talent competition not unlike American Idol -- a bunch of talented people come together to perform before judges and at the end of the day, the oddest ball performer is chosen as the winner. But don't cry yet, the Dreamettes (played spectacularly by Beyonce Knowles, Jennifer Hudson, & Anika Noni Rose) who lost out in the talent competition are quickly snagged up backstage by a talent scout, Curtis (played by Jamie Foxx), who hires them on the spot to come and sing back-up for a hot act by way of Eddie Murphy who plays a heroine addicted singer named Jimmy. The starry eyed girls all agree and go along with him although only after some initial hesitation on the part of Effie White (Jennifer Hudson) the most fiery of all three girls. Thus, begins the dream that is the Dreamettes. But as you would imagine or might have pieced together from the promos hinting at the whole Diana Ross and the Supremes nature of the storyline, it isn't too long before the heavyset and self-assured egotistical beauty, Effie is sidelined and replaced as lead-singer by Deena Jones (Beyonce Knowles) and her more conventional looks and voice. This does not sit well with Effie as right before her eyes her dreams are snatched away from her, as is her man as well as her friends and everything else she held dear. Right at the brink of the Dreamettes's super stardom, Effie is cut from the group, pregnant, sick, cold and alone.
Now in a Bollywood musical, the ending of that last paragraph would have led into an intermission but this being Hollywood, we are only allowed a two-second breather before the movie continues and we see Deena in the future all rich and established viewing footage of her past accomplishments and doctored memories -- specifically tailored to exclude all images of Effie. This is where the Beyonce commercial begins, as at this point in her character's life, she looks very much like, well the Beyonce Knowles the world knows and loves. And if that is not enough for you, then Jamie Foxx's Curtis adds audio to the commercial by telling his beloved wife in 'The first time I saw you' all while all sorts of supermodel shots and over-sized photos and posters of Beyonce um, I mean...Deena are being saturated on the viewer. Okay, before this begins to sound like an attack on Beyonce, let me stop. There's more, but let me stop. LOL!
+ IMDb is telling me that I've written enough by forcing me to go and chop down portions of my review that has become over-limit so let me just end with this:
Most memorable moments in the film:
Beyonce: Singing "Listen"
Jennifer: Singing "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going"
Anika: Leaving Eddie's character
Eddie: Dying
Jamie: Acknowledging his daughter
Danny Glover: Just being there
Sharon Leal: Being third fiddle
Keith Robinson: The scene with Effie @ the wake with Loretta Devine