A captivating version of the stage success.

Rating: Null/10 (9 February 2007)

Sparked by the success of "Chicago", this long-awaited film adaptation of the popular Broadway musical finally made it's way to the screen. A thinly-veiled take on The Supremes and their manager Berry Gordy, it details how three young black girls form The Dreams and move forward in the record industry, sometimes, unfortunately, at the expense of their personal happiness. A major rift in the group occurs when the manager (Foxx) determines that one girl (Knowles) should begin to sing lead instead of the usual, and more remarkable, one (Hudson) because she is more marketable and camera friendly. Knowles (who had a very similar experience in real life as the lead singer of Destiny's Child before breaking out on her own) is a pretty perfect fit for her role. She can sing, and does so well in the film, but is more known for her looks and presence on the stage. She is given here a staggering showcase of wigs, makeup, gowns, choreography and the like as her character experiences the heights of fame. She effectively conveys, physically, the essence of the woman she is portraying. Her acting isn't necessarily stellar, though it is a quantum leap from other things she has done. Foxx delivers a solid and low-key performance and is quite believable. Rose, who plays the third member of the group does a fine job as well in a role that garners less attention than the other two. Murphy appears as an established star in the mold of James Brown who gives the ladies their initial break into the biz. His performance is among the best he has ever given and he offers many shadings and characteristics to the part. Hudson, a newcomer who beat out hundreds of hopeful, sometimes more established singers for her part, is wonderful. Her acting, for someone with practically no experience, is exceptional, though she can improve in some ways. Her singing is phenomenal and she gets to deliver the most memorable and difficult numbers the show has to offer, and does so very successfully. It's an eye-opening, rather unforgettable debut. There really is no bad performance in the movie! Former Mighty Morphin Power Ranger Robinson is attractive and appealing in his role as Hudson's brother, Leal is the same in her part as a replacement Dream and Glover does very well in his role as Murphy's manager. All the other little parts are handled well and cast well. By now the storyline is a little bit clichéd and predictable, but it doesn't change the infectiousness of the material. The songs are lively and expertly performed, the sets and production design are evocative and the costumes and accessories are extraordinary. The film is an arresting, entertaining spectacle and so it can be forgiven if, occasionally, the back-up dancers do moves that are quite anachronistic or the occasional outfit seems just slightly off for the time period. Devine, who had Rose's role in the original Broadway production, pops up briefly as a cabaret singer.