The Emperer Has No Clothes

Rating: 5/10 (6 January 2007)

He's as naked as naked can be. This Emperer, otherwise known as "Dreamgirls", seems to have cast some sort of tasteless spell over it's subjects. However, I am not afraid. I'll say it: over-wrought, over-acted, over-sung and over-done. Although Jennifer Hudson has an incredible voice and displays some fine acting chops for her first time out, her vein-popping, red-faced, my-head-might-explode version of "I am telling you" made us worry for her safety. Even the quiet, retrospective songs in this movie we're sung at such a deafening decibel and with all the subtlety of a sledge hammer. Sometimes less is more and that's something this movie forgot about. I was amazed at the 2 hour run-time because it felt like 4. Eddie Murphy is entertaining and plays the only character with any depth at all. Beyonce is breath-takingly gorgeous and I spent the last half of the movie just admiring the costumes and how great her make-up was. Yikes! If this is the lead Oscar contender - I'm worried and sad. Please don't believe the hype. If you must see it - rent it. Or better yet, wait until it's on the stage again because that's where this type of show belongs. Certainly not on the big screen. It came across as cheesy and campy - and not in a good way.