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"Dreamgirls" dazzles!
Disco boys crawl down the walls of Studio 54 to the irresistible beat of "One Night Only" as curvy women in mermaid gowns slither across a fantasy stage in "Dreamgirls," the monster movie musical that's clawing its way toward your Cineplex now. Watch out! "Dreamgirls" is an entertainment juggernaut that will stop at nothing to win you over, if only for a night.
"Dreamgirls" is Hollywood's latest remake of a big Broadway musical. Directed by Bill Condon, the same gay man who wrote and directed the Academy Award-winning "Chicago," it's based on the Tony-winning mega-hit play by great gay Broadway director/choreographer Michael Bennett, who also directed and choreographed "A Chorus Line." Add to the mix gay movie mogul David Geffen, and you have a film that's super-gay in every sense of the word without even taking into consideration the hot male dancers and women in mermaid dresses.
"Dreamgirls" tells the story of the '60s Motown girl group "Deena and the Dreams" (a trio that bears a striking resemblance to Diana the Ross and the Supremes), who hit the heights of stardom only to discover that fame and fortune come at a price -- maybe that of your soul. Along the way, the ladies go through more fabulous costume changes than all the drag queens at Wigstock combined. Simply put, "Dreamgirls" is the drag show of the year.
And who doesn't love a great drag show? When the Dreams are singing and dancing (with killer moves by hip-hop choreographer Fatima Robinson), the movie takes you higher than any musical since "Moulin Rouge." A genuine dream cast appears, from goddess Beyonce channeling Diana Ross, to an improbable but brilliant Eddie Murphy parlaying his old James Brown routine into the most compelling, tragic and fun performance of his career. At least one scene-stealing supporting actress is sure to be remembered on Oscar night: "American Idol" favorite Jennifer Hudson belts her way to instant superstardom with the gripping drag standard, "And I am telling you (I'm not going)."
Every musical number in "Dreamgirls" is more spectacular than the last, as the Dreams go from hopeful Detroit backup singers to jaded but dazzling Las Vegas headliners. They start off in cheap wigs and cute '60s stewardess outfits and end up in sequined Bob Mackey gowns and extravagant hairdos that graze the heavens. No expense was spared on making the "Dreamgirls" look outrageously authentic, inviting us to cruise through the funky-stylish '60s and '70s in a cinematic pink Cadillac of a pop culture time machine.
In addition to chronicling the important social transition from mod bobs to Farrah Fawcett-feathered shags, "Dreamgirls" takes on political themes as big as the ladies' mid-film bouffants themselves: racism, sexism, capitalism, urban decay, drug addiction and family disintegration, among other issues. "Dreamgirls" whizzes through payola (radio corruption scandals), white-washing of African-American music, the civil rights movement and women's liberation. And that all happens between two dozen or so lavish song-and-dance numbers.
So much happens over two hours that it's not surprising some details get left out. Character development gets short shrift. Each Dream has a distinct identity, but it's mostly caricature: Deena's the pretty one; Lorrell's the shy one; Effie's the difficult diva. The Dreams' men are similarly underwritten, but some amazing actors do what they can. Eddie Murphy, in particular, gives real life to his washed-up soul singer by a trick of acting magic they'll be talking about for years. Jamie Foxx tends to fade into the background as the dirty-dealing talent agent behind the Dreams' success; Foxx's creepy "half-fro" says more about his character than the script does.
"Dreamgirls" is such a big story, it could have used a longer film. Key characters fall in love mostly off-screen, and then sing about their relationships only when they're about to break up; it's like trying to follow Janet Jackson's love life. When the Dreams take the world by storm, the travel montage passes so quickly you can hardly make out the postcards flashing by. Was that the Eiffel Tower or the Taj Mahal? Why not spend a fun weekend in swingin' London? There's just not enough time to revel in the girls' joy. It would also have been interesting to spend a few more minutes with Effie when she hits rock bottom and discovers her soulful side in a Chicago dive. Maybe a director's cut in a future version will let fans savor both the sparkle and the grit a bit longer, for a more satisfying total experience.
Of course, to wish a film longer is to say that what's already there is sensational. If you see "Dreamgirls" this Christmas season -- and you should -- you'll walk out humming some of the greatest show tunes of all time, thanking Santa Claus that Michael Bennett and the girls have brought such sublime entertainment to our world -- if just for "one night only."
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