Tonight's Movie: Dreamgirls (2006)

We had kind of a funny two-part viewing of DREAMGIRLS this evening. Our Netflix DVD gave up the ghost 30 minutes into the movie, and our best attempts to clean it only seemed to worsen the problem.

I was really enjoying seeing it for the first time, and it seemed kind of a shame to put off finishing it until Netflix could send us a replacement. We decided to go check the price at Target, as the film seemed like something we'd want to watch (or listen to) again. It was relatively affordable, so we picked it up, brought it home, and finished the movie. It was worth the extra effort. :)

It's a very solid musical film with a talented cast, all doing their own singing...who knew Eddie Murphy could sing? Well, I didn't, at least (grin). Beyonce Knowles, Jamie Foxx, Jennifer Hudson, Danny Glover, Anika Noni Rose, and Keith Robinson round out the cast. I especially enjoyed the depiction of the Dreamgirls' early days and the energetic group musical numbers. The pace slowed down during the sturm und drang of the film's second half, with perhaps one too many dramatic solos, but it built to a nice upbeat ending.

This film would make a good DVD double bill with WALK THE LINE. Both films provide a through-the-years depiction of the rise of a musical sensation, as well as cautionary tales of the pitfalls which accompany fame and addiction.

DREAMGIRLS runs two hours and 11 minutes. It was directed by Bill Condon. A side note, I really liked the end credits, which showcased the work of various people, such as the set and costume designers, as their names appeared on screen.

Parental advisory: This film is rated PG-13 for language as well as some fairly restrained "sexuality and drug content." Issues in the film also include unwed motherhood and a married man's long-term affair.

DREAMGIRLS is available on DVD in a 1-Disc or 2-Disc edition.