Dreamgirls (Widescreen Edition) | 
| Director: Bill Condon
Actors: Jamie Foxx, Eddie Murphy, Jennifer Hudson, Beyonce Knowles
Studio: DreamWorks
List Price: $19.99
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Rating:  280 reviews
Sales Rank: 8655
Format: Color, Dolby, Dvd-video, Widescreen, Ntsc
Languages: English (Original Language), French (Original Language)
Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Region: 1
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Number Of Items: 1
Running Time: 130 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.6
MPN: 347824
UPC: 097363478249
EAN: 0097363478249
ASIN: B000O1799U
Theatrical Release Date: December 25, 2006
Release Date: May 1, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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The spirit of Motown runs through the long-awaited film adaption of the Broadway musical Dreamgirls, which centers around a young female singing trio who burst upon the music scene in the '60s, complete with bouffant hairdos, glitzy gowns, and a soul sound new to the white-bread American music charts. Sound familiar? You aren't the first one to draw comparisons to the meteoric rise of the Supremes, and despite any protests to the contrary, this is most definitely a thinly veiled reinterpretation of that success story. The Dreamettes--statuesque Deena (Beyonce Knowles), daffy Lorell (Anika Noni Rose) and brassy Effie (Jennifer Hudson)--are a girl group making the talent-show rounds when they're discovered by car salesman and aspiring music manager Curtis Taylor Jr. (Jamie Foxx). Sensing greatness (as well as a new marketing opportunity) Curtis signs the Dreamettes as backup singers for R&B star James "Thunder" Early (Eddie Murphy). But when Early's mercurial ways and singing style don't mesh with primarily white audiences, Curtis moves the newly-renamed Dreams to center stage--with Deena as lead singer in place of Effie. And that's not the only arena in which Effie is replaced, as Curtis abandons their love affair for a relationship with star-in-the-making Deena. Besides the Supremes comparison, one can't talk about Dreamgirls now without revisiting its notorious Oscar snub; though it received eight nominations, the most for any film from 2006, it was shut out of the Best Picture and Director races entirely. Was the oversight justified? While Dreamgirls is certainly a handsomely mounted, lovingly executed and often vibrant film adaptation, it inspires more respect than passion, only getting under your skin during the musical numbers, which become more sporadic as the film goes on. Writer-director Bill Condon is definitely focused on recreating the Motown milieu (down to uncanny photographs of Knowles in full Diana Ross mode), he often forgets to flesh out his characters, who even on the Broadway stage were underwritten and relied on powerhouse performances to sell them to audiences. (Stage fans will also note that numerous songs are either truncated or dropped entirely from the film.) Condon has assembled a game cast, as Knowles does a canny riff on the essence of Diana Ross' glamour (as opposed to an all-out impersonation) and Rose makes a peripheral character surprisingly vibrant; only Foxx, who never gets to pour on the charisma, is miscast. Still, there are two things even the most cranky viewers will warm to in Dreamgirls: the performances of veteran Eddie Murphy and newcomer Jennifer Hudson. Murphy is all sly charm and dazzling energy as the devilish Early, who's part James Brown, part Little Richard, and all showman. And Hudson, an American Idol contestant who didn't even make the top three, makes an impressive debut as the larger-than-life Effie, whose voice matches her passions and stubbornness. Though she sometimes may seem too young for the role, Hudson nails the movie's signature song, "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going," with a breathtaking power that must be seen and heard to believe. And for those five minutes, if not more, you will be in Dreamgirls' thrall. --Mark Englehart Beyond Dreamgirls 
Other Musicals on DVD | 
More Motown on DVD | 
The Soundtrack | Stills from Dreamgirls (click for larger image)
Product Description
Director Bill Condon brings Tom Eyen's Tony award-winning Broadway musical to the big screen in a tale of dreams stardom and the high cost of success in the cutthroat recording industry. The time is the 1960s and singers Effie (Jennifer Hudson) Lorrell (Anika Noni Rose) and Deena (Beyonc Knowles) are about to find out just what it's like to have their wildest dreams come true. Discovered at a local talent show by ambitious manager Curtis Taylor Jr. (Jamie Foxx) the trio known as "the Dreamettes" is soon offered the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity of opening for popular singer James "Thunder" Early (Eddie Murphy). Subsequently molded into an unstoppable hit machine by Taylor and propelled into the spotlight as "the Dreams" the girls quickly find their bid for the big time taking priority over personal friendship as Taylor edges out the ultra-talented Effie so that the more beautiful Deena can become the face of the group. Now as the crossover act continues to dominate the airwaves the small-town girls with big-city dreams slowly begin to realize that the true cost of fame may be higher than any of them ever anticipated.System Requirements:Running Time: 130 Mins.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: DRAMA Rating: PG - 13 UPC: 097363478249 Manufacturer No: 347824
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| Customer Reviews: Read 275 more reviews...
One BIG voice January 9, 2007
T. Burger (Chicago)
38 out of 53 found this review helpful
During Jennifer Hudson's first song (I don't remember which song that was), I turned to my friend and whispered, "This girl lost?" I was, of course, referring to American Idol. For those who don't know this, in an interesting reversal of fortunes, Jennifer Hudson beat out former American Idol winner Fantasia for the role. And now, she's nominated for a Golden Globe, and has already snagged eleven awards (see imdb). Talk about life imitating art.
Translating a Broadway smash to the screen is never easy, but this seemed seamless, and the other cast members, specifically Beyonce, Eddie Murphy, and Jamie Foxx, lent the film extraordinary believability.
I generally don't enjoy musicals, but listening to Jennifer Hudson sing was absolutely a revelation.
 The Dream Continues... May 3, 2007
Alex Honda (Los Angeles, CA USA)
38 out of 46 found this review helpful
For those of you who aren't familiar with DREAMGIRLS it was a hit Broadway musical, created in 1981, based "loosely" on the real monster girl group The Supremes, Berry Gordy and Motown. And although it took almost 25 years to make, the movie version is spectacular.
Following the meteoric rise of the fictitious "Dreams" the story takes place in Detroit in 1962 and ends in Los Angeles in 1975. In between, you witness the joy, sorrow, and bitterness--as some dreams die, while others live. And being a period movie, DREAMGIRLS doesn't feel dated or unrealistic. It captures the excitement and turbulence of the 60s, or at least the romanicized idea of it, perfectly.
Anyway enough about the movie and on to the DVD.
This dvd set contains two dvds:
***DVD #1 FEATURE FILM; 12 EXTENDED/ADDITIONAL MUSICAL NUMBERS
I won't list the 12 songs but the title track "Dreamgirls" and the show stopper "And I'm Telling You" are not part of this 12. With the exception of the song "Effie, Sing My Song," at least from what I could tell, most of these musical numbers are just different edits/film cuts than those that made it into the film. For instance, you'll see more of the performance rather than the cutaways to other scenes, which you see in the movie...so they're not sung differently.
What's good about this is that you get to see the entire performance of the opening acts(The Stepp Sisters, L'il Albert and The Tru-Tones, Tiny Joe Dixon) without the cutaway shots that show what's going on behind the stage. No additional lyrics; the songs are exactly as they are on the deluxe edition music cd of "Dreamgirls."
One alternative musical number that's very different is the song "Effie, Sing My Song." In the movie, the lines are spoken, however they did film the song version where C.C. and Effie share a duet. And that's included here.
***DVD #2 DOCUMENTARY ON THE MAKING OF DREAMGIRLS; ORIGINAL AUDITION AND SCREEN TEST VIDEOS; FEATURETTES ABOUT THE FASHION, FILM EDITING, THEATRICAL LIGHTING; PREVISUALIZATION SEQUENCES; IMAGE GALLERY
In all fairness, I haven't seen the entire second dvd. The reason being is that the documentary on the making of DREAMGIRLS is nearly TWO-HOURS long! Running at one-hour and fifty-five minutes, the documentary called "Building the Dream" chronicles the journey that started as an idea from Broadway creators Tom Eyen, Henry Krieger, and Michael Bennett to finally becomming the most hyped and anticipated film of 2006. But don't worry, that's not the beef of the documentary. Most of it takes you behind the scenes of what it took to put this huge movie together from the set design to the casting; from the choreography to staying true to the original score.
It's a fascinating look at the challenges director Bill Condon faced when deciding to take on this project. I always thought that "Dreamgirls" would've been easy to make into a film because you already started with everything in place. How wrong I was! Not only are you competing in a genre not too popular today, but you have to compete with the beloved original. Well, I must pay homage to Condon. He pulled it off.
Anyway, the documentary is told through home video of the recording sessions, casting calls, set design, rehearsals etc., as well as principal cast member interviews and of course the main people working behind the scenes like director Condon, executive producers, choreographers, music producers etc.
If nothing else, this documentary alone is worth the extra price for the two-set dvd of DREAMGIRLS.
And for those of you die hard fans of the original Broadway show or soundtrack, who liked this movie version, will be happy to know that the song "A'int No Party" is supposed to be included in the "audition tapes" section of the special features. There is a snippet of it in the documentary and Anika Noni Rose was working that song. So I'm sure it has to be included in the screen tests. But even if it isn't, remember I haven't seen the entire second dvd, the documentary "Building The Dream" makes up for it.
Anyway, if you enjoyed the movie, you'll enjoy this dvd set. It's a dream that will give you "more and more." If you haven't seen the movie, well you're in for a treat. It's exciting and keeps you at the edge of your seat. And not being an action film, that's saying a lot!
J-Hud steals the show February 10, 2007
Amanda Richards (Georgetown, Guyana)
36 out of 61 found this review helpful
After you watch this well cast film
You'll see it's only right
That J-Hud's getting so much praise
For playing Effie White
Right from the start she steals the show
A wonderful debut
And as I reached the half way mark
I said "Beyonce who?"
Effie, Deena and Lorrell,
(The Dreamettes) have a dream
Curtis Taylor hears them sing
And they become a team
At first they do the circuit stint
Just for the interim
Hiding behind Early's light
Singing back-up for him
Small things lead to bigger things
And Curtis still wants more
He launches Rainbow Records
Using payola to score
One Dreamette falls for Curtis and
One for a married man
One's dreams lie shattered on the floor
When there's a change of plan
Fast forward to a new decade
Where we pick up the story
Curtis is still movin' up
Basking in all his glory
But when we go behind the scenes
We see another side
Nobody's really happy
Though they're flowing with the tide
If you're into bittersweet
You're gonna love the end
Buy this one when it comes out
And get it for a friend
Amanda Richards, February 9, 2007
Dream Girls December 16, 2007
Gunner (Bethlehem,Georgia)
23 out of 23 found this review helpful
Dream Girls DVD
Dream Girls is a musical obviously based on the Supremes and other black vocal artists from that era. I got James Brown ,but I'm not sure about the others. Jenifer Hudson plays a young black woman with an attitude and a big voice, could it be that she is a young black woman with an attitude and a big voice. Maybe she wasn't acting. I'll hold off in judging her acting abilities until she has a different role.
All in all an enjoyable movie. (I don't typically go in for musicals, but this one is good.
Recommended for musical fans who grew up in the 1960's.
Gunner, December, 2007
"Dreamgirls will never leave you." January 14, 2007
E. Bukowsky (NY United States)
17 out of 22 found this review helpful
"Dreamgirls" is based on the eighties Broadway musical hit (it won six Tony Awards, including Best Musical and Best Original Score). In 1963, three Detroit black female vocalists, the Dreamettes, start at the bottom but are willing to work hard to make it to the big time. Beyonce Knowles plays Deena Jones with cool elegance, Anika Noni Rose is an adorable Lorrell Robinson, and Jennifer Hudson makes her impressive movie debut as the passionate and irrepressible Effie White. Effie is overweight and average looking; she does not fit the mold of the typical sultry lead singer. What Effie lacks in conventional beauty, however, she more than makes up for with her outstanding vocal ability and stage presence. The lives of these three women change when they meet the ambitious and slick Curtis Taylor, Jr. (Jamie Foxx), who arranges for the group to go on the road as backup for the sassy and flamboyant James "Thunder" Early, played to perfection by the amazing Eddie Murphy. Curtis has big plans; his goal is to break out of the "Chitlin Circuit," and garner the attention of mainstream audiences.
The story of Curtis Taylor parallels the meteoric rise of Berry Gordy, Jr., who helped shape the careers of many legendary singers and groups, including the Supremes, Marvin Gaye, Gladys Knight, Stevie Wonder, and the Jackson Five. These artists, along with Gordy, created the Motown Sound that defined an era and changed the course of musical history.
Writer/director, Bill Condon, wisely keeps his main focus on the lives of his characters, whom we come to know and understand intimately. Danny Glover plays an agent from the old school who is quickly shunted aside by Curtis Taylor. In his determination to succeed, Taylor resorts to payola and other dirty tricks and when she becomes a liability, he dumps his lover, Effie. She is replaced by Deena Jones, a more attractive lead singer in Curtis's eyes, as well as a woman he would love to get to know a little better. Under Taylor's tutelage, the group, now known as the Dreams, soars in popularity and becomes a sensation. The story also touches on the civil rights movement (Effie makes a joke about Martin Luther King having a record even though he can't even sing!) and the social and cultural changes that were beginning to transform American society.
The film succeeds for other reasons in addition to its fine performances, including the beautifully staged musical numbers that sizzle with electricity, gorgeous costumes, fine cinematography, and skillful editing. There are a few flaws: occasional lines of stilted dialogue and some banal songs that fall short of the marvelous "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going," "Listen," and "One Night Only." However, these minor defects are offset by Condon's well-written script, which carefully avoids too much sentimentality and contains enough humor to keep the movie from taking itself too seriously. At the same time, Condon effectively explores the ugliness of racism, the price of fame, and the importance of loyalty and personal integrity. "Dreamgirls" works on many levels and it provides two hours of solid musical entertainment.
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