Movie Reviews

At long last, Dreamgirls steps center stage, draped in hype and accessorized with Oscar buzz. But does this adaptation of the Broadway sensation meet amped-up expectations? You bet your boas!

Well, at least when it comes to Jennifer Hudson's divalicious debut. The American Idol loser is winning as the lead singer of a 1960s Detroit trio, the Dreamettes (but not based on the Supremes—wink, wink). Snakey producer-manager Jamie Foxx hires the lovely ladies as backup for R&B singer Eddie Murphy (in full, philandering James Brown mode). When the Dreamettes get their big break, Hudson gets booted from the group because her figure, voice and attitude are all oversize.

She's replaced by prettier, poppier-sounding Beyoncé Knowles, who also takes Hudson's place in Foxx's bed. Girl, you did not! While the revamped girl-group achieves superstardom, Hudson struggles to reestablish her career and raise her daughter by Foxx, who's too busy bossing Beyoncé to realize he has a kid.

Yep, the story is thin and conventional and the characters sketchily drawn (the cost of jamming in some 30 songs!). But it's all about the razzle-dazzle, baby, and this slick flick sizzles, thanks to glossy production values, spectacularly staged musical numbers and Bill Condon's energetic direction.

Then there's sassy, brassy Hudson—with those impressive pipes—who cranks it to 11 whenever she opens her mouth, especially during the showstopper "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going."

And I am telling you: With this megawatt turn, Hudson won't be going out of the spotlight anytime soon.