(Christmas Day) Dreamgirls Reviews

[mateo]

Posted: 12/25/06 at 2:08pm

I will not be able to see it till after New Years... but I am excited to read reviews on everyone's experience in seeing the film today and throughout the week.

[phantom8019]

Posted: 12/25/06 at 2:10pm

I just got back from TRYING to see it. I tried 2 theaters and it was sold out at both (1:00 and 1:45). There were people buying tickets for tonight as well. I've never seen a matinee sell out. Needless to see I am PISSED I can't get to see it today, but I understand this is good news for the movie.

Posted: 12/25/06 at 2:22pm

This is gonna be a PHENOMENON! I just hope that there's not the complete loss of magic like what happened with RENT. There better not be 13 year old girls walking around like Effie White. Could you just imagine...

MTI presents...
DREAMGIRLS JR.

[mateo]

Posted: 12/25/06 at 2:29pm

actually... I would LOVE to see 13 year old Effie's.

[One Song Glory]

Posted: 12/25/06 at 2:31pm

Yeah, that would be an entertaining sight.

[shesamarshmallow]

Posted: 12/25/06 at 2:36pm

It's not playing within MILES and MILES of me. There are 10 cinemas within 20 minutes car ride and it's not at a single one of them. I thought it was supposed to have a wide release???

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 12/25/06 at 2:58pm

Seeing it tomorrow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[theaterdude87]

Posted: 12/25/06 at 3:42pm

Just got back from the movies. The theater is saw it in hled 425 people and there was not an empty seat. It was phenomenal. J Hud got extreme applause after AIATY. The movie was just amazing, it was made so wonderful. I did not really know that much about it, only the music ...it was just so good...not that much to say! GOO SEE IT!!!

[All_For_Laura]

Posted: 12/25/06 at 3:51pm

I'm back! AMAZING. And I am Telling You got great applause and it was spectacular. Done so well. I can't say enough. Anika Noni Rose was superb!!! J. Hud steals the show. Beyonce was very good as well. Go see it!!!!

[luvliza89]

Posted: 12/25/06 at 3:56pm

I went to the first showing in my area (9:40) and there were many, many, many empty seats. But it was early, it's Christmas, and I live just outside of Boston and the interest level isn't particularly high.

That being said there was applause after "And I Am Telling You...".

The movie was everything it should be and I honestly wasn't let down by anything. Amazing. Seeing it again tomorrow =)

[Plum]

Posted: 12/25/06 at 4:45pm

Okay, so Dreamgirls isn't the all-time masterpiece movie some people are making it out to be, but considering the weak spots in the original source material, it does beautifully. (And it looks beautiful in the process- really, kudos to everyone involved in the cinematography and production design.)

I've never seen Dreamgirls onstage, only listened to the OBC and the concert recording, so I was just fascinated by the strong feminist streak I could see running through the film. None of the Dreams find happiness through their men; it's after the breakups that they find their voices and gain true happiness. Which is why the movie's worst idea was cutting "Ain't No Party"- that's Lorell breaking out, and would have reinforced the "find your voice" theme beautifully. Deena's decision to betray Curtis is a decision of sisterhood as well as independence, and in the end, Effie sings her love not to any man, but to her fatherless daughter. The "giant tree" is one rooted in place by strong women. I really appreciate that in a film.

Anika Noni Rose, Danny Glover, and Keith Robinson all did fine in their supporting parts. Jamie Foxx was a dud as Curtis, but this movie belonged to its women; he couldn't help but fall by the wayside. Besides, I can't be dissapointed by an actor I never liked in the first place. However, one male did break through in his own right- Eddie Murphy was simply fantastic as Jimmy Early. He had wonderful wicked charisma, and the sense of something wild living under his skin was used beautifully in all his performance numbers. And he could sing! I've really gained new appreciation for the man; I hope this brings him a lot more great parts.

Beyoncé is...still not the best of actresses. She's gorgeous, no doubt about that. But she only really comes alive when she's singing, shutting down into sphinx mode whenever she's reduced to merely speaking her dialogue. Somehow, though, Condon managed to turn that weakness into a strength by inserting "Listen" into the soundtrack. Finally Deena lets her voice fly, and it is fierce. Credit where credit's due- she was great in that scene, and the satisfied little quirk of her lips when she was finished said it all.

Jennifer Hudson. Oh, man. I'm happy for her and sad for her at the same time, because I highly doubt she's ever going to get another part like this. She shouldn't have to peak here- she's young, phenomenally talented, and a genuine double threat- but peak here she probably will, acting-wise, because not a lot of great parts aren't being written for black women, singing or non-singing. Maybe an Oscar will change that, or maybe she'll just have a great recording career. In any case, she absolutely ripped herself apart for "And I Am Telling You". The>http://www.slate.com/id/2156020">The greatest song ever filmed, indeed. It got a very healthy round of applause at the theatre we were in, and that was in a mostly white and Catholic suburb, hardly show queen central. I actually found myself on the edge of my seat at the end of it, gripping the armrests for dear life. Ms. Hudson, if you don't win an Oscar there will be consequences.

So many of the movies bring acclaimed this year are overly praised because critics are desperate to give someone an Oscar (The Departed), or just look like plain old pretentious twaddle (Babel). None of them feel like overwhelming Best Picture material to me. So I'll happily cheer for Dreamgirls, the movie that managed to cheer me up after sitting through a record 15 minutes(!) of commercials. (I'm damn well never going to that theatre again.)

[LI Larry]

Posted: 12/25/06 at 5:05pm

I just got back from seeing Dreamgirls. We saw Blood Diamond yesterday and I bought the tickets for Dreamgirls then. Which was smart because I skipped the whole line and just went in and got a great seat. I agree that Jamie Foxx isn't great in this but Curtis is not an easy part and most of the singing that Curtis did in the show was cut. And I agree that they should not have cut "Ain't No Party". Lorell needed a song. I also would have liked the voice overs during the disco version of "One Night Only" to have been kept in so you could hear what the Dreams are each thinking. I also was sorry that CC's and Effie's reunion was not done to music. It was more emotional when he sang"Effie, sing my song, the way it should be...."

But I LOVED this movie. I thought the cast was great. Jennifer Hudson did an incredible job. I never saw anyone stop a movie before. When she sang "And I am telling you..." everyone applauded and cheered as they did at the end when her name came up in the credits. I wasn't crazy about Keith Robertson as CC. But I liked Beyonce as Deena. She herself admits that she is not the best actress yet but she did a good job and I left the movie wanting to see it again. Also Eddie Murphy gave the performance of his career.

I also thought they tidied some things in the book of the musical that needed to be done.I saw the original show back in 1982 with Roz Ryan as Effie and David Alan Grier as Jimmy (sheryl lee ralph was still in it). Effie had no daughter in that one. that was added in the 1987 revival. But they added 2 things that I thought made the plot move better. I won't spoil it for people but both were in the 2nd half (one was at the very end). I also was at the concert in 2001 for the Actor's Fund. I thought this was the best it could ever be. Updated On: 12/25/06 at 05:05 PM

[ClumsyDude15]

Posted: 12/25/06 at 5:15pm

I got the highlights CD today and Laura Bell Bundy is included as a "SWEETHEART". What exactly is that?

[colleen_lee]

Posted: 12/25/06 at 5:30pm

I had to drive 90 minutes to see the film as I am visiting my parents in very rural Florida for the holidays and none of the theaters in their area were showing it....but today is my birthday and we always do a birthday movie, this was obviously my selection.

The movie was amazing. I am already anticipating seeing it again. I don't want to write a full review as I am getting ready to eat my Birthday dinner with my fam, but I just had to say that AIATY was an out of body experience. I have never felt anything like that in a movie theater before. The emotion was so raw and palpable that she absolutely leapt from that screen. Her voice, the aching, the heartbreak was penetrating. I don't know that I took a breath during the entire song, and both my mother and I had tears streaming down our cheeks when the song ended. Amazing.

The theater was only half full, but hearty applause broke out after the song (and a smattering with some whoops after I Am Changing). Jennifer Hudson better win that Oscar, she was perfect.

I am dragging anyone and everyone to see this film.

Updated On: 12/25/06 at 05:30 PM

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 12/25/06 at 5:30pm

Sold out in the 2 theaters I tried.

I didn't know so many people went to the movies on Christmas Day.

[maybethistime]

Posted: 12/25/06 at 5:44pm

I got back a while ago from seeing it and I was totally amazed--DREAMGIRLS is fantastic. The theatre I was in was totally packed--a few empty seats here and there--but it was a huge theatre and it was mostly full. For a 12:30 matinee on Christmas, I'd say that's pretty damn good.

The performances were all top-notch, but Jennifer Hudson was, as expected, a standout and a showstopper. The entire theatre broke into applause twice during her extraordinary "AIATY" and she was the only performer to get applause during her segment of the credits. Hopefully the upcoming awards will take notice; the audience surely did. She have a truly amazing and award-worthy performance, for ANYONE, let alone a 20-something, American Idol-reject. Knowles proved to be a capable actress with a beautiful voice and film-presence and Anika was perfection; it's a travesty "Ain't No Party" was cut. The males were all stellar, although I never really warmed up to Foxx as Curtis, though I guess that's the point. Murphy was particularly great As J. T. Early. Of the males, I felt he most embodied his character. Truly a career-saving, spectacular performance.

Condon's screenplay worked wonders with the flawed source material and his direction perfectly captured the vivacity, fast motion and vision of [what I've seen and heard of] Bennett's original production. Hats-off to the cinematography team and all of the production designers; the film looked stunning. With the exception of those god-awful orange vinyl outfits, the costumes were visually magnificent and, for the most part, helped set the decade effectively. The scenery and lighting, especially, were incredible and added an crucial and breathtaking theatrical flair.

I already have 2 dates to see it again and I can't wait!

GO! NOW!

[Plum]

Posted: 12/25/06 at 6:33pm

Oh, and what the heck were John Lithgow and John Krasinsky doing there? Talk about your unexpected cameos.

[wickedfan]

Posted: 12/25/06 at 6:45pm

They are just cameos. People have also been complaining about Urkel's cameo in the movie, too.

Back to the subject: I saw it for a second time today in Florida at one of the chain Muvicos. And anyone who lives in (or has visited) Florida will tell you that Muvicos are NOT small. The smallest screen fits about 200 people. Anyway, the theatre I was in seated about 500 people and it was very crowded. There were maybe a handful of seats left and it was a 3 o'clock matinee, with a long line of people waiting to get in for the 6:20 showing when we were leaving.

The movie's wonderful. Not perfect, but I do feel that it is the best movie this year (though this isn't exactly a strong year). "And I'm Telling You..." got laughs at the beginning of it (the audience still wasn't accustomed to singing replacing dialogue) but Jennifer completely won over the audience mid way through the song. That's when the applause started to break out into cheers. There was a lot of aplause for that, "I Am Changing", "Jimmy's Rap", and "Listen". The entire thing still gives me chills.

[Claire2141]

Posted: 12/25/06 at 6:47pm

Cinema's are open on Christmas day in the US? Wow, sometimes wish they'd do that here.

Can't wait for it to come out here, thanks for the reviews.

[Luckydave14]

Posted: 12/25/06 at 6:53pm

I saw the movie today at a 4:00 show in Royal Palm Beach, FL and it was PACKED! I didn't spot any empty seats in the main stands, a few on the front floor rows. The audience loved it. There was applause from most of the audience after AIATY and a little bit after I Am Changing and the Finale, and then when people realized that the movie was over, even more applause. In the credits, everyone waited and when Jennifer's credit came up, a huge applause (and the only during the credits).

I feel this movie is going to be a huge success if it is reaching even the older crowd. Most of the people in the theater were probably, rich, white and in their 70's. I smell a big success!

[COOOOLkid]

Posted: 12/25/06 at 6:58pm

Isn't the actual wide release sometime in January?

[wiggum2]

Posted: 12/25/06 at 7:24pm

Quote: But they added 2 things that I thought made the plot move better. I won't spoil it for people but both were in the 2nd half (one was at the very end). I also was at the concert in 2001 for the Actor's Fund. I thought this was the best it could ever be.

I've never seen the stage show, could someone let me know what they changed? PM is cool so others won't be spoiled... Thanks

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 12/25/06 at 7:26pm

LI Larry, Effie most certanly did have a child in 1981. The lyric "I have a child who loves me, and that love pulls me through..." was in the original production.

[Plum]

Posted: 12/25/06 at 7:27pm

I wasn't complaining about the cameos. The day "weird" equals "bad" in my book will be a sad day indeed.

[emo_geek]

Posted: 12/25/06 at 7:30pm

I just saw it and I still have chills!!