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SYNOPSIS

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 (Beyoncé 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.

REVIEW
A star is born and her name is Jennifer Hudson! This "American Idol" reject blows the roof off the house in a film we want to see again and again. Writer/director Bill Condon (Gods and Monsters, Chicago) has crafted a musical masterpiece that will join the classics and hopefully collect Oscars® in February. With an all-black cast, the film tells the story of a singing group not unlike the Supremes and their success on Berry Gordy's new record label, Motown Records. Packed with songs you'll be singing along with and high drama, Dreamgirls is a ton of fun!

Effie White (Hudson), Deena Jones (Knowles) and Lorrell Robinson (Rose) form a singing trio called the Dreamettes. With Effie's songwriting brother C.C. (Robinson) they travel to the Apollo in Harlem for an amateur night. Although they lose they end up attracting the attention of manager Curtis Taylor, Jr. (Foxx) and his star James "Thunder" Early (Murphy) who hire the women as backup singers. Curtis reshapes the group casting the thin and plain-voiced Deena as the lead and pushing chubby Effie to the rear, regardless of her superior talents. When Effie is dropped from the trio she sings the classic belter "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going". It's from moments like these that legends are born. One cannot convey in words just how powerfully Ms. Hudson sings this song – it's a career-defining moment for this amazing young woman. Taylor is successful in grooming the group and their success, without Effie is huge. While the Dreams rise, Early's star falls which Eddie Murphy captures with deep levels of pathos.

While we could rant and rave about all the songs, the story, the singing and the acting, this film is a legend that will sell itself!

-- Scott Cranin

PRODUCT FORMAT INFORMATION

DVD Widescreen: $17.99 (Single-disc Version)

Availability: In stock and ready to ship

Close Caption: Yes

Region Code: 1

UPC: 097363478249

Catalog #: DL2415202

Studio: Paramount

Languages: English Dolby Digital 5.1 (Primary), French Dolby Digital 2.0, English Subtitles, Spanish Subtitles

Aspect Ratio: Anamorphic Widescreen