Not Coming to a Theater Near You

Dreamgirls / USA / 2006

I have to agree with Beth—the days of mainstream movie musicals seem quite over, as I noticed last year. Nowadays, people don’t break into song and dance in alleyways, parks, or the pouring rain; instead, they vocalize their emotions on stages and in recording studios. It takes away something from the storyline to have musicals actually be about music.

Though I was impressed with the songs, flashy wardrobe and choreography, Jennifer Hudson’s performance was the only redeeming aspect of Dreamgirls. She delivers every song with gusto and attitude, and she even manages to outdo Beyonce. (Why Ms. Knowles is considered a leading actress in this film is beyond me.) Also good are Jaime Foxx, Anika Noni Rose, and Eddie Murphy—though I’m not as convinced that his performance is especially noteworthy compared to others, he’s still a great showman and a surprisingly good singer.

But Dreamgirls made me groan too frequently, such as during a rapid montage of the Dreams’ world tour when a photograph of the group alongside the Beatles appears on screen after a ridiculously fake issue of Time Magazine. And shame on whoever designed those closing credits—it felt like nothing more than brazen Oscar promotion.

by Adam Balz | Source: Dreamworks 35MM Theatrical Print
16 Jan 2007 8:31 PM | Comments (5)

Comments / 5 total / Submit Comment

1. Nathan / 26 January 2007 / 12:57 PM

   First, Shame on you for saying what you said about the credits. Have you ever seen so many people just sit down and watch credits. I have seen a lot of movies and have rarely seen anyone stay for over 30 seconds of the credits. In Dreamgirls you actually see costume sketches, set designs, and story boards as they come to life as the credits scroll along with pictures in perfect timing to music. I work in the background of theatre and movies. NO ONE ever sees my name

   If you don’t like musical theatre and how it doesn’t reflect real life, don’t go to it. Don’t go to a movie based on a stage musical. No I agree that most normal people do not start singing walking down the street, in a dressing room, in a auto repair shop, or even in a park. I DO agree with you but its called a musical, its based off a Broadway musical. Its a suspension of disbelief. There are several musicals that are making millions on Broadway based off songs and music. Jersey Boys, Boy from OZ, Mamma Mia, Movin, Out. not to mention countless off broadway and cabaret shows Its not normal life. Musicals do not have to always be like real life. If I wanted to see real life I would sit outside the theatre and not go in it. And all those action movies with explosions and people shot and other things are not real life either. When is the last time you ever saw someone go through as much as Tom Cruise did in Mission Impossible Three and live.

   Do I just not get your comments or do I just not get it period. The songs were good, Jennifer Hudson is amazing, the costumes were good. The sets were fantastic and Jules and Peggy’s lighting was PERFECT. Which you did give nods to in your comments.

   I guess if you want to do it so much better and have a movie that did not “make me groan too frequently” that one day I will sit in a cineplex and as the lights dim I will see a movie title appear in flashy credits that says directed by Adam Balz instead of the very talented Bill Condon and directed and staged on Broadway by the very talented late great Michael Bennett.

   Just my ramblings.

2. Ladd W / 27 January 2007 / 7:07 AM

   Oddly enough, I also work in theatre, Nathan. And I don’t give a hoot or a holler for the brazen spectacle, empty flash and glitter, not to mention the excessive Oscar-hype for Dreamgirls. And showing storyboards and costume designs during the credits sounds like a film desperately pandering for Oscar gold like a homeless man begging for pocket change. As if “this is how we did it” is of any great wonder… It’s all shit spectacle, right before your eyes on the screen, just like Chicago, the film version of The Producers, and god forbid, RENT was last year. And I’m convinced that Michael Bennet’s true legacy is A Chorus Line, not Dreamgirls. There is an askew between theatre and film. They are two vastly different idioms that simply do not function in the same way. That’s why The Producers (the musical) does not work (in my opinion) as a film. It felt out of place, stagey, and the performances were mere shells of their former selves. But that aside, there is almost a 50 year disconnect between the Golden Age of Hollywood Movie Musicals (MGM, Garland, Kelly, etc.) and the “movie musicals” we’re supposedly “treated” to these days. I completely agree with Adam. Thank MTV, and a generation that wants their eye candy here and now. And nowhere in Mr. Balz review did he even remotely suggest he could have done Dreamgirls any better himself. In this day and age, who would even want to try? And don’t say Julie Taymor! And honestly, Nathan, isn’t the reason people go to movies and theatre is to see that reflection of life, no matter how real or unreal it may be? It certainly beats sitting outside the theatre, watching the harsher realities of life pass us by. Your horse is a high one indeed, Nathan.

3. Nathan / 2 February 2007 / 7:52 AM

   Whatever……

4. Chiranjit / 2 February 2007 / 9:36 AM / URL

   Am I missing something here? I thought Adam was disappointed that Dreamgirls was too realistic in having the musical numbers sequestered into recording studio/live performance moments. By his comments it sounds like he longs for the days of classic musicals where songs were incorporated into everyday actions. If anything, Adam wants to suspend his disbelief to an even greater degree.

5. Adam B. / 2 February 2007 / 10:16 AM / URL

   My review really had nothing at all to do with suspension of (dis)belief—I’ve never gone into a musical hoping my sense of reality would be appealed to (obviously), so I’ve never been disappointed when something seemed too real or too fabricated. I just want a musical where someone who sings their emotions isn’t on a stage, surrounded by recording equipment, or Renee Zellweger.