I'm back from my matinee of DREAMGIRLS (actually was home by 2:30). The theater was packed, and the audience was VERY enthusiastic. Yes, Jennifer Hudson stopped the show (if you can call it that with a movie) twice, and "Steppin' into the Bad Side" and "Dreamgirls" also brought down the house. I will be very, very surprised if this movie doesn't hit big. Unlike most of us here, many people don't know this sensational music and will be discovering it for the first time with this film (just like CHICAGO).
I found it a marvelous piece of entertainment, and I found myself thrilled by it on several occasions. I also had a tremendous lump in my throat when it was over, relieved that one of my favorite musicals had been brought to the screen with so much of it intact.
Yes, there are definitely changes to the story, but in the main, I can't complain. I even liked all three of the new songs, especially the one Jennifer Hudson did in the first half of the picture. (Naturally, that's not the one that got the Golden Globe nomination; Beyonce's "Believe" did.)
I found the casting mostly spot-on, but I have to agree that Jamie Foxx just didn't bring enough grit and grouch to his part. His performance is almost nonchalant, and with everyone else throwing themselves into their roles with such vigor, he looked out of his league.
Great to see Loretta Devine and Ken Page in nice little parts (Loretta gets to sing, and her voice is still wonderful). The wig on John Lithgow brought jeers from the audience, the one truly negative reaction from the audience during the movie. Enjoyed seeing John Krasinski (Jim from THE OFFICE) in a tiny bit, and I didn't even recognize Hinton Battle in the movie. When I saw his credit on the screen at the end, I gasped!
See DREAMGIRLS!