"Colored people on TV!" As a child growing up in a black neighborhood in the late 60s, if someone knew a black entertainer or group was appearing on television, word spread quickly and all the kids would gleefully scamper inside to marvel at the rare site of Negroes on their family's 12 inch black and white televisions. Clean cut and statuesque, the likes of Smokey Robinson, Aretha Franklin, and even The Jackson 5 had us squealing and talking about the performances for days. My anticipation at the start of the movie "Dreamgirls" evoked this nostalgic look at how black singers and musicians were first experienced by many in pre-civil rights America. Now more glamorous, colorful, and full of finger-popping and hip swinging, this musical's modern movie version gives us some insight into the struggles of blacks breaking into the music industry. The experiences of some of Detroit's most talented gives us the opportunity to be informed while being entertained, but just like the musical "West Side Story" provided insight into racial and class conflict...well, it's only a musical and sort of fluffy and I guess that's why I'm reviewing this disc instead of the regular guy.

"Dreamgirls" is the movie adaptation of the 1980's Tony Award- winning Broadway musical of the same name. It draws an exciting cast of Hollywood notables: Oscar winner Jamie Foxx, comic turned actor Eddie Murphy, singer/actress(?) Beyonce Knowles, and Jennifer Hudson, a TV singing contest finalist (sorry, can't bring myself to put that show in print). There are two protagonists, Curtis Taylor Jr. (Jamie Foxx) a car salesman who aches to make it big as a music producer, and James "Thunder" Early (Eddie Murphy) well known in the Negro "Chitlin' Circuit", but needing his big break. Curtis is willing to do anything within his power to create a name for himself, including using others as his springboard. Early, full of soul, rock and roll, and womanizing, is currently in need of a few new back-up singers. The five come together as easy as Sunday dinner until leader singer Effie White (Jennifer Hudson) of the young naive girl group, The Dreamettes, gets pushed aside, not because of her huge soulful voice, but because she is not the demure slender sort, like her backup singer Deena Jones (Beyonce Knowles). The other backup, Lorrell Robinson (Anika Noni Rose) is too pre-occupied with "Thunder" Early's advances to let much dismay her. On with the show, through the 60s into the 70s...looking at racism, love, jealousy, drug addiction. Dreams deferred for some, success attained by others. The original musical production's storyline was purportedly loosely based on music tycoon Berry Gordy, Jr. of Motown fame and his association with Diana Ross and the Supremes (once simply called The Supremes) For a quick minute you can catch a young Michael Jackson-like character's early interest in Dreamgirl Deena once she reaches superstar status.

The film is presented in widescreen, enhanced for 16:9 TVs. The sound is rendered in both 5.1 and 2.0 Dolby Digital Surround. All the glitter and glam and Eddie Murphy hamming it up...no complaints from me with regard to the DVD transfer.

Aside from the movie itself being 130 minutes and PG 13- allowing time to bond with my middle schooler as well as braid her freshly washed hair, there is a second disc. It includes many documentary type stories of auditions and commentary, along with 12 extended musical numbers. I enjoyed the enthusiasm provided by Oscar-nominated costumer Sharen Davis describing the evolution of wardrobe throughout the movie.

"Dreamgirls" is all about the drama & musical style of black entertainers' explosion into the business world, of making money and love, and its complications. I must give Jennifer Hudson her due. As Best Supporting Actress, her rendition of the infamous "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going" was good enough to send chills through my body. And Eddie Murphy ? one minute I'm smirking at his past singing ability and the next he's got enough talent to really get me going in one particularly memorable scene. Effie's brother C.C. (Keith Robinson) was an instrumental character throughout the movie as family member and songwriter; important to me was the eye candy his beautiful face provided. Props to stage, makeup and costume as the movie progressed over the decades. There was enough U.S. history interspersed to give the viewer some insight into the plight of African-Americans and their racial struggles dealing with the music industry, segregation, and the advancement of civil rights. But just enough. First and foremost "Dreamgirls" is all about entertaining and delighting the movie audience. There is a coming together in understanding as the musical closes about the inter-relatedness of us all and the need to take responsibility. Similar Movies: "Ray" ; "Walk the Line". Useless Trivia : "Bootylicious" Beyonce dropped the "jelly" to appear more Diana Ross-like and nails the look and hair during several stage performances and photo shoots in the movie. She was once one of a trio in Destiny's Child before launching her solo career. Her acting skills have not improved much since "Goldmember" or anything else she's worked on. Hinton Battle and Loretta Devine are two originals from the Broadway musical who had supporting roles in this version.