When I First Saw You

The "you" in question is the sumptuous movie version of Dreamgirls! I was lucky enough to catch a press screening of this visually striking, musically exciting new film, and let me be the 502nd person to say: "this is going to be a big hit!"

Recently Jennifer Holliday has been moaning about how she wasn't asked to portray the character she created in the workshop of the stage event. That would be Effie Melody White, who ages from 16 to 22 in the story. I knew Jennifer had a big ego, but for her to think she can still convincingly portray this role at her current age of 46, well, her sense of personal ability is admirable, albeit somewhat misguided. And Diana Ross has been moaning as well. Miss Ross has some problem with this musical, but I can't figure out what it is. If she's upset about it being a thinly veiled version of her rise to fame in The Supremes, I don't know why. She comes off smelling like a rose. Mr. Berry Gordy, well, that's another story, but Diana makes everything up to Florence Ballard in this version of the story (whereas, in real life, Ms. Ballard died on welfare at the age of 32).

Four songs have been added to the score. Listen is Beyonce's (unsuccessful) stab at overshadowing the amazing performance of Jennifer Hudson in the pivotal role of Effie. I can't quite figure how Listen works, actually. It's presented as a song being recorded by Deena, but it goes against every kind of song her Svengali-like husband/manager Curtis has provided her with up to that point. It doesn't seem believable to me that Curtis would approve this type of song for her. As a book song (allowing Deena to sing her thoughts to Curtis instead of using dialogue), I think it absolutely would have worked, but it seems these days movie audiences aren't willing to accept characters singing instead of talking. Well, they're going to get some of that in this movie anyway. Family, It's All Over and The Firing of Jimmy come immediately to mind. Get over it people, it's a musical!

Patience is James Thunder Early's stab at approximating Mavin Gaye's success with What's Going On, but it doesn't work out for him because Curtis won't release a "message" song. Pity, 'cause it's really good! Perfect World is the film's chance to shoehorn The Jackson Five into a story everyone has been claiming for 25 years has nothing to do with Diana Ross and The Supremes. And Love You, I Do is my choice for this year's Best Song Oscar. Jennifer Hudson auditions it as a potential single for The Dreams, but the betrayal to come makes the song ironic and hugely moving. I sure hope the Academy agrees with me!

A lot of ink has been spilled over Jennifer Hudson's fantastic film debut as Effie, so I guess I'll just say "ditto." Jamie Foxx was the only real disappointment for me, as it turns out. On Oprah, he said he purposefully sang subpar because his character isn't a singer. What he isn't acknowledging is that his two songs (Stepping to the Bad Side and When I First Saw You) are book songs, so technically his character isn't singing at all. You see, dear reader, in a musical, when characters sing to one another, we're supposed to ignore the fact that there isn't really an orchestra backing them up, and that it's fairly unusual for people to rhyme in their everyday conversations. Since I've read over and over again that audiences today don't appreciate how musicals work, I thought I'd better explain that simple fact to the novices among you. So my point here is that Jamie needn't pull back on his singing ability, since our collective suspension of disbelief would conclude that his character is merely sharing his viewpoint, not performing a song from his latest album about how much he wishes his grandmother could see him become a big success. Beyonce is terrific as Deena, but I'm still perplexed over why they insist on billing her as the lead. Deena is not the lead - Effie is. But, Hollywood being what it is, and hugely successful music artists with fathers who produce their material being what they are, Beyonce is credited above the title.

Eddie Murphy (in his own, separate little paragraph here) is thrilling in his major comeback to the world of creating a character. His James Thunder Early is a little bit James Brown, a little bit Little Richard, and a whole lot of excitement! After seeing him talk to animals, protect his outer space nightclub and run a daycare center for brats, it's wonderful to see him act again. I wouldn't call him a donkey for lending his voice to the popular Shrek films, but like Robin Williams before him, this animated actor can be highly innovative in the proper dramatic piece. Dreamgirls is definitely that piece for Mr. Murphy.

And conversely, some actors aren't really meant to do animated pieces. Like, um, Matt Damon, for example. As cute as Titan A.E. and Spirit, Stallion of the Cimarron are, I don't really believe Matt's voice added that much to either occasion. How dare I write something negative about Matt, you say? Well, think of it this way: in animated films, we're denied the chance to look at Matt's beautiful face. Now that's something negative!

So, to sum up, this is the holiday event (it opens nationwide December 25) for everyone. Whether you're gay or straight, black or white, the story of the rise and fall of The Dreamettes is one for audiences everywhere to delight in. And for the Oscar show to lavish its affections on. This is their chance to make up for snubbing Brokeback Mountain last year!