Audiences love a movie that has rhythm. Last year’s Walk the Line would be a perfect example, delivering great performances and an infectious soundtrack to make a film that is just fun to watch. But what about a movie with soul? Can that do the same thing? Enter the Bill Condon written and directed Dreamgirls to test the theory.

Dreamgirls is the story of three friends from Detroit, yearning to make it big with their smooth sounds and their unrelenting drive. The girls learn very quickly though (in the first scene of the movie, in fact) that you don’t get big without a little help. The trio of Deena (Beyonce Knowles), Lorrell (Anika Noni Rose) and Effie (Jennifer Hudson) are approached by smooth talking manager to be Curtis Taylor (Jamie Foxx), and with promises of singing behind James “Thunder” Early (Eddie Murphy) and beyond, Taylor hooks the girls into hitting the road.

Soon after, the girls are given their own show and Curtis begins to make some changes. Effie, the biggest voice of them all, is replaced as the lead by Deena, igniting a tension that would ultimately force the group apart. It is at that moment that Jennifer Hudson begins to take over the film, articulating the fall and eventual resurrection of Effie with power and grace. In one particular scene, in which Effie has finally been cast away from the group, she belts out the most powerful musical number in the film as Curtis walks out on her, leaving her broken and alone. It is at that moment when the realization comes along that Hudson is the heart and soul of the film, and everything else is just irrelevant.

As I am normally able to be entranced by a good musical, Dreamgirls was a joy to behold. The film gives off a soulful and glamorous aura, chronicling the rise of the three young ladies at a feverish pace. The story moves along so quickly, right from the beginning, that it keeps your attention despite being a bit hard to follow. Bill Condon, whose previous work included penning Chicago, handles the story well, developing the uniqueness of each character without wasting any time.

And as you can expect, the soundtrack to this film is sensational. Comprised with original music sung by the actors themselves, the soundtrack gives the film authenticity and places the audience right in the middle of the 1960’s pop scene. Delivering the highlights of the soundtrack, of course, is Jennifer Hudson once again. From American Idol finalist to breakout actress ain’t bad, especially when the only comparative idol work to date is From Justin to Kelly.

Oddly enough, it is Jennifer Hudson’s brilliant performance that is the downside to this flick. How could such a soulful and natural performance be the downside of a film, you might ask? It is because there are times when you literally forget about the other characters in the film. As you watch Effie’s journey, and listen to her lay heart and soul into the music, you almost forget about the likes of Beyonce and Eddie Murphy, even though their storylines are more prevalent. To say the least, Beyonce is the face of the movie but Jennifer Hudson is the heart of a film that is all soul.

On a whole, Dreamgirls is one of the year’s best films, if not one of the better musicals that I have seen. It delivers all the key elements of transitioning a musical from Broadway to the silver screen – keep the story simple, make the music fit, entertain. Exit, stage left.

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