The first number has rolled - glitzy, glamorous, show-stopping, Dreamgirls has it all. Using the thrills of editing, we are transported into the old-school days of soul in which Detroit is hosting a talent contest. The Dreamettes, composing Deena, Lorell and Effie (Beyoncé Knowles, Anika Noni Rose and Jennifer Hudson respectively), belted their blues and unfortunately lost the contest, only to find themselves winning a manager, Curtis Taylor (Jamie Foxx) thus paving way to the rise of The Dreams. Movie musicals never get better than this - but that was halfway of the film, and after that, we're not so sure anymore. Plunging into the lower decibels, apart from Hudson breaking glasses with her voice, Dreamgirls is a very well made musical and it excels in such a point where James "Thunder" Early (an amazing performance by Eddie Murphy) rocks the stage with his feet, where Effie gives a stunning showstopper "And I'm Telling You I'm Not Going", where the blacks were banned from the radio airing. Right on, it pushes the limits, gives the clichés and plot-wise, it gives a semi three-dimensional feel of the Hollywood rags-to-riches, rise-and-fall formula.

Based on Michael Bennett's 80's Broadway hit, Bill Condon directs with energy and streaming electrodes after writing Chicago for the screen. Known to be loosely adapted from the rise of the Supremes in the 60's with Diana Ross billboarding the masses, Dreamgirls focuses on the rise and fall of The Dreams, the amorphous racial issues of 'white" radio stations trying to smother records from the 'blacks', Condon satisfies his audience with the story, visual dazzles and musical repertoires. With a kind effort, he created a wonderful cinematic experience especially the performing scenes, sidestepping the ridiculousness of characters suddenly breaking out into a song and rather gave this film a sense of grace.

Whilst this movie musical belongs to a certain level of sophisticated order, the performances are as blistering as it is electrifying. Delivering one of the year's best performances, newcomer and former American Idol evictee, Jennifer Hudson gives out a heartbreaking, soulful turn as the big-boned diva, Effie, which serves as her sweet revenge to the scornful Simon Cowell. Easily, the best performance in this film belongs to this novice and damn, she can act, especially defining the moment in which she sings and belts her heart out to Curtis, "And I'm Not Telling You I'm Not Going" - probably one of recent cinema's great moments. I just couldn't believe what range of emotions this girl Hudson was able to show in just a span of 5 minutes.

Eddie Murphy, who plays James "Thunder" Early, should now assemble his early Oscar speech because his night would surely arrive. This is Murphys's best, hitching into the a la James Brown Motown mode, hilarious, raunchy and just wildly entertaining. It was just sad how Murphy was able to make out unfortunate career choices (like Nutty Professor, Haunted Mansion, who cares about these films anyway?) when he has a real, tangible talent to boast. He is the moving force that drives Dreamgirls and when his side of story was done told, this was where Dreamgirls falls down a notch from being a superior film. So when Effie was forced to surrender her powerful, inimitable vocals (as well as her inimitably big body) to Deena's inferior voice, telegenic face and photographic usurper. As soon as Effie exits, Dreamgirls loses it's spirit.

Which leads us to Beyoncé Knowles as Deena Jones, showcasing her oh-so-pop talents, while being administered by Curtis, perfectly antagonising her as the pretty face. This was Beyoncé's most established performance yet but I must admit, she was a bit bland but sure is, she knows how to act and she wasn't that bad either. She parallels Hudson's ballad with her own second act in "Listen", also one of the best melodies in the film, telling that she has acting chops to go along with her bootylicious Destiny Child curves. But I can't help to admit really that she was overshadowed by Hudson's massive state.

Jamie Foxx was boring as Curtis Taylor, or maybe his character was just underused. Anika Noni Rose was considerable, also with Keith Robinson.

But Dreamgirls is really worth the watch. I enjoyed it a lot. From the first scene alone, the perfect use of brilliant editing was rousing and the music was pitch-perfect, blending old-school crowd-pleaser that was Motown, blues, soul and R&B. Beyoncé was simply gorgeous, Hudson was powerful, offering her role of a lifetime, surely grabbing that Oscar Best Supporting statuette, as well as the raucous Murphy, who sings and dance below the belt and swoops career turns. It's an electrifying film, filled with the razzle and dazzle of the music industry, along with the morality of even giving up souls for the name of success. However drowned by such buzz, it is satisfying, even though we were presented with horrible clichés of happy endings even though the real Effie, which was based on Florence Ballard who died in her early 30's due to poverty, and in Dreamgirls, Effie made a comeback and set peace with everybody. Now, that's the happy ending we're looking for, throw out the fictional movie rulebook out of the window.

Rating: A-