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Dreamgirls is a dazzling musical drama film directed by Bill Condon that follows the turbulent journey of a 1960s female singing trio from Detroit called The Dreams. The movie opens on amateur night at the Downtown Theater in Detroit in 1962, where Effie White (Jennifer Hudson), Deena Jones (Beyoncé), and Lorrell Robinson (Anika Noni Rose) are competing as a trio called The Dreamettes. Their powerful vocals capture the attention of ambitious car salesman Curtis Taylor Jr. (Jamie Foxx), who becomes their manager and helps land them a gig as backup singers for james "Thunder" Early (Eddie Murphy), an established R&B star.

As The Dreamettes start touring with Early, Curtis strategically pushes lead singer Effie into the background while promoting Deena as the new face and lead voice of the group, now reinvented as The Dreams. Tensions build within the group as they skyrocket to stardom, with Effie feeling increasingly marginalized. When the group gets a chance to record their first song, Curtis insists that Deena sings lead instead of Effie, causing a huge fight that leads to Effie being kicked out of the group. Deena reluctantly steps into the lead role, and The Dreams score their first #1 hit "One Night Only."

The film follows the breakout success of The Dreams, now a glamorous pop act, while also tracking Effie's attempts to launch a solo career and regain her voice after being betrayed. Parallel storylines unfold as the group ascends on the pop charts, Curtis becomes increasingly controlling, and personal relationships suffer from the pressures of fame. Deena and Effie both become romantically involved with Curtis, straining their friendship.

Murphy gives a standout comedic performance as the outrageous Early, battling his own demons with fame and addiction. The musical numbers are superbly choreographed and performed, with Hudson's commanding voice delivering show-stopping solos. Beyoncé also shines in her acting debut as Deena, convincingly portraying her struggle to find her own voice and identity amidst the chaos.

With its themes of ambition, betrayal, love, and the high costs of success, Dreamgirls is an electrifying film that captures the excitement and turbulence behind-the-scenes of the 1960s music scene. The musical performances are exhilarating while the drama and character arcs give the film depth and heart. With its acclaimed cast, vibrant musical sequences, and themes of friendship, competition, and integrity in the face of ambition, Dreamgirls is an entertaining and poignant film that dazzles.

Dreamgirls is a 2006 drama with a runtime of 2 hours and 10 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.6 and a MetaScore of 76.