The reviews split almost evenly, with as many critics dismissing Dreamgirls as recommending it, but on one point they are nearly unanimous: Jennifer Hudson. Her performance, especially her singing of “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going”, is singled out in review after review, including by critics who like little else. Several also credit the film’s energy, its glamour and its casting, and Eddie Murphy’s turn earns a mention from Total Film.
Beyond Hudson the spread is wide. Empire and The New Yorker find an exhilarating, emotionally powerful musical that also has something to say about the price of success. The Guardian and Slant Magazine argue the songs are the weak link, undistinguished and unable to lift the production, and IndieWire goes further, calling it boring and poorly written. The measured reservations concern structure: a divided focus, formulaic numbers, and too much attention on its two lead singers at the expense of the rest.
