Dream Within a Dreamgirl

After finally watching Dreamgirls, I realize why it gained so much critical appeal. Not only is it entertaining as a musical, it is also a remake of Citizen Kane, a critic favorite. You see, it follows a media mogul from a small start, to a huge, lonely finish. It even included a shot at him making his wife an actress.

Another big theme from the movie was that of taking under appreciated art and modifies it for the general public. This works in two ways. First, Dreamgirls is easily more entertaining than CK, but not actually better in the realm of film (with cinematography, acting, and writing in mind). Second, the actual history about the commercial failure of Citizen Kane involves a media tycoon that stifled the distribution of the film.

This really is the most marketable movie ever. It has the entertainment for the passive viewer, but also the possibility for critics to interject their own meaning where possible.