(CNN) - The appeal of "Judy" is as simple as its title -- watching Renee Zellweger inhabit the role of Judy Garland near the end of her life in boozy, jittery, soaring fashion.
There are virtually no surprises in this dutiful biography, which could easily be a sort of gender-switch "A Star is Born," only with Garland portraying the aging superstar.
("Sid & Judy," a documentary airing on Showtime in October, also offers a fine companion to the movie, for those interested.)
"I'm only Judy Garland for an hour a night," the former Frances Gumm laments at one point.
Somehow, Zellweger manages to be Judy for a full two hours, delivering an over-the-rainbow performance in a movie that otherwise, on balance, is a bit more Kansas than Oz.