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Year Released 2008
Duration 108
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Mamma Mia!
Editorial ReviewMovie Summary
Rated:
PG
Director:
Phyllida Lloyd
Starring:
Amanda Seyfried, Colin Firth, Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan
Editorial Review
Lindy Chamberlain, James Bond, Mr Darcy and Bootstrap Bill together, in a musical. Darn, that's about as loopy an idea as shaping a musical out of ABBA songs with a storyline about a former singer running a B&B on a Greek island with her betrothed daughter, who invites to her wedding three men from her mum's past because she believes one of them is the father she has never known. Mamma mia, indeed.
Mamma Mia! the musical has been a stage favourite for some time and, with the recent screen revival of movie musicals, Hollywood's approach was a given. But learning that its cast would contain Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, Stellan Skarsgard and other performers you had never considered as crooners or hoofers sounded just so crazy that it might work.
Breezy and sunny, Mamma Mia! the movie isn't infectious like last year's ecstatic Hairspray! On the flip side, the big numbers do hum - "Dancing Queen" inspires all of Greece's women to shake booties - and the playful flirting, secrets and reunions aren't without charm and spunk. Best of all is Streep, who will surprise the bejeepers out of you with her decent song and dance behaviour. As fiesty yet lonely single mum Donna, the Oscar winner chucks herself in with abandon as screen daughter Amanda Seyfried also shows why she will be huge very soon.
Supported by Julie Walters and Christine Baranski as Donna's deliberately diverse but mass-appeal mates, the Streep/Seyfried show fares better than the blokes. Enjoyable enough but Mamma Mia! stalls considerably after the point where the interval should be. The ABBA hits are forced to fit into the padded-out kerfuffle before the wedding, as the tiring cast work to get you to the church with your willingness intact.
Taking a chance on Mamma Mia! will lead to some smiles and toe-taps, but a silly story and some strained voices restrict dancing in aisles.
Ben McEachen
Read our review of the soundtrack here
Tell us what you think
14 comments
$#@UNN@: It's the maddest movie ever! I have seen it 3 times and want to see it 100 times more! (01 September 2008)
Olivia: I haven't seen Mamma Mia yet but I think that it will be a good movie to go see at the Gold Class cinema. (08 August 2008)
Natalie: Like Bollywood for Westerners - I loved it. Visually beautiful, endearing characters, catchy tunes and a happy ending (of course). This movie made me smile from beginning to end. (08 August 2008)
Pencee: Excellent entertainment, especially supporting actors what a choice friends, the scenery stunning and beautiful. (06 August 2008)
steph scully: I love Mamma Mia, it's the best movie I've eva seen. I love Meryl Streep and Amanda Seyfried, they're awesome (03 August 2008)
Natalie Clubley: Pretty good movie, with great songs. But would sound better with ABBA singing! (03 August 2008)
Ken: Unless Annafried & Agnetha were singing, it's just a bit lame.!!! (30 July 2008)
Rose Constanten: This is a great movie which you will really enjoy and with songs that touch the heart. (26 July 2008)
ellen: the best movie ever (26 July 2008)
Leo: Best movie ever! Please! You should see more movies. A feel-good movie that works only occasionally. Some numbers/scenes soar whereas most fall flat on their face and are very laboured to the point of being cringingly embarrassing. The fault has to lie with the director and the editing. And poor Pierce Brosnan. What a bad career decision. He looks soooo uncomfortable whether singing or not. A nice try but in general the movie fails to be as infectious as Abba's music whether you are a fan or not. Nice scenery though. (24 July 2008)
georgina: Absolutely fabulous, it made you cry, laugh, sigh, cringe, love, dance and sing. It made you want to get up and dance and swing and swim with all of them, and of course no-one cares what you sound like when one sings, it was so imperfect that it was SO PERFECT; age has no barriers in this movie, but most of all it reminded us to live life to the fullest. Best performers Oscar should be awarded to Meryl and Pierce for coming out of their comfort zone from normal acting roles. Encore please, Mamma Mia II! (22 July 2008)
michele: Well, I am a Golden Oldie from the ABBA days and I have to say that all I wanted to do was get up and dance my heart out like Meryl Streep and Co. and recall all the intensity and fun of those days of yore! The scenery of the Greek Islands and the acute schmaltziness of the dancing, the crazy Greek ladies and the hyperactive choreography make this film an absolute joy to indulge oneself in like Fairy Floss for the Mind and Heart in these Negative Times! The only less than salubrious performance was Pierce Brosnan trying to "sing"?! He definitely should NOT appear in anyone's Chick Flick, let alone be let out to prowl after dark as an ex-007? What a treat it would have been to have had all the ABBA members make a tiny last minute cameo appearance as the credits rolled. That would have made my day. I'm off to see it again soon, to feel young and alive and good about the world, just one more time, Mr Music....!! (20 July 2008)
Bailey: Mamma Mia is the best movie I ever saw (18 July 2008)
Eugenie: This movie is just what the world needs right now! Mamma Mia is wonderful, a heartwarming belly laugh, rich in the flavour of the Mediterranean, overflowing with songs of ABBA that make you want to sing and dance from begining to end. A brilliant comedy and a full 10! (16 July 2008)
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