Mamma Mia  

Year of Release: 2008
Genre: Musical
Rating: PG-13 for some sex-related comments.
Director: Phyllida Lloyd
Starring: Meryl Streep, Amanda Seyfried, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, Julie Walters, Christine Baranski, Stellan Skarsgard, Dominic Cooper, Nancy Baldwin, Rachel McDowall.

Date Of Review: July 2008

The “Mamma Mia” stage show has been a sell-out success all over the world so it was inevitable that a big screen film version would eventually come along and guess what? The good news is, just like the stage-show the movie is also a winner. Step aside “Sex And The City”, here’s a chick flick musical that will give that female blockbuster a real run for its money. “Mama Mia” is “Sex And The City” with songs. In fact it’s “Sex And The City” meets “Bond The Musical” or should I say “Sex in Santorini”. Actually, there’s not a lot of “Sex” in “Mamma Mia”, but it’s the backdrop of the story and it’s the brief references to it that have earned the film its PG-13 rating. In fact it seems that all of the “Sex” took place 20 years earlier and the film’s young star Amanda Seyfried has three possible fathers to show for it. That’s right, finding out who her real father is, may be a simple plot element but it’s one that works well and everything in the film revolves around it nicely including the music. Now, if “Sex And The City” was considered by many to be the female event movie of the year, well, before the year is up we may have found a successor to the title. “Sex And The City” may have been given the honor but “Mamma Mia” will certainly take the cake.

I believe that all females that flock to see this musical will enjoy it; they will embrace the shenanigans of Meryl Streep, her two middle-aged cohorts and of course her young daughter. They will probably go out and buy the CD soundtrack as soon as they leave the cinema and I am sure many of them will later buy the DVD of the movie when it eventually hits the stores. The full-house screening that I went to was such, that the buzz in the cinema certainly implied that sentiment. Heck, even my mother came along to this one, and as she walked out of the cinema she said it was “the best film I had seen in ages” and followed that up with another comment “I absolutely loved it”. I thought she might like the film but I didn’t realize she would love it to that extent. Her praise of films doesn’t come easily and it’s not that often that she comes out of a theatre this impressed. “Mamma Mia” certainly has a charm of its own that seems to work its spell effortlessly. The audience I viewed it with, seem to know all the songs and their reactions indicated that the comedy elements hit their mark.

I suppose to get the most from a film like this and enjoy it to the full extent, a love of ABBA music maybe a prerequisite because the songs come quick and fast. Really why else would you go and see it, if you didn’t have some sort of affection for the music of ABBA? On the other hand, if you are one of the uninitiated that has somehow stumbled into the theatre to accompany friends, I don’t think it would be too long before the music takes a hold of you. In fact, if there is such a thing as too many songs in a film, then maybe “Mamma Mia” is guilty of this and suffers slightly from this fixation with music and dance. Yes, there is really very little dialogue, because, like the stage musical before it, the whole story is told through song and dance. It’s a balancing act of solid storytelling through a music medium and thankfully the filmmakers have got it right for most of the running time.

Viewers hoping to hear the original ABBA recordings should look elsewhere or dig up an old LP because you won’t find it here. All the actors do their own renditions of the ABBA songs. If you are an ABBA traditionalist, some of the songs may be a bit hard to take at first but the more the film goes along the more you’ll get used to the variations in sound and performance.  Having said that, reproducing the ABBA sound is no easy task and I must say all of the actors involved did a fine job, from Meryl Streep right through to James Bond himself. That’s right, if you want to see James Bond sing a lively tune then this film may be your only chance. Yes, Pierce Brosnan belts out a nifty sound when pushed. Old Pierce won’t win” American Idol” or “UK Idol” anytime soon but he still manages to escape with his Bondish swagger intact and he won’t need  to cross this one off a selected filmography. With regards to musical numbers, it’s probably Christine Baranski’s rendition of “Does Your Mother Know” that almost steals the show.

Some might say “Mamma Mia” is a film for old women with songs sung by old women, while others might see it as a film about three middle-aged U.K bachelors looking for lost love, whatever the case, “Mamma Mia” is much more than that. “Mamma Mia” is an enjoyable delight that bubbles with energy. The ABBA music has an infectious spirit and the toe-tapping songs will have you dancing in the aisles. The casting is impeccable, the performances are engaging, the music is kinetic and the Greek Island setting is simply breathtaking.  At almost 60 years of age Oscar winner Meryl Streep has once again shown her versatility as an artist as she moves with ease from one genre to another. Drama, comedy, action, thriller and now musical, it’s all in a day’s work for Meryl.

“Mamma Mia” is certainly a film with different levels and an assortment of appealing facets. You could even throw the term “teen movie” or “coming of age movie” into the mix when describing “Mamma Mia” because of the film’s central theme about a young girl’s love, her upcoming marriage and the search for her lost father. Even some of the marketing points towards a teen audience with Amanda Seyfried’s image highlighting the main poster.  That’s right; the film really has a bit of something for everyone; adults, teens and family audiences in general should enjoy it, but it’s the female crowd that will probably go back for seconds.

With the release of this film the ABBA phenomenon is again in full swing.  All I can say is; just go to the cinema and experience it for yourself so you can decide for yourself. I am glad I did because good musicals don’t come along very often. For die-hard ABBA fans there is even a brief appearance by ABBA originals Benny and Bjorn but you’ll have to look quick and fast to see them as their cameos are blink and you’ll miss them. Also, it’s amazing that ABBA’s back catalogue of music is so vast that there is a song for every occasion, for every emotion and every moment in the film. That’s a truly amazing feat in its own right. With a soundtrack this catchy I am certain that “Mamma Mia” the movie will be around for a long time to come, just like “ABBA” the music, which has already been around now for well over 30 years and still showing no signs of slowing down. One thing is certain; ABBA fans will simply love “Mamma Mia”, older female audiences will flock to see it but teens could so easily lap it up.  

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ABBA: The Movie - Now Available on DVD:

ABBA: The Movie (1977) [DVD]
Ever wonder what life on tour was like for ABBA? Find out in this lighthearted musical/concert film mix, as a Sydney DJ pursues the Swedish pop foursome across Australia in hopes of landing an exclusive interview. Along the way Anni-Frid, Benny, Bjorn, and Agnetha perform "S.O.S.," "Waterloo," "Mamma Mia," "The Name of the Game," "Dancing Queen," and other '70s standards. Directed by Lasse Hallstrom ("My Life as a Dog"). 95 min. Widescreen (Enhanced); Soundtracks: English Dolby Digital 5.1, Dolby Digital stereo; Subtitles: English, Spanish, Portuguese.  

Classic ABBA Documentary - Now Available on DVD:

ABBA: The Winner Takes It All (1999) [DVD]
If you think ABBA is "abba-solutely" fabulous, you won't want to miss this exciting look at their career and music. See rehearsals; concert footage; footage from the production of "Mamma Mia!," the play based on the group's songs; and interviews with Bono, Malcolm McLaren, Tim Rice, and others. 91 min. Standard; Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital stereo; Subtitles: English, French, Japanese, Portuguese, Spanish; bonus footage; interviews.  

If you like "Mamma Mia" you should also enjoy the following Musicals - Now Available on DVD:

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La Bamba (1987) [DVD]
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That Thing You Do! (Tom Hanks' Extended Cut) (1996) [DVD]
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Walk The Line (Widescreen Version) (2005) [DVD]
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Hairspray (2-Disc Shake & Shimmy Edition) (2007) [DVD]
The Tony-winning Broadway hit (based on John Waters' 1988 film of the same name) comes to the big screen in this warm and funny adaptation. In 1962 Baltimore, plus-sized teen Tracy Turnblad (Nikki Blonsky) becomes obsessed with a local TV dance show--much to the dismay of her mother, Edna (John Travolta). But after getting the chance to shake her stuff over the airwaves, Tracy starts a campaign to racially integrate the program. With Christopher Walken, Michelle Pfeiffer, Amanda Bynes, Queen Latifah; songs include "Good Morning Baltimore," "The Nicest Kids in Town," "(You're) Timeless to Me," and more. 117 min. Widescreen (Enhanced); Soundtracks: English Dolby Digital 5.1 EX, DTS-ES 6.1; Subtitles: English, Spanish; deleted scenes; featurette and lots more.

Meryl Streep DVD Collection - Now Available:
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Colin Firth DVD Collection - Now Available:
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