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Pierce Brosnan, Musical, Broadway, Adaptation, Meryl Streep, Universal, Colin Firth in Theatrical
Pierce Brosnan, Musical, Broadway, Adaptation, Meryl Streep, Universal, Colin Firth in Theatrical Tuesday
22Jul
Review: "Mamma Mia!"
Tuesday, July 22, 2008 at 04:27PM 
Seen on: July 19, 2008
The players: Director: Phyllida Lloyd, Writers: Catherine Johnson, Cast: Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan, Amanda Seyfried, Colin Firth, Christine Baranski, Julie Walter, Stellan Skarsgard
Facts of interest: Based on the hit musical "Mamma Mia!"
The plot: A bride-to-be (Seyfried) tries to uncover the identity of her real father by inviting the three possible candidates to her wedding.
Our quick thoughts: Phyllida Lloyd debuts onscreen after directing "Mamma Mia!" on stage. This however didn’t certify a marvelous representation of the musical on the big screen. As a first-time director, Lloyd was lucky enough to be able to work with top-notch actors, who in some scenes deliver fantastic performances and in others simply ridicule themselves.
Sophie (Amanda Seyfried) is a 20-year-old bride-to-be who lives with her mother Donna (Meryl Streep) on an exotic Greek island. Her biggest dream is to be given away at the altar by her father, but the problem is she's never met him before. But when she stumbles across her mother’s journal and learns that she has three potential dads, she quickly invites them to her wedding in order to find out who of them will fulfill her dream.
Using plenty of dream sequences and fast-paced editing, Lloyd quickly verges on overuse and borderline silliness, which is not at all necessary in representing the famous lyrics by Anderson and Ulvaeus. I really expected full blown-out numbers from a musical like this one, but when it has men jumping up and down on a dock or Meryl Streep standing in front of a yacht with pals on waverunners behind her, I'm not that sure whether the rendition of "Mamma Mia!" was ever destined to hit the big screen.
Freaky quote: “In fact she was the last woman I ever loved” - Colin Firth
The final word: For it being a musical about finding yourself, letting go of the past and accepting love, the songs are what keeps the movie on its feet. With some numbers that will make you smile, hum or laugh, "Mamma Mia!" is one that could be just as entertaining if one were to stay at home and listen to the soundtrack.
Article by Jesus Gil
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Reader Comments (10)
At first I didn't want to see this movie but I'm glad I did. It was a perfect blend of romance and comedy. 10 thumbs up!
I am sorry to disagree with the reviewer of mamma mia. Perhaps on the technical side he finds it faulty. But please take note of the immense feeling of gratitude I have to meryl strep and pierce brosnan for their performance. Many thanks also to the director of the movie and of course to abba. The plot and the performance, plus the terrific location blew away my depression. Perhaps because I heard the Abba in their prime, perhaps i am a huge fan of both streep and brosnan. it was very healing for me to see my favorite actors do the musical . What a balm for my drooping spirit. I really cannot understand how seeing the joy in the movie, feeling again the rhythm of the music, and the excellent rendition with feelings by the sngers and actors, I felt the yoke on my heart fell. it sort of shook away the venom out of my soul. many thanks to all of them.
My Husband and I saw the movie yesterday. We both had a wonderful time!! It is truly a feel good movie. In this time of tensions and bad news, it was refreshing to escape to that Greek isle. And the actors were wonderful!!! I don't listen to reviewers. They are entitled to their opinions, but any of them who gave negative reviews on this one was way off the mark. The Dark Knight I am sure is terrific, but Mamma Mia is the best!! Thanks to everyone involved in the making of this movie from Tom Hanks and his wife to Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth and all of the extras!!!!
Just came home from seeing Mama Mia. Yes, I enjoyed the music and the beauty of that Greek Island. But I found the story to be a bit silly and the pace a bit hysterical.
The dance numbers-men and women jumping up and down on the pier or on the patio-failed to make any of the dances interesting or exciting.
The best thing about the movie: those aging actors were given center stage without needing sex scenes or nudity to make them attractive and appealing. And the women of the village were great. Unrealistic, but great. Amazing that all those Greek of varying ages women could sing the ABBA songs in English!
This was a breath of fresh air, funny, and a joy to watch! I went w/my 3 daughters and we had a blast. It was a joy to not have a bunch of serious themes just a movie that intertains and was one you want to get up and sing and dance with. I can't wait to buy it and sing and dance along in my own space. You need a stage because you want to perform with the cast. Yes, we need more of these types of fun films. And the location was so beautiful, thank you for this movie!!!!!
My daughter and I saw this last weekend and loved it. Lots of fun - I enjoyed the music and dancing. I was not an ABBA fan prior to this but went out right away and bought the soundtrack. Don't listen to these reviewers... they never like anything good!
I LOVED MAMA MIA. I have seen it twice and plan on seeing it a few more times.
Pierce though cannot sing. But that's ok because the rest of the music was great, great, great.
My friends and I have seen Mama Mia 4 times and have never enjoyed a film so much.Its an excellent feel good movie and we can't wait for the dvd to come out.
I've got to tell you, I LOVED THIS MOVIE!!! I don't think some of the critics went to see it with an opened mind. They were too much into "comparing it" to the stage musical. And you just can't do that. They are TWO DIFFERENT WORLDS!! Of course there's going to be differences in the movie. There always is! So tot he critics, I say, GET A LIFE!!! and go and see the movie again with a clear mind and open heart!
I have seen this movie every weekend since it came out. ANd the local theatre doesn't want to give it up. Too many people keep coming to see it. I've seen it about 12 times now and counting. I haven't had so much fun and laughed so hard in a long time. When I went in to see the movie, I was about as low as you can get. I was depressed over no job, loss of my apartment and life in general. But after going to see the movie, I had a whole new out look on things. I was singing to myself and dancing in my seat in the theatre. And when I came out, I was humming to myself and started singing "Super Trooper as I started my car. I had not felt this good in ages. It was like a weight was lifted off my shoulders and I was ready to take on the world again with gusto!!
Nope, the critics did not see the same movie I did. I had genuine fun and belly laughed so hard, I thought I was going to cry. I don't think the Movie Academy will consider Meryl Streep for an Oscar but the Grammy Awards should. The sound track went to #1 in the U.S. (scoring Platinum here and Gold overseas). She should be nominated for her singing, definately. And for those who say Pierce can't sing...get bent! He did greart in the movie. He's not 007 here, so get over it! He did a great job for a man who doesn't sing. He carried a tune just fine and I love hi's song at the end.
So, all in all, I give Mamma Mia a 9.9 out of 10!! I would have given it a 10 but after seeing some of the other trailers, I see they cut some good stuff from the finished product, (but it better be there when the dvd comes out!). Congrats Meryl, Pierce, Amanda and everyone else. You did what no other monive has done in a long time...You made us smile and had a great time at the movies. We laughed, we cried and we sang along. THANKS SO MUCH!!
Just been to see Mamma Mia!. What a fantastic film. I don't know where the critics saw it, was it in someone's cellar with a knock off copy? Good scenery, good acting, good music. What more does a film need. Oh yes. A story line. Well, it's got that too. A welcome breath of fresh air after dark and depressing films of the recent past.