Mamma Mia! (2008) Synopsis:
Will be based on the musical, which features 22 songs by ABBA, follows a bride-to-be -- raised on a Greek island by a formerly rebellious mom who never disclosed the identity of her father -- who locates three men who might be her father and invites them to her wedding.
Mamma Mia! (2008) Movie Review:
In a risky and understandable counterprogramming release of a film, Universal unveils the musical film version of Mamma Mia! against the most anticipated film of the year, The Dark Knight. The target audiences for both films are complete opposite fan bases and demographics, so both will do well and offer up more variety at the box office.
Based of the beloved musical that sings and dances to 70’s band Abba’s songs, Mamma Mia! is directed by its stage director Phyllida Lloyd. The film obviously has Lloyd’s influence all everywhere, with the musical numbers being over the top and predictable, while also being entertaining and engulfing for its fan base.
The musical is set on the beautiful Greek Isle of Skopelos, where hard-working hotel villa owner and former 80’s band singer Donna (Meryl Streep) is anticipating her 20-year old daughter Sophie’s (Amanda Seyfried) marriage to local boy Sky (Dominic Cooper). Without her mother knowing, the free-spirited Sophie reads through her diary and sends out invitations to the three men that her mother was involved with 20 years ago, in hopes of their arrival introducing her to the father she has never known. The trio includes an adventurer named Bill (Stellan Skarsgard), a banker named Harry (Colin Firth) and a businessman named Sam (Pierce Brosnan). All three arrive together at the island, much to the stress of Donna. To ease the tension, Donna looks to her close friends and old band mates, Rosie (Julie Walters) and Tanya (Christine Baranski) for support. Though the feeling is awkward, Sophie strives to find which man is her real father, even though she becomes attached in some way to all three of them.
One musical number after another belts out from the cast and they have fun in the sun under Lloyd’s watchful eye and original Mamma Mia! scriber Catherine Johnson’s playful script. Some of the musical numbers are far better than others, such as “The Winner Takes Its All” and “Take a Chance on Me” as in comparison to “Money, Money, Money” and “Our Last Summer.” Two of the most popular Abba songs, “Mamma Mia!” and “Dancing Queen” are also feature. The only musical number in the film that was not in the stage version is “When All is Said and Done,” which is sung at the very end of the film. Lloyd keeps the energy high and the atmosphere is island atmosphere is beautiful to see. The target audience will also enjoy seeing all the male actors tan and shirtless and all of the women dancing and in tights. As with the musical stage version and this film version, Johnson’s plot and execution is mild and questionable in terms of reality, but this is a film where you must have suspension of disbelief.
Meryl Streep is one of the greatest actresses to ever grace the screen, and she does disappoint in fleshing out her singing skills as the hard-working mother Donna. Her counterpoint friends, Julie Walters and Christine Baranski are valuable supporting complementaries for her performance. Young Amanda Seyfriend proves she has acting and singing skills outside of her teen roles in Mean Girls and Alpha Dog as the bride to be Sophie. As for the three actors playing the father figures, Colin Firth, Stellan Skarsgard, and Pierce Brosnan, each have their moment in the spotlight and deliver solid performances. It is a bit odd to see Brosnan, the man that mastered playing 007, singing in a low mellow tone voice, but the ladies will love it.
Mamma Mia! has been one of the most successful musicals in the world and this film version has been one of the most anticipated films of the summer. It is opening at the right time as a counterprogram for its target audience. If you loved the musical Mamma Mia! than you will thoroughly enjoy this film. In relation to the past few musicals that have been released, such as Hairspray and Sweeney Todd, this is a different departure full of joy, Abba, and exotic locale.
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Mamma Mia! (2008) review written by: Bailey Henderson
13th October, 2008 
