Film - Mamma Mia! The Movie

Reviews, By Marky, 22nd July, 2008

An impressive cast has been brought together for the feature film adaptation of one of the most successful musicals of all time, having toured in 140 countries since opening in London’s West End in 1999.

The unusual story, obviously designed purely to showcase ABBA’s songs, is set on a Greek island where Sophie (Amanda Seyfried) is about to marry Sky (Dominic Cooper). Having never known her father, she longs to learn his identity and invite him to the wedding to give her away. She sneaks a peek at her mother, Donna’s, diary and realises that there are in fact three possible contenders – divorced American architect named Sam (Pierce Brosnan), English banker Harry (Colin Firth) and Australian author Bill (Stellan Skarsgard). Convinced that she will instantly recognise her true father on their meeting, she secretly invites all three potential men to the wedding. The three men of course turn up simultaneously and when they are discovered by Donna (Meryl Streep), old emotions resurface and complications, set to scores of ABBA hits, ensue.

Streep produces yet another magnificent performance and obviously revels at the opportunity to play Donna, a free spirit who runs a struggling tourist resort on the site of the mythical Spring of Aphrodite. Having single-handedly raised her daughter Sophie, she is a little reluctant to see her only child marry. Streep also manages to infuse a little emotional depth into the character, who we learn was rejected by her own mother due to her pregnancy with Sophie.

Christine Baranski and Julie Walters are perfectly cast as Donna’s former band mates – the surgically enhanced, cocktail-swilling Tanya and oddball, celebrity chef Rosie respectively. These three characters are in fact based on the director, writer and producer that initially created the musical.

Mamma Mia! The Movie was directed by Phyllida Lloyd, who also directed the stage show. The respected English theatre director was an unexpected choice to direct the original West End production that opened in 1999, let alone its big screen adaptation. While she has admitted she was surprised to have been approached and had concerns about making the transition between directing on the stage to film, her big name cast was reputedly equally concerned about how their vocal and dancing talents would be received. However, the choice has paid off as her familiarity with the feeling behind the musical has translated to the film version.

Once you get over the initial shock of hearing the well-known lyrics being sung by well-known actors, Mamma Mia! The Movie is exactly what you expect it to be – fun and uplifting. In fact, you will be hard pressed to resist the temptation to chair-dance throughout.

But let’s face it, this movie is all about ABBA’s music and the score was overseen by the band’s songwriters, Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus. Incredibly, though you’ve heard the songs countless times, they still sound fresh and have an enduring appeal to them. Of course what everyone wants to know is do the actors pull off the singing? Well, yes and no to varying degrees. Streep seems to do so with ease and though a touch overacted, her rendition of The Winner Takes It All is the film’s high point. Benny Andersson reportedly referred to Streep as “a miracle” after recording the track in a single take. Brosnan’s attempts on the other hand are laughable, which only adds to the film’s entertainment value, but one has to wonder why he was cast in the first place. There are some great musical numbers worth hanging out for though, complete with a male and female chorus and a troop of Greek housewives and fishermen also supporting the main cast.

Finally, the movie also benefits greatly from the musical’s setting on a Greek island and makes full use of the stunning location shoot. Take a trip down the aisle you’ll never forget.

Mamma Mia! The Movie is now screening nationally through Universal Pictures.

Marky co-hosts The Casting Couch on Saturdays from 5 until 7pm on JOY 94.9. Listen to his interview with Meryl Streep on the red carpet by clicking the “Audio” stream at the top of the article.

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