Is anything as silly, cheesy or more fun than an ABBA song? Well, yes -- a whole movie full of ABBA songs! "Mamma Mia!" shows why you just can't get those stupid songs out of your head, and goes one better by demonstrating the pure joy of watching a stellar cast romp through "Dancing Queen", "Waterloo" and many more ABBA favorites on a lovely Greek isle while wearing outlandish costumes. It doesn't get any better. As a big fan of the exhilarating stage show, I couldn't wait to see "Mamma Mia!" on the big screen. While there's nothing like a live stage performance, the movie comes pretty close, giving us all the energy of the original show with a few delightfully campy production numbers thrown in for good measure. The divine Meryl Streep brings her incredible talent to a completely different kind of role as Donna, who operates a funky, run down little hotel on a Greek island where she's raised a daughter Sophie (wonderful new discovery Amanda Seyfried). As Sophie's wedding day approaches, the girl's fondest wish is to know the identity of her father, a secret her mother has never divulged. After discovering her mother's diary from 20 years ago, Sophie learns that 3 different men are all on the list as a potential father. Unbeknownst to her fiercely independent mother, she invites all 3 men to the wedding, setting up a comedy of errors and a rather bizarre, but entertaining, reunion between her mother and the former beaus. Adding to the merriment is the arrival of Donna's best friends and former singing group members Tanya (Christine Baranski) and Rosie (Julie Walters) who can still shake it with the best. The 3 potential fathers (Pierce Brosnan as Sam, Colin Firth as Harry and Stellan Skarsgard as Bill) are clueless upon arrival in Greece but gradually begin to catch on to what's afoot.
The movie starts out a bit frenetically but soon settles into a breezy series of ABBA song numbers that fit effortlessly into the plot. Dominic Cooper (as Sophie's future husband Sky) acquits himself fairly well in the singing department (looking mighty good doing it too), and even though the other male voices in the movie are not quite up to snuff, it hardly matters when you're talking great chemistry (especially between Streep and Brosnan) or comical moments at which the guys all excel. Director Phyllida Lloyd's directing style is slightly rushed, but her outstanding cast goes with it. If the audience is left a bit breathless, all the better when you're in the thrall of such wildly entertaining fun.
Things to love about this movie: Meryl Streep's marvelous performance & singing voice; ditto for Amanda Seyfried; the always delightful Christine Baranksi and Julie Walter's equally terrific and funny turn; cutie pie Philip Michael (featured in a great version of "Does Your Mother Know"); middle aged women actually having fun and getting screen time; middle aged men still sexy without any young chickies in tow; plenty of no-holds-barred singing & dancing
Things to hate about this movie: Not a one
Pleasant surprises: Almost as much fun as the stage play
Unpleasant surprises: Could have used a little more of young hottie Dominic Cooper
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