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I love the music, you cannot watch this movie and not want to get up and dance because ABBA's music just makes you want to do this. But I was highly disappointed in the movie itself. I've seen it live in Toronto and it was so fantastic, it will leave me with memories for a lifetime, so maybe that is why I was so disappointed in the film. Meryl Streep, love her acting but she should never have been cast as Donna, (what was the casting director thinking?)She just wasn't believable as Donna (too old) I would have rather seen a new fresh face as Donna than Meryl Streep who was not believable in that role. Pierce's was a good Sam, but there was no chemistry between Pierce and Meryl, and his voice isn't the best. I loved all the other actors. Was disappointed how they downplayed Pepper's role. My review is a mixed one. Overall I'm cool toward the movie, but the music is great, I should have just got the CD and left my live version memories in my head.Read full review
I'd already seen this movie in the theater and I love the infectiousness of the music, the fabulous locations and the message of celebrating life. However, I disagree strongly with some of the casting: Piers Brosnan can't sing - REALLY can't sing. It's painful! The young stars are great, but the older generation are all too old for the story: they should be in their early 40's. Why couldn't we have seen some younger adults who CAN sing - Hugh Jackman, Robert Downey Jr, Ewan McGregor, Catherine Zeta Jones, Renee Zellweger, to name just a few? Then it might have been a GREAT movie, deserving of the timeless Abba music!
For those who love ABBA, you'll love this movie. It even includes a sing-a-long version so everyone can join in on your favourite ABBA songs. I didn't realise how many ABBA songs I actually knew. You can't help but to feel the joy when the cast break out into another ABBA rendition. While the movie is quite fun to watch, the singing done by the cast is a bit amateurish and at times a little cabaret. The story is quite easy to follow although I could help but feel like there was alot of the story left out in order to keep it to movie length. Overall, not a bad movie and worth watching at least once even if it's only to sing-a-long. I give it a rating of 7/10. If you found this review helpful please vote below. Thank you.
Clearly, Meryl Streep Finally found a movie that actually matched her real personality. After all these years in Hollywood raising her 3 children and being a wonderful wife and husband, she deserves to feel good about herself. The 3 Man Dilemma in the film is really cute, yet atypical by any stretch of the means. Totally "Love Boat"-ish at times but the fun and feel-good way outshines the rest of its faults. If you love music and film as much as I do, you should love to watch this movie over & over again. The music is great. The story line is great. The acting is great. Meryl Streep is fantastic. It reminds me so much of good times in my life. Most would have to agree with me since it was known to set a new mark as the biggest weekend premiere ever for a movie musical with $27.6 million. Former record holder was Hairspray (2007). In December 2008, Mamma Mia! became the highest grossing film of all time in the U.K., smashing the previous record held by Titanic (1997). There is a story too! Donna's daughter Sophie is getting married to the buff guy Sky. Only where's her dad? Sophie's never met him. A sneak-peek at Mom's diary shows Mom had 3 lovers. Talk about threesomes! three past lovers Sam, Bill & Harry, 3 close friends Donna & two best pals, and Sophie meets up with two other young women at the start of the film. Most of all though, this movie was just sheer fun. People were clapping, and laughing to the music and scenery. Rarely have I seen an audience this enthusiastic about a musical. The crowd especially responded well to Meryl & her two cronies (arguably the strongholds of the movie). Also, because I had never seen the musical before, I was amazed (and amused) at the inventive ways in which they managed to incorporate so many ABBA-songs. It is a fact that all of the entire cast performed their own singing. The headliner song in the beginning Super Trooper is actually sung live acappella by the main actresses. In order to capitalize on the popularity of the film, starting August 2008, the film was released in select theaters under "Mamma Mia! The Sing-Along Edition". Like Hairspray, the film had the words of the songs at the bottom of the screen for audience participation. Equally brilliant was the way extras (usually some Greek women) were deployed throughout the movie. The setting was beautifully mesmerizing Greece. The cast delivered with professional expertise. Pierce Brosnan's singing had been a bit criticized, although he did always stay in tune, and he delivers a satisfactory vocal performance rather than dazzling with a polished singing technique. The 4 leads are all wonderful. Julie Walters & Christine Baranski as Streep's two oldest friends are both very fitting. Walters has a particularly funny bit of business in a rubber boat. Baranski has her own knockout number. Amanda Seyfried as Sophie is simply delightful. She sings well, carries the plot and all the emotion which goes with it, and is very easy on the eye. Streep is a revelation. Mamma Mia! was the 1st film to be shot on the new 007 Stage at Pinewood Studios following a fire after Casino Royale (2006) wrapped. The new 59,000 square foot stage was used for song and dance numbers that could not be filmed in the sun in Greece. ABBA's Benny Andersson has a cameo as a piano player on the boat on a pier during Dancing Queen & Bjorn Ulvaeus's cameo is at the very end of the film when Waterloo ends, he is one of the Greek gods seen floating on clouds.Read full review
Meryl Streep (Rendition, The Devil Wears Prada and many more) gives a wonderful performance as Donna, who along with her daughter Sophie (Amanda Seyfried) run a rundown island inn. Sophie is about to be married and wants her father, whom she has never met, and is not sure who he is, to give her away at the wedding. So Sophie invites all three of her mothers old flames (Colin Firth, Pierce Brosnan, and Stellan Skarsgard) to the wedding. Reunions, good and bad follow when the three gents are re-introduced to Donna. The entire movie is set to the music of ABBA from the 1970s and is full of musical numbers that are very well written and play right into the theme of the movie. What I liked best is that Meryl Streep, who actually sings (Who knew she could sing?), really seemed to enjoy the role she was playing and the fun she was having was quite contagious. This was a very enjoyable movie that I will gladly watch again. Rated 5 of 5 for a wonderful story line and great acting and singing. This movie is one for the entire family (With a few sexual references that may not be suitable for younger audiences).Read full review
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