First, let's talk about Mamma Mia! at its core as both a film and a stage show. The plot is nowhere near brilliant: it is schmaltzy, stereotypical, anti-climactic, and, in a sense, quite lame. Where the plot fails, the dialogue is usually there to pick it up, but it is a coin toss. And where those two fail, in comes the brilliant music of Swedish-pop sensation ABBA which sounds much better sung by a chorus and leads with great vocals than the two A's of the group; yet the songs still feel like they are simply thrown into the plot and are not necessarily relevant. If this combination is produced well, it can be a fantastic and enjoyable spectacle for anyone with romantic-comedy, musical theatre, or 80s synth pop spirit.
It is expected for any movie based on a stage performance to be compared to its theatrical counterpart, however in this particular case, it is almost a guarantee that those who enjoyed the direction of the stage show will enjoy the movie. Why? Because it is the same director. Phyllida Lloyd makes her feature film directing debut with this film, and in my personal opinion she does not disappoint. She's no Scorcese, Nolan, or Kubrick mind you, however if you plan to see this movie, don't go into it thinking she directed a masterpiece. She directs this movie exactly the way it should have been done: complete and utter romantic musical theatre cheese, which I believe is perfect for this kind of movie. I really hope to see more movies done by her in the future, because she really exemplified the spirit that Mamma Mia! is supposed to give off. And the choreography was absolutely incredible, particularly in the numbers "Dancing Queen", "Lay All Your Love On Me", and even my least favourite number in the show "Does Your Mother Know?"
Now I only comment on these factors when I feel they are extremely commentable (for better or for worse), and yet they are two very important pieces to the film puzzle: cinematography and editing. The cinematography done by Haris Zambarloukos is definitely going to receive a comment in the "better" category, because some of the shots were absolutely extraordinary. He takes the magical setting of the Greek islands and turns some scenes into absolute artwork; I have a strong feeling that this particular cameraperson is Greek, so that might be a no brainer. On the downside, the editing by Lesley Walker may have butchered some of Zambarloukos' shots. Maybe I was just being picky, but I spotted so many errors in the cuts that were easily avoidable that just bugged me.
One of the factors that started the hype about this movie was its all-star international cast. The question on my mind was: "How much of this 'all-star cast' will fit in the movie musical game?" I even had my doubts about Meryl Streep, the greatest living film actress. So who delivered and who didn't?
Meryl Streep plays the show-stopping Donna, the single mother of Sophie who runs the Villa Donna. As usual, Mrs. Streep is a treat to the silver screen and shines every time she is featured. Her wit and her character is always on point; although this role was not as magical as Sophie or Miranda Priestly, yet she still has that special charm that you just love about her. But would Meryl Streep be the same in a musical comedy? We all learned that she could hold a tune in A Prarie Home Companion, but could she hold the belting of ABBA tunes? Trust me, all you need to watch is the amount of emotion and passion she puts in "The Winner Takes It All" to know that she is meant for anything on screen.
One of my most pleasant surprises was Amanda Seyfried. Her claim to fame of course is Karen in Mean Girls, however she holds her own in...well, a slightly more serious and much smarter role as Sophie. She is one of the shining stars in this film. But her real high point is the amazing set of pipes on this blonde bombshell. Where did that come from?! Every song that she sings in is a joy to listen to and she is, without a doubt, the best cast member vocally.
Dominic Cooper plays the future hubby of Sophie. Personally, I felt he was far too boyish and did not like some of his character choices, and his singing was average, but he still holds his own in "Lay All Your Love On Me".
Then we have the three possible fathers played by three famed international actors: Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, and Stellan Skarsgard. Colin Firth and Stellan Skarsgard definitely do a great job with their supporting roles, fitting into the characters perfectly and adding their own personal charm, and their singing isn't half bad either. But then we get to Pierce Brosnan as Sam. I know that Isabelle, Kaitlin, and about a quarter of all females are going to hate me for this: sure he may be "hunky", sure he may have that "British charm" (even though he's supposed to be playing an American), and sure he may be a great actor; but Mr. Brosnan, with all due respect, stay the hell away from musical comedies. The acting was less than sublime and the singing in songs "S.O.S." and "When All Is Said And Done" is like watching a 50-something man sing ABBA in a karaoke bar. Sorry, liked you as James Bond, but I'm just hoping he won't be in another singing role any time soon.
Finally, we have Tanya and Rosie played by Christine Baranski and Julie Walters. I was never a fan of Christine Baranski, although she fit the character well physically (sometimes that didn't translate) and her voice was actually not too bad. Call it a grudge, or maybe she's just completely overshadowed by the stealer of the show in this movie: Julie Walters. She acted her character so wittingly and the physical comedy was always on point! And who knew Molly Weasley could hold a tune? She definitely was the highest point of this movie and still shows that she's at the top of her game.
Don't expect cinematic genius, a movie to be remembered for all time, or anything thought provoking. Only certain types of people will like this movie: ABBA addicts, musical theatre diehards, chick flick fans, and romantics, to name a few. Luckily I am all of those, and listen to the cast and crew behind Mamma Mia! when they say:
"Take a chance on me!"
("Take a chance, take a chance, take a chance...")
/5
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