That was the cry of audience members at a screening of Mamma Mia! anytime Pierce Brosnan began to sing again...and again...and again. While most of the actors were able to handle their renditions of ABBA songs, Brosnan brought a longing for old film adaptations of musicals a la West Side Story or The King and I; where the leading ladies might have had the right look, but not the right voice and so were dubbed during musical numbers. It became downright comical whenever the former Bond began to sing; unfortunately for him, those were the few serious moments of the film.
Mamma Mia! is not a film to see if you don't want snippets of ABBA songs stuck in your head for days. That is about all you can take from this film; the contrived plot may be successful for the live stage show, but falls extremely flat given the abilities of film. Sophie (Amanda Seyfried) is about to be married on the small beautiful island where she was raised by her single mother, Donna (Meryl Streep), when she decides she wants her unknown father to give her away. Going through her mother's old diary, she discovers that there are three possible fathers. Sam (Brosnan), Bill (Stellan Skarsgard), and Harry (Colin Firth) all receive wedding invitations and show up unbeknownst to Donna until she falls through a roof to find them all standing together like a Greek version of "This Is Your Life".
It takes Donna a long time to figure out why the guys are there after a twenty year absence. The guys are just as clueless as to why they were invited to Donna's 20-year-old daughter's wedding; everyone is so clueless about the obvious that it makes you wonder just how many brain cells they killed while they were hippies together all those years ago. It is then no surprise when all three think they are the father and never suspect why the other men are there.
Comic relief from all this stupidity comes from Donna's two best friends who have also arrived for the bridal festivities. Rosie (Julie Walters) and Tanya (Christine Baranski) try to bring back a little bit of fun and mischief to Donna's life (for all the "fun" she seemed to have in her younger days, she now seems to be striving for sainthood), and bring a refreshing take on women beyond their 30's having a wonderful time that is far too absent from most movies of today.
The Greek isle that plays background to all this silliness is absolutely breathtaking; when you can see it. Director Phyllida Lloyd is unable to make the most of the movie set, instead filling the screen with silly dance numbers from a massive ensemble of supporting cast that seem to come to the tiny island villa for a chorus of "Dancing Queen" before disappearing again into a mysterious void.
It takes Donna a long time to figure out why the guys are there after a twenty year absence. The guys are just as clueless as to why they were invited to Donna's 20-year-old daughter's wedding; everyone is so clueless about the obvious that it makes you wonder just how many brain cells they killed while they were hippies together all those years ago. It is then no surprise when all three think they are the father and never suspect why the other men are there.
Comic relief from all this stupidity comes from Donna's two best friends who have also arrived for the bridal festivities. Rosie (Julie Walters) and Tanya (Christine Baranski) try to bring back a little bit of fun and mischief to Donna's life (for all the "fun" she seemed to have in her younger days, she now seems to be striving for sainthood), and bring a refreshing take on women beyond their 30's having a wonderful time that is far too absent from most movies of today.
The Greek isle that plays background to all this silliness is absolutely breathtaking; when you can see it. Director Phyllida Lloyd is unable to make the most of the movie set, instead filling the screen with silly dance numbers from a massive ensemble of supporting cast that seem to come to the tiny island villa for a chorus of "Dancing Queen" before disappearing again into a mysterious void.
In the end, if the movie is given as much thought as the character's give to their own devices, the audience should be able to mind-numbingly tap along to the disco beat. For a night out with the girls (and guys of the dancing queen variety), I'm sure this film could be a fun way to start the evening festivities. However, if you are a fan of ABBA and would rather see a film with some substance, might I suggest renting either The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert or Muriel's Wedding followed by a sing-along to ABBA's greatest hits. Preferably while you are home alone.
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