Mamma Mia! (DVD)

Mamma Mia! has all the swing and sparkle of sequined bell-bottoms. Of course, for those who remember ABBA's greatest hits like a bad acid flashback, it's simply 'big shiny pants'. Without a doubt the film is spectacularly naff, but that's also its selling point as the usually po-faced likes of Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan and Colin Firth blatantly relish the chance to let their hair down (including the occasional handlebar 'tache) and belt out those Swedish pop anthems, tongue firmly in cheek.

With the original writer of the show Catherine Johnson and stage director Phyllida Lloyd reunited for this adaptation, the formula stays pretty much the same. There's hardly a story to speak of, just a fraying thread of logic that loosely ties the songs together.

Hollywood starlet Amanda Seyfried plays Sophie, a young bride-to-be who invites three men - one of whom she suspects is her father - to her wedding on the idyllic Greek island of Kalokairi. That's where she lives with her ex-hippy mum Donna, played with just a touch of delirium by Meryl Streep. Naturally the veteran star takes it up a few notches after discovering this trio of former lovers (Brosnan, Firth and Stellan Skarsgård) stashed in her goat house.

Donna can't be sure who the father is, but it's clear that she still holds a torch for the more grounded of the three candidates, Sam (Brosnan). With such a gorgeous backdrop - Lloyd making the most of a sun-dappled Med and rosy-hued sunsets - the old flame is soon rekindled. It's hardly an epic romance though - in fact, it looks more like cold fear making Brosnan's heart pound as an exchange of dialogue turns into the first line of 'SOS'. Thankfully that stiff upper lip, reminiscent of Bond, quickly loosens up and he delivers with unreserved gusto (albeit no great vocal chops). It's those moments which are so endearing and hilariously funny too, but crucially, you're always laughing with the cast rather than at them.
Streep, by contrast, always gives a no-holds-barred performance and is especially buoyant in her rendition of 'Dancing Queen'. Lloyd too throws everything at this disco classic, even roping in a few hunched-up Greek widows to kick loose on the island pier. Beyond the song-and-dance pieces, Streep also gets to showcase her natural flair for comedy, but it's Julie Walters who gets the lion's share of belly laughs as her doddering pal Rosie. There's more than a touch of Mrs Overall about her as she struggles to stay upright in platform heels and serenades Skarsgård with a menacing version of 'Take A Chance On Me'. Completing the gaggle of 'golden girls' is Christine Baranski as Tanya, working her liposucked lush routine to the hilt.

If received in the spirit in which it is offered (and a few spirits may help), then Mamma Mia! is sure to leave you smiling. It lacks finesse, subtlety and sophistication of any kind, but then that shouldn't trouble anybody who loves ABBA.

Lloyd shoots at such a dizzying pace there isn't time to stop and pick holes in the plot. Those who aren't old enough to remember Björn and the gang are still likely to find the enthusiasm of the cast dangerously infectious. Plus stay tuned to the end credits for an eye-watering celebration of kitsch and very tight cat suits.
Verdict
It's like a booze-fuelled night of karaoke (complete with literal Greek chorus); both hugely embarrassing and brilliantly fun

This movie has got to be one of my all time absolute favourite films ever, if not the best! With an all star cast this film has been watched over and over again! As a child of the 70's i grew up listening to the sounds of ABBA and now having two children of my own aged 8 and 6 they too are discovering the joys of ABBA music. What a fabulous idea to turn great music into a film!!! There is definitely something for everyone in this film. I like the idea of taking your normal round of the mill actors and getting them to burst into song and dance!!
The tunes are of course catchy, the dancing makes me want to get up and dance and the acting is sound too. I have only praise for this film! I defy anyone not to enjoy it. The location is amazing and makes me want to jump into the screen and be part of the action.

The storyline itself is basic yet somehow it has you hooked from the moment you press play. I have soooo many things i like about the film: so many favourite clips from the beautiful Amanda Seyfried, who plays Sophie, giving that cheeky smile while singing honey Honey to the sexy "lay all your love on me" with her fiance Skye. And you just can't top the wonderful Julie Walters and Christine Baranski. Their rendition of "Dancing queen" is just hilarious! The song Chiquitita is one of my fave ABBA songs and yet this film still managed to capture the treasure of that song for me in an emotional yet uplifting way.

The sheer delight of seeing a young man drooling over an older lass in "Does your mother know?" is definitely one of my faves. i just love that whole dance song and dance routine. That single breath at the end of the routine when she proves what power she has over those drooling males with their raging hormones!! love it!!!

The super-charged goings on in Voulez-vous and the amount of work that must have gone into that whole stage set is beyond comprehension! great story lines and fun watching!

And then there's the emotional mother and daughter duet "slipping through my fingers". I am forever singing that song to myself and the words are very moving! the performance is beautiful!

There are just so many wonderful things i loved about this film i could keep going but don't want to spoil it for anyone not yet seen it!

I had to buy this film after first seeing it when a friend lent it to me and it is very much part of our lives at the moment! The kids are now keen to get the soundtrack and know all the song lyrics by heart!

The extra bonuses make good watching too. I had to watch the whole film twice in succession when i first got it. I can still quite happily watch it twice in one day!

If you're considering buying it, my personal opinion would strongly encourage it. I don't think you'll be disappointed!

I had seen and thoroughly enjoyed the film. When the DVD was first released it was sold at a cheap price at most of the supermarkets on the first day and quickly sold out. I had been unable to get a copy on that day and the price went up everywhere. I looked on ebay and found a Buy It Now new copy at a very good price so I bought it. I thought it would be good to watch this very enjoyable film over the Christmas period. I love the music of Abba and find it very uplifting and great fun.

I went to the cinema to see this film three times, when it came out on general release I never got round to buying a copy. It was such a bargain on ebay I couldn't resist.
It is one of those films that you need to be watched on a cold rainy day as it is funny and will definately make you feel better and the music is great as well.

Special Features

Sing along option
Feature Commentary with Director Phyllida Lloyd
A Behind The Scenes Look At The making Of The Movie
The Gimme Gimme Gimme Music Video
Deleted scenes Including The Deleted Musical Number 'Name Of The Game'

Review

Meryl Streep leads an all-star cast in the feature-film adaptation of the beloved musical that has been seen by more than 30 million people in 160 cities and 8 languages around the world.

Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, Stellan Skarsgård, Christine Baranski, Julie Walters, Amanda Seyfried and Dominic Cooper join Streep in Mamma Mia - a celebration of a mother, a daughter and three possible fathers!

An independent, single mother who owns a small hotel on an idyllic Greek island, Donna (Meryl Streep) is about to let go of Sophie (Amanda Seyfried), the spirited daughter she's raised alone. For Sophie's wedding, Donna has invited her two lifelong best girlfriends - practical and no-nonsense Rosie (Julie Walters) and wealthy, multi-divorcee Tanya (Christine Baranski) - from her one-time backing band, Donna and the Dynamos. But Sophie has secretly invited three guests of her own...

On a quest to find the identity of her father to walk her down the aisle, she brings back three men from Donna's past to the Mediterranean paradise they visited 20 years earlier. Over 24 chaotic, magical hours, new love will bloom and old romances will be rekindled on this lush island full of possibilities.

An absolute gem! - If you want to see a real feel- good film that will really make you laugh and want to join in the fun, then this is the one.

The whole cast is fantastic and seem as though they are really enjoying themselves, the location is stunning, the songs are great, and for me it's the best musical ever!

However, if you don't like musicals as I suspect some of the previous reviewers don't, then it is possibly not a film for you. I feel that you just don't 'get it' ,

But for those that do, after watching this film, you will feel a lot more positive about life in general...love it! ;0)