5 Responses to “Mamma Mia! The Movie”

1. P. J. Ricci 10/02/10 00:40

   

   This movie is horrible. The music blows. It sucked in the 70’s so how can you make a play/film out of it. Pure pure crap. Most people have no taste nor sense of art. I would rather have dry heaves than endorse this disaster on anyone. It is torture.
   Rating: 1 / 5

2. G.V. 10/02/10 03:29

   

   I saw the play in London several years ago and even though it didn’t strike me back then as a work of art, compared to this movie it sure felt like it. While I appreciate Streep’s charisma in a part which really doesn’t play to her incredible dramatic skills, everybody else in the cast gave me the feeling I was watching an improvised high school play done by people with very little talent. I was always a fan of Brosnan’s James Bond but his musical talents are no more than mediocre, specially while singing (that may be too strong a word) SOS and just standing there with not much to do but stare at Meryl, during her interpretation of THE WINNER TAKES IT ALL. I also found odd they would choose such an weird looking girl in the lead (with eyes just like a frog). I guess it didn’t feel to surprising that with so many people dancing near the water, a bunch of them would “accidentaly” fall in it and it’s not like I was expecting CASABLANCA but the only fun I had in watching MAMMA MIA was laughing at its awfulness.
   
   Strictly for people who love to make hores-cabooses of themeselves on dance floors.
   Rating: 1 / 5

3. D. Hinson 10/02/10 04:12

   

   Ok, so I love Abba and Meryl Streep–she’s one of my favorite actresses. I also loved Mamma Mia on Broadway the three times I saw it there–but this movie was awful! Yes, everyone acted very well, but it did not translate well to the big screen in this adaptation. The minute the movie started I could tell it was going to be a mess, with the cast in that “Look at us–we’re in a musical!” mode. The lighting was so terrible, when scenes transitioned I kept thinking they were going to be dream sequences with the overly bright halo effect lighting that was scattered throughout the film. Poor Meryl Streep didn’t even escape unscathed as the movie was so embarrassing to watch. I would have walked out if I had been alone, but my partner, who is not a very discerning movie viewer, kept thinking it would get better. He has rarely ever said that he did not like a movie we’ve been to, but even he said he hated it afterwards. Don’t think it was because we’re not 50-something women either–we usually love chick flicks!
   Rating: 1 / 5

4. Glenda Elswick 10/02/10 04:57

   

   My two daughters and I went to see Mamma Mia a few weeks ago. I have NEVER been anymore disappointed in ANY musical in all my life. The casting was ridiculous as NONE of them could sing worth listening to them. I thought Sophie was bearable, but ALL the rest were hideous and wayyyyyyyyyy too old to play the roles they had. PLEASE GO SEE THE BROADWAY MUSICAL as this cinema version is NOT WORTH even the mere $1.50 I paid. geapt
   Rating: 1 / 5

5. Jeannie L 10/02/10 07:39

   

   I never could stand ABBA even when they were popular, Dancing Queen made my skin crawl. I had no plans or desire to see the show. When a friend wanted to see it in Las Vegas I considered it a huge waste of time and money ($110 seats) but went along to be polite.
   
   It was magic. I’ve been back since and will go again before it closes there in Jan ‘09. I cannot say enough good things about the Vegas stage show.
   
   For the movie… they take the story line and ruin it. The whole point is a cast of six adult leads who are jaded by the choices they’ve made, everyone else is young, vital and searching for the most they can find in their bright shiny new lives. All is demonstrated through constant action and singing.
   
   Lead role Donna (streep) should be early 40’s in age. They picked Streep and turned it into a senior moment. She can’t solve a 20 year age discrepancy. Then they have to surround her with senior friends, one of whom couldn’t carry a tune in a bucket (Brosnan), he tries so hard it’s painful. Even the movie supporting cast are villagers (mostly old ones disconnected from the plot) instead of the young locals in the stage show, who work at the taverna Donna runs.
   
   I’m not young and I tire of the constant need to feature youth as the epitomy of life, but in this case the story demands it. The stage show features youth and vitality because it’s central to the theme of the story (not to mention 90 mins of dancing). One would expect the long shooting scedule of a movie to allow better casting, not worse. Clearly they went for names in the movie, without regard to the plot.
   
   The ultimate scene in the play is on a beach, cast members dancing in costumes that are so over the top it’s hilarious. In the movie it becomes about 5 seconds of dancing on a dock sans costumes. Deflating at best. Same for the flashback scene when the 3 female leads reprise singing in their old band – the costumes make the moment. In the movie the costumes are totally different, and dull.
   
   If you haven’t seen the show, see the movie first. If you’ve seen the show, borrow this from the library, don’t waste your money.
   Rating: 1 / 5