Mamma Mia!
Plot: Sophie, a 20 year old girl, is about to get married and really wants her father there. The problem is, she has no idea who he is. After reading her mother Donna’s (Meryl Streep) diary, she narrows it down to three possibilities; Sam (Pierce Brosnan), Harry (Colin Firth) and Billy. She invites them to the wedding hoping to work out which one is her father, so that he can give her away.
My Thoughts: Mamma Mia! Is a long running show in the West End based on the music by ABBA. I haven’t seen the show but I can imagine it is fantastic but, it doesn’t really transfer very well to screen. However, the film is a lot of fun. If you go and see it, go with friends and enjoy it for the piece of cheese that it is. The dancing would look great on stage, but comes off as a touch contrived on screen- especially the locals, who pop up everywhere. The singing is bizarre! Pierce just stick to acting, mate! I love the way the script is manipulated just to get to the next song. There is some great acting from Donna (Meryl) and her two Dynamite friends (played excellently by Christine Baranski and Julie Walters) who I assume must have been an ABBA tribute band back in the day. Even though most of the film is tongue in cheek, there is one scene which Meryl steals completely, and that’s the ‘Winner takes it all’ scene.
On the whole, if you like musicals and ABBA then this has been made for you. IT is great fun, but don’t expect anything too much. And go with friends- you will enjoy it more. Sing along, laugh at the silliness of it and wait for the performance of Waterloo in the credits.
Best bit: The Winner Takes it all- Meryl gives it her all!
Score: 7/10