"Mamma Mia! The Movie" - The Review

There are lots of reasons to dislike Mamma Mia! The Movie.

The film, which is based on the popular and long-running Broadway musical, which is in turn based on the pop music of Abba, is basically a thin story that centers around a young woman who’s about to get married. She decides to invite the three men who might be her father to her wedding on an island in the Mediterranean Sea. Many hijinks ensue.

What’s not to like? Well, the story is silly - it centers around a problem that could be resolved in the beginning, if the daughter had just been honest with her mom. The story has to stretch more than once to accommodate an Abba song that doesn’t really fit. While the setting is beautiful (much of the film was shot on location), the direction doesn’t really make the most of the dance numbers, and too much of the film is shot in close-up, which is fine for TV, but a bit much in the theater. Also, the story actually centers more around the middle-aged cast than around the young bride.

But despite all that, I have to admit that I had a great time watching this movie! The sheer energy and exuberance of the show and (especially) the music carry you along, and the performances are sweet, touching and very funny. It’s great to see a show that actually does focus on a mature cast, and gives them a lot to do.

In fact, it’s amazing how many real-looking people there are in the cast. Like any good musical, at any time anyone can burst into song, and that makes for some very funny scenes indeed, with “Dancing Queen” being the best example.

It’s also one of those films that makes you think, “Is there anything Meryl Streep can’t do?” She’s not only one of our greatest actors, she’s also a heck of a fine singer.

I suppose if you don’t care for Abba’s music, then you might want to avoid this movie. But judging by the crowd in the show I attended, there’s a reason why Mamma Mia! has been a hit for so long - it’s just a heck of a lot of fun! I defy you to walk out of the theater without a smile on your face.

(Oh, and don’t be too quick to leave at the end - there’s a priceless bit during the first part of the credits you’ll want to see.)

Highly recommended!