'Mamma Mia!' Makes For A Fun Mess As A Movie

Broadway Hit Now Makes Shaky Transition From Stage To Big Screen

Aug 1, 2008

'Mamma Mia' is a breezy, joyous but technically uneven adaptation of the Broadway musical, with songs written by the '70s Swedish pop group ABBA.

It would be charitable to call the plot a touch sleazy or bubbleheaded, but it more or less works as a framework for ABBA's shoehorned songs. The talented and radiant Amanda Seyfried plays 20-year-old Sophie, living on a remote Greek island with her ex-rock star single mom Donna (Meryl Streep), who manages a rickety villa. Preparing for her white wedding, the little lady stumbles upon Mamma's diary (ut oh!) and comes to the conclusion that any three men could be her father. Could it be American architect Pierce Brosnan, British banker Colin Firth, or Swedish travel writer Stellan Skarsgard (what an odd casting choice)? Sophie secretly sends out invitations to them, and to her and her mom's surprise, they all show up! Bottom line, Mom's gotten around and has to confront her blasts from the past.

ABBA's Songs Shine Minus Pierce Brosnan's Flat Notes

First things first, the songs are infectiously winning and performed with gusto by its vibrant cast, even if Mr. Brosnan in particular shows a rough lack of vocal training. (He noticeably looks out of breath after his short duet of "S.O.S." with Streep; nice try Pierce). But off the stage and as an actual film, "Mamma Mia: The Movie" is a middling effort.

Director Phyllida Lloyd (who made several runs of the stage production) is pretty clumsy behind the camera, directing her cast to act broadly and sing loudly, and most of the choreography has a giddily forced, campy feel---young men dancing awkwardly in silly scuba gear and flippers on a dock comes to mind. The island villa looks like a flat, artificial stage set, with distracting use of a green screen, but when Lloyd decides to finally open up the film's scope and let it breathe, the on-location scenery of Greece certainly looks beautiful.

Streep Lights Up Screen, But Gains Little Support

Meryl Streep is one to watch though, as she enthusiastically jumps around in overalls and belts her heart out like a pro; her versatility and experience in theater shine through. Julie Walters and Christine Baranski as her best band pals, Rosie and Tanya, are a riot. The show-stopping numbers of "Mamma Mia" and "Dancing Queen" are a lot of fun, and Seyfried and Streep's duet of "Slipping Through My Fingers" is undeniably touching.

At any rate, even for all its filmmaking blemishes, "Mamma Mia!: The Movie" is still a likably goofy and sunny escapism. It's a foot-tapping fun time for families and non-cynics, despite the fact that James Bond cannot sing for beans.

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