MAMMA MIA

Directeed By Phillida Lloyd

Review by RB

Okay the only reason I wanted to see this movie was Meryl Streep, oh and the music of ABBA. I skipped the stage version of this musical, so I can’t speak to the transition from stage to screen. I do however wonder how something like Grease, Chicago and Dreamgirls can get better with celluloid and an apparent Broadway hit can fall just short of the mark.

Set against the backdrop of a Greek isle, Sophie is about to be married, but doesn’t have her father there to give her away. In fact she doesn’t even know who her father is, and neither does her mother. We soon discover that it is one of three gents that Sophie, unbeknownst to her mother, has invited to the island for this special occasion.

Meryl, is able to pull out convincing emotion whilst singing “ABBA songs”—that alone is Oscar® worthy. Other than that, we must take this show for what it is, a silly romp, a fanciful storyline, built around a set of disparate jingles from various ABBA albums. A good time was had nonetheless. And I did find myself tearing up a couple of times. One thing I did get out of it, was the simplicity of life boiled down to overalls and no makeup…  heavily contrasted by best friends and botox, and even further by costumes (which seemed to pop up out of the blue).  Intertwined amongst the various vignettes, we see a simple, hardworking people, that when asked by providence to throw down the workhorse, they oblige and take up the dancing circle. It’s very moving to witness an oppressed people to release their own enslavements and join the celebration of life. For no other reason, than for that very message, this movie is worth the journey, not to mention… there’s ABBA songs… and Meryl… Ms. Streep if you’re nasty…