Mamma Mia Appreciation Thread

Cafe Society
1

Criticize if you must…

I just saw this. I have never seen the theater production, but wow! this is one fun movie. I like ABBA music now (I never really liked them before, mostly because I couldn’t understand the words due to the ramped up bass etc).

I knew Meryl Streep could sing from Prairie Home Companion, but Pierce Brosnan didn’t do too badly, nor did Colin Firth. I had never seen Stellan Skarsgard before (he can’t sing, really). Amanda Seyfried has a fabulous voice–and she just glows in this pic. I liked her in Mean Girls, but here she is gorgeous. I loved the Dynamos–my favorite number is Tanya’s song on the beach. A feel good movie with some pertinent messages for ages 20-55+. It’s not just a cotton candy / eye candy film, either–there is sincerity and intelligence in the characterizations. If some of the more serious side of life is glossed over and the ending is a bit implausible, it still works as a fine film.

Has anyone else seen it?

2

Not going to ever see the movie; also not criticizing. Just thought we should start off by correctly spelling it Mamma Mia!. That’s about the only time I’ve seen that word spelled that way, not “Mama” or “Momma”.

3

Damn. Missed the edit window. Well, Roger Ebert didn’t like it. Nyah nyah to him, then. I loves me some Roger Ebert, but by God, we need more films that are just full of life and fun and laughter like this one. Is it Art? No. Is it the best film this summer? No. But it’s fun and poignant and quirky. It’s good entertainment, AFAIAC.
Oops! I didn’t realize it was Mamma, not Mama. :eek: Could a mod fix that, please? Ta.

4

I haven’t decided yet whether I want to see the film. I saw the play on Broadway (although long after many of the original cast had left) and again in a local stage production. Filmed musicals expand beyond the inherent limitations imposed by being staged on a, you know, stage, so I’m always conflicted at the idea of seeing a stage musical I’ve seen on the big screen. I haven’t seen the film adaptation of the stage Hairspray, for instance, because I saw the brilliant Harvey Fierstein in the role of Edna and I have no desire to sully the memory of his performance with that of…ugh…John Travolta.

5

I tend to agree with you, Otto. I have never seen Hairspray or Mamma Mia on stage, though. I was never much of an Andrew Lloyd Weber fan, so I stopped going to musicals circa Cats. Because of this, I missed much else, like Little Shop of Horrors, Rent, Hairspray etc.

I did see Spamalot–which did not ruin MP and the HG for me one bit, so who knows…

6

I saw Mamma Mia this afternoon. I’m sorry, but I have to agree with the critics that it’s dreadful. The only good thing about it is the songs, and even then, it’s better just to listen to original Abba recordings.

I could forgive a lot just for the music, but the story was so insultingly stupid, the characters such morons and the performances so over the top and cheesy, that the movie just wasn’t toleable for me. The girl playing the daughter was awful. She’s eye candy, sure, but she overacts all the way through it. Everybody overacts in this thing. It’s like they all think they’re in a stage production. Everybody is shouting all the time and they’re all WAY too over excited, but the daughter ramps it up to where it was almost obnoxious. She needs to tone it down about 12 notches.

And the story is really, REALLY idiotic, even for a chick flick. Seriously, all these dudes are just going to up and go to Greece at the drop of a hat because (they think) some chick they banged 20 years ago is inviting them to her daughter’s wedding? Then they’re all going live secretly in an attic? Then the mom is just going to believe they all showed up at the same time just by coincidence?

And when was this daughter supposed to have been conceived anyway? Supposedly, she’s 20, so she had to have been born c. 1988, but then they show pictures of Pierce Brosnan in 60’s hippie garb and sing about the “time of flower power.” Another character references Johhny Rotten when he talks about the time in question.

I could go on and on and on about the myriad inanities, both large and small in this film, but I won’t. I don’t know anything about the stage show and maybe it all comes from that, but I couldn’t get past how stupid the story was. I think it was also poorly directed and cast. Pierce Brosnan can’t sing. Meryl Streep can, and it goes without saying that she can act. She’s probably the best thing about the movie other than the songs and Amanda Seyfried in a bathing suit, but the material is beneath her. I think even she overdoes it with her overwrought performance of “Winner Takes it all.” This movie needed a director whith the ability to reign in the the overly theatrical performances and honestly, if the script came straight from the stage show, it needed to be overhauled as well.

ETA, for the record, I liked Hairspray, and I thought I would at least enjoy MM for the music, but the horrible story and direction made it difficult. I still have the goddamn title song going through my head, though. What infernal demon wrote all those Abba hooks?

7

So, you’re saying you didn’t like the film?
Clearly we disagree–but thanks for spewing the venom.

What’s with the “even for a chick flick”? :dubious: Of course, manly films are so much more intellectual and deep… :rolleyes:

<crosses Dio off possible summer movie partner list>

8

Is Colin Firth still hot? Really, that’s all I need…

StG

9

YES. As is Pierce–who never tripped my trigger when I was younger, but now… <fans self>

10

I just saw the film this evening. It was over-the-top, cheesy, camp fun. I can’t believe Meryl Streep did this movie, but I’m glad she did. I loved the “Dancing Queen” number and the Greek chorus who kept popping up through out the movie.

11

Personally, I’m dying to see this, because it’s mindless and fun. The unusual casting is a bonus.

12

I just can’t believe all the reviewers (and our Diogenes, above) are reviewing this as if it were a serious film! It’s supposed to be over the top & cheesy. Nothing about the plot is supposed to be vaguely realistic. and so What? Were “Diamonds are a Girls best Friend” or “Some Like It Hot” [picked almost at random] in the least bit realistic? No. They didn’t try to be, and they shouldn’t be criticized for it. Not having a realistic plot is bad for a movie that tries correspond with reality. A confection like this just doesn’t.
It was fun. Made the people of all ages in the theatre laugh, smile, and applaud.

13

Agreed on both counts :slight_smile:

I just got back from seeing it a little while ago. I grabbed my Mom and brought her to the movie as a surprise because I knew that she would want to see it. It was cute and a fun way to spend 2 hours. We left the theater singing. It was a feel good movie that made me feel good, so, mission accomplished as far as I’m concerned.

Christine Baranski shocked the hell out of me. I knew she was funny but I had no idea she could sing and dance like that. Her bit on the beach was really one of the highlights of the film.

14

These critics would probably complain that The Comedy of Errors wasn’t realistic, either.

15

My complaint is not that it’s not realistic, my complaint is that it’s stupid.

16

Sorry, Diogenes, but I think most wacky unrealistic comedies ARE stupid in this way. Again, so what? If all the arts were “stupid” I wouldn’t like it, but I think mindless musical comedies, slapstick and other suchlike have their place along with the highfalutin’ stuff.
and I happened to think this was well-done, for what it was. The outsized acting matched the overblown music.

17

I enjoyed it. Not as much as I enjoyed “Across The Universe” or “Moulin Rouge” - two films that managed to do a better job of creating worlds in which people expressed themselves through song - but it was plenty fun. I plan to see it at least one more time before it leaves the theater.

18

Your eloquence is overwhelming. Lots of movies are “stupid”, including most that involve men, action, guns, car chases and easy sex with walking male fantasies-which is everyday Hollywood fodder. :rolleyes:

I don’t expect to change your mind and you are welcome to your opinion, but consider this: this is one of the very few movies in which men of Colin Firth’s, Pierce Brosnan’s and the Swedish guy’s age not only don’t get the woman young enough to be their daughter, but also show NO interest in her in that way. For that ALONE, it is worth the price of admission. To see middle aged male characters actually finding their female peers attractive is a miracle for Hollywood.

Sure it’s bubble gum–when was ABBA or any disco music more than that? But the characters have flaws and appear genuine–I’ll let you in on a secret: weddings aren’t really about the bride and groom. Oh, we all know about Bridezillas etc, but they are merely archetypes on a set–weddings are all about life passages. And who can celebrate those more fully than those who have been through a few of them? That song Meryl (Donna) sings to Sophy as she gets her ready–that is one heartbreaking song IF you’re a mother with a similarly aged daughter. It’s probably something you wouldn’t understand (not being snarky, just honest).

Some movies given expression to deep, profound events or aspects of the human condition. Other are just plain fun. IMO, Mamma Mia falls more to the latter side, but there is heart there. I’m sorry you didn’t see that, but no one is making you see the movie again.

19

I saw it this weekend with my mom and aunt, who had both seen the stage production a few years ago and really were excited to see the film.

I thought the location was the best part of the movie - doesn’t mean I think the other parts were bad, the location was just WOW :smiley:

I didn’t like this one as much as I liked Hairspray, but it was definitely a fun way to spend 2 hours as shamrock227 observed. Meryl Streep’s 2 girlfriends were great (how can you not like Christine Baranski?), the townspeople “chorus” was great, and the men, both young and old, were fine to look at.

My mom said she didn’t think Meryl Streep could sing, but I disagree. I think she did fine. I did find it painful to watch Pierce sing. I had to look away from the screen…he was quite bad.

The thing I hated most about the movie was the fact that saying things via song takes a lot more time than just flat out saying them, and I get bored. But I think I said the same thing about Hairspray…and it’s sort of a “duh” thing to say because that’s how all musicals work :smiley:

20

What I like best about it is that, like Hairspray, it makes musicals FUN again–for too long, we have had ponderous or socially relevant musicals. Fine. But the comedy part was forgotten or shoved aside. Why not have a romp on a gorgeous Greek isle where you can understand people believing gods walked? Of course lots of it is silly and overblown–the atmosphere lends itself to such grand gestures as the ridiculously unrealistic Hollywood ending.

To that I say, so what? You have to suspend disbelief in a musical anyway, since no one bursts into song and formal dance numbers in RL. (if you do, I don’t want to know you). So, go have fun. Don’t overthink it. Let its exuberance and energy wash over you. And then go back to painting the kitchen or whatever you were doing.
:slight_smile: