Mama Mia the Movie
Posted on August 1, 2008 - Filed Under Movies, Reviews
Note: This is a review. It could contain spoilers. You may not want to read this post if you don’t want to know anything about it beforehand.
Lots of people have been reviewing the Dark Knight. I’m certainly not one to follow the crowd, so I’m going to review another movie that is making waves at the box-office. Smaller waves, maybe, but waves nonetheless. I’m talking about Mama Mia, the musical movie based on the real Broadway musical.
Now that THAT is out of the way, let’s just get this said and out there - none of the actors in this movie can sing. That’s right. Not a single one of them. But don’t let that make you wipe it off your slate of movies to see. There ARE redeeming qualities. And it did have me laughing out loud several times. So when I say they cannot sing, I’m saying it not to be mean but I have to be honest.
The singing was the worst part of the movie. It was uncomfortable even to watch the singing. Pierce Brosnan makes a kicked-puppy-dog kind of pained face while singing that I’m sure mirrors the face that I’m making as I listen to him. Meryl Streep is actually not terrible, but kind of stiff in her singing. She’s surprisingly okay - not good, but okay. Regardless, we all know that her true talent is in acting.
The least horrible of the singers was Amanda Seyfried, yes, one of the daughters from the HBO hit show, “Big Love.” Again, her true talent is acting. There are a bunch of tweeny boppers already in the industry who CAN sing but they cannot act, so I would suggest that Seyfried remain in front of the camera, just without a microphone. She certainly won’t have to worry about any competition from the tweeny boppers in the acting arena.
Anyway, the awkward thing about the singing was that while it wasn’t great, it also wasn’t quite terrible enough to really make fun of it, either. I thought it was probably quite humiliating for the actors. But then again, it was probably done purposely as part of the humor of the movie. Let’s hope so, anyway. Fortunately, music is not all that makes a movie.
As far as the story, it was a flat out chick flick. Do not go to see this with your man. Take mom instead. I did. And I highly suggest you do that too. After all, my mom really enjoyed it and I think she wouldn’t mind seeing it again if you asked her nicely. Or, you could take your own mom, or just go with “the girls.”
It’s a light story about a girl who doesn’t know who her father is. She sneaks into her mom’s diary and reads about three guys that her mom has been with and invites them all to her wedding without her mom’s knowledge. It’s silly, funny, and enjoyable. The mom’s friends, played by Christine Baranski and Julie Walters (neither of whom can carry a tune, either, but at least they are more humorous and easy to watch at it), are a great supporting duo. They are fun to watch and fit well into their roles.
Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, and Stellan Skarsgard are the potential dads and Dominic Cooper plays Sky, the groom-to-be (can you say, “eye candy”). Again, none of them can sing, but one of them comes out as a closet homosexual. I won’t tell you which. But suffice to say, it is lighthearted and humorous as is the entire storyline.
Although I didn’t enjoy the singing, I DID enjoy the movie. Sometimes we need movies like this and to see A-list actors in something silly and fun.
So for a light, fluffy, fun movie, I would recommend seeing this. It’s the polar opposite of The Dark Knight. Also, it will give you a much better appreciation for the music as it was originally performed by ABBA. Seriously. 
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13 Responses to “Mama Mia the Movie”
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i must admit that, when i saw this on Broadway a few years back, i really did enjoy myself…
not enough to see it again in the theatres, but there’s always dvd!
LOL. I bet the Broadway one was awesome! I don’t know if I’d want to see this one after the Broadway one but then I can see being curious too.
I have to agree: this film was so silly but it was great. You do just need a film like that from time to time! I definitely agree with you about Brosnan too :S
Welcome to the Vaguetarian Tea Room, Ms. Lane! Or may I call you Penny? And yes, we all need some silly once in a while. And I usually need it more than that!
LOL
I’ve never been a huge fan of musicals (a few gems notwithstanding), but I always loved Christine Baranski in that old Cybil Sheppard sitcom. It was a good show despite Cybil (I like her fine, but some of her stuff is a stretch), and the actors around her were very good.
I LOVE musicals! I haven’t seen lots of them, but the ones I’ve seen I really enjoyed. Christine Baranski is a hot ticket. She was great in Mama Mia.
yeah, i must admit it really was quite good… had me singing abba all the way home to long island…
Heehee. After the movie, I couldn’t wait to hear the ABBA songs, sung by ABBA! But I imagine on Broadway they had people who could sing really well.
I really loved this movie! I went with my Mum and we both enjoyed it. I agree that Brosnan was absolutely terrible but I actually thought Meryl Streep was quite good!
I’m so glad you and your mom enjoyed the movie. I dunno about Meryl Streep though - I still think she was just okay. She wasn’t terrible, but just not a really good singer. Other musicals I’ve seen had singers with such strong or angelic voices that it brought tears to my eyes. The only tears in my eyes from this movie were from laughing. It was fun and I’m glad I saw it. But I wouldn’t suggest Ms. Streep give up acting for singing. But I’m really no Simon Cowell from American Idol, so I could be wrong.
I did not like that movie
Really? I thought it was a lot of fun.
You it just was too boring buyt, I cant jst sit and watch a movie..i am not one that just sits around(even when I am feeling awful)
so, alot of movies dont interest me.
Oh, I get it.
Teeni, I really am more curious now than ever. I want to see this but don’t seem to have the time or energy to get to the theater. I have to put this one on my list
Very good review, you’ve really peaked my interest girl!
LOL. I think you’ll enjoy it, JQ - It’s just a fun good-time movie.
I don’t know if I’m going to see it because after seeing the trailer, I’m not sure I’d like anyone making a hash of Abba’s music. But I might!
Great review, Teeni!
LOL. I totally understand that, Diane! But I think you’ll be okay seeing it. You just may have to dig out your old records, tapes, or CDs of ABBA to listen to afterwards though. Heehee.
I know I couldn’t drag my daughter to this one. But she is taking me to the Imax theater again to see “Journey to the Center of the Earth” in 3D and she will take me to see “X-Files”. It’s all Sci fi for her. She would balk at a musical. So I will see it when it comes out on DVD.
Oooh - Ooooh! I like sci-fi too. I want to see both of those! As for the DVD, I’m sure you will enjoy it just as much as if you had gone to the theater so no worries.
I am itching to go see this one, so I didn’t read the entire review. I don’t want to have it ruined for me. X-files is another movie I want to see, where can we find the time though?
I know how squeezed you are for time and that sucks. I hope you will get a chance to fit some of these movies in. They would be a great little break for you. Maybe matinees if you can’t do the evenings?
Thanks for the review Teeni, I think I’ll wait for it to come out on video…with movie prices as they are
I hear ya! That’s kind of the point of the reviews on my site, I’d like to think - to help you make your own decisions about whether to spend or save your money.
this is one of the only plays i’ve ever seen, which ended up being great… it’s funny to think of ol’ Pierce taking a stab at singing, yeeesh
Welcome to the Vaguetarian Tea Room. Yes, Pierce’s singing was funny to behold, but the whole thing was lighthearted and fun. I bet the play was wonderful too!