Take a chance

Rating: 8/10 (21 July 2008)

Let me get a few things out of the way: Generally, I don't like musicals, I seriously never liked ABBA (seriously), you couldn't have dragged me to the stage play, and I'd crawl on my knees anywhere to see Meryl Streep....
That aside, I found this a nice surprise. While it's a questionable goal to put Abba songs in some kind of context(they never had a context even when they were first released), there's a plot that isn't jammed to fit the songs (a la "Across the Universe"), and some genuine talent--and fun--is on display.
The setting steals the show. You could turn the sound off and still be rewarded with gorgeous cinematography of no less than the Greek Isles. Ann Roth's costumes fit right in to the setting and the musical numbers are staged without seeming to take us out of the action. Twyla Tharp first succeeded with this kind of thing in the film of "Hair," and it's pleasant to see these people not try to knock us out with extravagant choreography.
As well, the performances are very winning. I'll skip raving about Streep since she can do no wrong in my opinion (she IS Aphrodite). Colin Firth is game for what could be a weak role, and Amanda Seyfried rivals the scenery here, carrying the movie with her acting and singing.She's just lovely.
Pierce Brosnan doesn't belong in the cast. It would be interesting to know how--and why--he's here. I would have preferred his singing be dubbed, but when he's not singing, he's always easy on the eyes.
I almost missed going to see this, but I wanted something to shake off the dark of "The Dark KNight." This did it. And just when am I moving to Greece? Soon, I hope.