Thankfully funny!

Rating: 8/10 (21 July 2008)

The promise of seeing Pierce Brosnan in less than debonair digs got me over the icky sensation that I was about to watch a musical. That and finally putting to rest my dad's nonstop haranguing over how hilarious Mamma Mia: The Movie is.
Soon-to-be-married Sophie (Amanda Seyfried) lives in Corsica with her hippie mom Donna (Meryl Streep). She's never met her father, and so when she stumbles upon Donna's diary and discovers her three possible dads (Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth and Stellan Skarsgård), she invites them to her wedding. They all arrive unaware of her designs; rather, they are drawn by fond memories of their relationships with Donna. Hit songs by the '70s Swedish group ABBA provide both the soundtrack and the storyline.
Streep is a surprise with her emotionally charged singing and sprightly steps, especially in bittersweet sequence The Winner Takes It All. Her friends (Christine Baranski and Julie Walters) were very able sidekicks and provided most of the laughs. Seyfried was unimpressive at first but either she's the sort of beauty that grows on you or her make-up and wardrobe just kept getting better as the movie progressed. Her character was infectiously optimistic and confidently carefree that it's difficult not to share in her excitement. The talented Dominic Cooper (History Boys) plays Sophie's fiancé, Sky; he stands out despite the tiny role. The rest of the cast were silly and ridiculous, just as tacky as it all should be.
Hearing Brosnan burst into song was v. awkward (God is fair!) but he was perfect for the role of the dashingly handsome architect Sam. Firth is adorable as the head-banging rocker turned staid banker Harry Bright, while Skarsgård was delightfully unpretentious.
The many production numbers were painful to watch but giving in to the kitsch will alleviate the pain. Mamma Mia! will definitely be appreciated by baby boomers.