I felt ashamed of being Swedish

Rating: 2/10 (1 January 2011)

As a Swede, one is somehow supposed to be proud of ABBA:s success - almost to feel like you are part of it. But I have never felt like that; on the contrary. I think the music is too simple and the texts too naive. It is alright to dance to in a disco, when you are a bit tipsy, I suppose - but I have never understood the big "hype" about ABBA.
Also, when you have seen Agneta and Annifrid try to pursue solo careers after ABBA split up, it became so obvious that they did not have much of a talent or voice or charm or anything. The ABBA phenomena was a result of extremely clever PR and the right timing - nothing more.
Therefore, I did not expect much of this movie either. Still, it was even worse than my expectations! I really cannot understand how they persuaded big celebrities like Meryl Streep and Pierce Brosnan to take part in it..??? The way they have striven to make the plot fit in with the songs is very contrived. Every time someone started singing, I wanted to hide behind a pillow for shame...
Also, I hate the way the movie portrays women - both the young and the middle-aged. Giggling, drinking, teasing each other, thinking only about sex, weddings, guys, how to find a rich man etc.. Me and my woman-friends have certainly never been behaving that silly when we have been seeing each other, and I do not want men to think that all women do...
Still - Greek islands and the blue Mediterranean are always beautiful to watch. And so is Pierce Brosnan! :-)