Mamma Rules

Rating: 5/10 (9 July 2008)

For over a year, as a huge Abba fan, I have been horrified by the mere notion of this movie, and terrified by the idea of Meryl Streep starring. I really hated the musical with a vengeance. Went to see it twice, thinking I might have misunderstood it the first time.
After having seen the really bland trailers, heard the shrill Streep and the piercing Brosnan on You Tube, seen the atrocious costumes, the lovely dance Meryl did with Agnetha and Frida on the Stockholm carpet, well, I was electrified, welcome to you here I am my arms are open wide (as in 'I am the city') to go watch the resulting movie with my better half and our friends.
First impression: it probably was bit like Ocean 12 for them: a total guilty pleasure and the fun these post-midlife crisis folks had in the making of, splatters off screen. Meryl's wild arms' gestures in Mamma Mia made me fear I might have to vomit. But, as soon as her Donna character meets her exes (which is fairly at the beginning), everything turned for me. I must say, I love all three actors (bravo to them for taking up these roles! The horrible singing at least is natural), and what a fun trio they made up, those guys. But the real discovery is Streep. Not only does she pull it off, diving into the Abba classics with merry self-deprecating mockery, she makes the songs her own. My highlights were Slipping Through My Fingers, which is one of Agnetha's signature songs, SOS and, yes, The Winner Takes It All -to cover that song is sacrilegious. She made it beautifully. The Dancing Queen reprise is spectacular, better than the first performance. Fair enough, I do want the 'real thing' after having watched this, but I'm sure that may have been the whole purpose. Special mention for Julie Walters, the spunky kid, and Amanda Seyfried, who's a lovely songstress. Minuses: the direction, the art direction and the story. Too bad about The name of the game, One of Us, I wonder and many more (My love my life, My Mama Said, Like an Angel Passing..., Tiger)?
Abba rules forever, and Ms. Streep seemingly has endlessly deep running talents. We knew that already and can now look forward to her next projects, Doubt and Julie & Julia.
This is a movie you safely can take your grandmother and children to see.