Mamma Mia! What a Movie!

Rating: Null/10 (12 September 2011)

Mamma Mia is a happy, joyful, musical romp! It is such a feel-good movie and the songs are so memorable you will be singing them in the shower for weeks! This film has all those great, music group, ABBA songs you know and love. The all-star cast is led by Meryl Streep (as Donna), Amanda Seyfried (as Sophie), Pierce Brosnan (as Sam), Christine Baranski (as Tanya), Colin Firth (as Harry), Stellan Skarsgard (as Bill), Julie Walters (as Rosie), and more. On a beautiful Greek Island, the young vivacious Sophie is about to be married to her handsome fiancé Sky, and reveals to her friends that she has read her mother Donna's diary and found that any of three men could be her father, and she has invited them all to the wedding, and the fun begins! This is a movie about moms and daughters, lovers and friends and how the past becomes your future. Donna operates a small inn on the island, in a beautiful setting with turquoise water and lovely hillsides. Donna's friends show up to celebrate the wedding with their old friend. The fellows all show up just about the same time, and even though Sophie tries to hide their presence from her mother, Donna finds out they are there and hilarity ensues. Donna had been quite the fun-loving girl back in her hippie days, and even had a girl band called Donna and the Dynamos. Her friends Tanya and Rosie were her back-up singers. Donna freaks out that all three of her former lovers are there for fear they will spoil her daughter's wedding. In her excitement and fear, she sings "Mamma Mia". What she doesn't know is that Sophie invited them all. Donna has flashbacks of all three of her former lovers in their hippie days with the musical number" Our Last Summer". Over the course of the next 24 hours, preparations for the wedding, and parties for the bride and groom bring on many memorable musical numbers; such as "Dancing Queen", "The Winner Takes All", and "When All is Said and Done". The day before the wedding Sky admits he really wasn't sure he wanted to be married right away, and suggests a trip around the world first. Sophie is confused and upset and runs away from her fiancé. At the bachelorette party, Donna and Dynamos revive their act with the songs "Super Trouper"," Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!", and "Voulez-Vous". These turn into great crowd dance numbers. Mother and daughter have a touching moment as Donna helps Sophie dress for the wedding. Mom is feeling the pain of giving her daughter away, with the melody "Slipping Through My Fingers". Shortly after dressing, Sophie and the wedding party head up the hill to the church with Donna lagging behind. Sam catches up with her and admits that he has loved her for the last 20 years, but Donna doesn't want to hear it. At the church, Donna walks Sophie down the aisle to Sky. When the minister asks who is giving the daughter away, all three men say they are. They don't know which one is actually Sophie's dad, but all agree to all take one third of being her father. Sophie admits to inviting them, and then in an ironic twist, looks at Sky and agrees with him that they should take a trip around the world instead of getting married. Not wanting to waste a good wedding, Sam again tells Donna that he has loved her since he left and proposes. Donna says I do, and with the musical number" I do, I do, I do, I do, I do", Sam and Donna get married. As the friends party to celebrate the wedding, Rosie admits to Bill that she has a "thing" for him with the song" Take a Chance on Me". The movie ends with Sophie and Sky sailing off into the sunset to the song "I Have a Dream", as Donna and Sam stay happily behind to run Donna's Inn. As the credits roll, the film ends with Donna and the Dynamos and the rest of the cast singing and dancing to "Super Trouper". Their 80's costuming is hilarious, especially the men, in their a-la-KISS costumes and platform boots! This film is a fun and memorable musical delight. You will find yourself dancing and singing the rest of the day!
Review by Nancy Weaver.