Pop Tunes Make Movie Magic

Rating: 9/10 (4 May 2020)

A lot of people love to hate this musical, which is based on the totally singable, danceable music of the 1970s Swedish group Abba. Meryl Streep, perhaps the most celebrated actress of her generation, when cast in this film had already showed the world that she could do just about anything-except maybe sing. So here she comes and not only can she sing, she becomes the life force that runs through this movie. The whole key to a performance like this is to look like you're having fun, but it takes a lot of planning to be spontaneous, and there's nothing about this seemingly effortless romp that isn't well choreographed and staged. You have to see this movie to understand how a series of good-natured pop tunes-"Dancing Queen," "Take a Chance on Me," "The Winner Takes It All," "Voulez Vous"--can be turned into movie magic. ---from Musicals on the Silver Screen, American Library Association, 2013