Disappointing rendition

Rating: 4/10 (9 August 2008)

I had the privilege of seeing the original North American cast - who premiered in Toronto and went on to Broadway - perform Mama Mia on stage. Sadly the movie does not compare.
Scenery is pretty but the cast are all abysmally bad singers. The "stagey" dance routines and exaggerated gestures are fun in the play but look ludicrous on screen.
Other major problem: The cast is too old! SkarsgÃ¥rd, Brosnan, Walters and Baranski are age 55 to 59. The story was written for actors approximately 40, not almost-60. The guys look like Grandads, not hip Dads of a young bride-to-be.
Meryl Streep is 59 - not believable she would be the mother of a 20-year old.
As always Streep's bad overacting is a distraction.
I have a good sense of humour but the incredibly cheesy sight-gag involving hippie wigs was pathetic. An unnecessary indignity to the actor.
All in all I did not buy in but MM is worth 4 for the lovely Mediterranean scenery and of course good old Abba songs - after all these years they still sound great. How could anyone resist singing along!