Delightful Light Entertainment

Rating: 8/10 (14 July 2008)

In recent years the success of TV shows like X Factor, Pop/American Idol and Britain / America's Got Talent have reminded everyone of the simple pleasures of singing, dancing and having a good time. Curiously, the Musical genre, which epitomises this, has been slow to reflect this interest on our cinema screens. However with the success of Hairspray, High School Musical and now Mama Mia, I suspect there will be many more to follow.
Mama Mia starts from a strong base. A fine musical catalogue, a successful stage production, the co-operation of songwriters Benny and Bjorn and a well known cast are a good start.But then it pretty much overwhelms the audience with it's sheer "joie de vivre". Don't listen to the curmudgeonly doubters, if you want to find fault with this production of course you can. But thats not really the point. This film is for enjoying the music, laughing at the slapstick comedy, having a good time and perhaps even kicking off those heels and having a dance.
Meryl Streep successfully dominates this film with all the enthusiasm of an Aunt visiting for Christmas and determined to have a good time. Ably assisted by Julie Walters, and a particularly good Christine Baranski the three of them laugh, dance and cry themselves through a plot which is frankly only there to allow everyone to enjoy themselves.
Amanda Seyfried as Streep's daughter is the right mix of innocence and verve and the three prospective "fathers",Brosnan, Firth and Skarsgard ham up their scenes monstrously.The only real query on the film is Brosnan's singing. It is terrible. I hope that it was left in as a joke because it does cause you to literally laugh out loud. Which is in marked contrast to Streep who sings admirably, giving Madonna a run for her money in the latter's starring role in Evita.
The sun of course always shines, the buildings look rustic and welcoming, and the sea is blue.The "set pieces", Voulez Vous, Dancing Queen and a raucous Does Your Mother Know always entertain, Chiquitita is an unexpected delight! The Fifties and Sixties produced a run of popular musicals making the likes of Diana Dors stars in the process. The Musical is back for the 21st century!