"My, my, how could I resist you?".

Rating: 10/10 (14 August 2008)

My Take: ABBA's music is irresistible... And so is this movie.
(May I just remind the reader than I wasn't really an ABBA fan, and have I seen the stage musical, nor was I aware there even was one).
I was lucky to have seen MAMMA MIA! before it was pushed out of the limelight by bigger blockbusters. Beaten by THE DARK KNIGHT and cleared to make way for other must-see blockbusters including the new MUMMY movie, the long-anticipated X-FILES: I WANT TO BELIEVE or the up and coming animated STAR WARS film, MAMMA MIA! has gone past its prime. I was lucky, later thankful, to have seen it. For not only is MAMMA MIA! a great time, it may be one of the best films I have seen this year since I walked into the new DARK KNIGHT. But while the new Batman movie riveted me and kept me on the edge of my seat, MAMMA MIA! had me joyously entertained and never wiped that smile off my face. Had I overlooked this film, I would have missed one of the best times I had in a theater this year so far.
The story is a simple one: American island girl Sophie (Amanda Seyfried) is getting married to her boyfriend Sky (Dominic Cooper). Everything is ready, set before her by her loving and spunky mother Donna (Meryl Streep, brilliant as always), save one thing: Sophie wants her long-lost father to walk her up the isle. Trouble is, she doesn't know who he is. So she finds her mom's diary, looking up who dear ol' daddy could be. Turns out, her mom has date three guys in her young life. Unknown which one could be his father, he invites all three of them to her beautiful scenic island home (a wonderful setting by the way) to attend the wedding. Once Donna, who left those vigorous and spunky teenage life, discovers that her ex's (Pierce Brosnan, Stellan Skarsgaard and Colin Firth, respectively) are on the island, sheer delight ensues. While still pretty close with the Brosnan character, there's still no telling who the real dad is.
But who cares! The plot is endearing and simple, but it's the musical numbers of the highest order that keeps me smiling all throughout. From Ms. Streep not seemingly uttering a flaw in her performance of the title song to the film's most energetic number: Streep and co-stars Christine Baranski and Julie Walters performing "Dancing Queen". Agreed, not everyone one of the casts can sing as great as the last one. Basically, there's Pierce Brosnan, who's James Bond charisma is simply flawed here once we hear him finally sings to the rhythms of "SOS". He's not bad, but needs more singing lessons. But I think that pretty much sums up the very few flaws I had with MAMMA MIA!, and that's hardly a big deal. It's these movies that I recommend anyone to see (even for the PG-13 rating, this film's pretty harmless and always joyous). It's a date flick, could pass as a family flick, but to simply sum it up, it's an entertaining flick. The performances (be it musical or acting) are especially superb. Streep, as always, is a reliable actress who gives yet another stand-out performance, this time demanding more spunk, and she doesn't slip it. Blooming star Amanda Seyfried is one of the best singers throughout the picture, and she has the makings to become a fine actress. Male co-stars Brosnan, Firth, Skarsgaard are especially good and delightful (while not the best singers in the film), but most of all, there's co-stars Christine Baranski and Julie Walters, providing excellent and energetic support as Donna's posse'.
MAMMA MIA! is a great film I enjoyed to have seen before it struts away behind other bigger blockbusters (which in think, expect for THE DARK KNIGHT, are easily topped by this film). It's pleasant, often clever, tuneful and dot, dot, dot!
Rating: ***** out of 5.