Mamma Tanya--Baranski Steals the Show!

Rating: 10/10 (29 July 2008)

I must admit, when I see a good film in theaters, I say "That was good" and wait for it to come out on DVD. I left Mamma Mia! saying "Let's go watch it again!" The casting was perfect--I cannot honestly imagine anyone being replaceable. True, Pierce Brosnan cannot sing, but his looks make up for that. It was nice to see Meryl Streep, after countless Oscar nods and noms for her more serious roles, finally get to just have fun. She has an amazing voice, which she has exhibited in earlier films, but surprisingly this is her first musical. Throughout the entire film, Meryl seems like a giddy schoolgirl; you feel that she didn't really "work" at all. Amanda Seyfried, who cracked me up in Mean Girls, shows herself more than capable of taking the lead. All due respect to this star-studded cast, the show belonged to Christine Baranksi. She stole the show as the serial-bride Tanya. During her show-stopping "Does Your Mother Know", my boyfriend swore to leave me and search for Christine!
All around, this is a feel-good movie that will have you singing when you leave.
"Ma-ma-mamma Mia, here I go again...."