Good cheesy fun

Rating: 8/10 (24 June 2016)

This jukebox musical featuring the songs of ABBA is set on a small Greek island where twenty year old Sophie wants her father to give her away at her wedding. There is just one problem; she doesn't know who he is. She has narrowed it down to three men thanks to a nose through her mother's diaries. She thinks that if she meets the men she will be able to figure out which one is her father so invites all three of them without telling her mother. When they arrive she realises that she has no idea; any one of them could be her father. When her mother learns that they are there she worries that they will spoil the wedding. When the men realise why Sophie invited them they each think they are her father and expect to be the one to walk her down the aisle it will certainly be an interesting wedding.
I must admit that this isn't the sort of film I usually watch but I was curious about what it would be like due to its popularity and some positive reviews. The story isn't very deep but that isn't a problem as it is effectively there to provide reasons for the cast to sing many of ABBA's greatest hits and it is the cast singing not just miming to the songs. The cast is clearly having a good time and that sense of fun is infectious; the fact that not all of them are particularly good singers makes the characters feel more real. Amanda Seyfried does a good job as Sophie and Meryl Streep is a delight as her mother. Pierce Brosnan, Stellan Skarsgård and Colin Firth impress as the three potential fathers. The Greek location looks great and adds to the fun of the film; I don't think it would have been half as enjoyable if it wasn't set such a beautiful and sunny location. Overall this was a lot more enjoyable than I expected and anybody who enjoys the songs of ABBA should love it.