TV Sitcom quality if that...

Rating: 3/10 (19 July 2009)

Meryl Steep was the only reason I wanted to see this film. As usual she's very good - but far from Oscar nominee consideration. I suppose it's a "happy" film. I was bored to death - even when Ms. Streep overwhelmed the (my HDTV-HBO) silver screen. Contrived story/plot line contributed to my overall chagrin. In fact - in all fairness - I had to turn it off after 90 minutes - so I might have done myself a great injustice? I simply could not take another minute of someone breaking out in disco melody.
Okay, take the plot: young girl (overplayed by Ms. Amanda Seyfried) wants her father - a man she's never met to give her away at her wedding. Sitcom plot intervenes - she's got three fathers. I should've stopped there - but I subjected myself - only because Meryl must continue through this trash and I was compelled to be her audience. While she was good - even Meryl could not rise above the poor direction, writing and casting. Pierce Bronson can not act his way out of a paper bag and is uncomfortably miscast as one of the fathers. Julie Walters, another great talent wasted as Meryl's long ago singing partner. Christine Baranski completes the supreme singing trio and phones in her lackluster performance.
The backdrop of the Greek isle (I read it was filmed on location) looked like something off a studio backlot.
I guess I did not like this film. I'll give it another try someday.
The "Abba" soundtrack was poorly mixed in some silly attempt to make it more contemporary. It was 70/80's pop trash and is equally - if not worse - for the film version.
3/10 only for Ms. Streep's attempt to make this sitcom reject palatable.