Doesn't work as well as it should do

Rating: 5/10 (6 July 2014)

Who doesn't like ABBA music? There's no doubt that the infectious songs are the best and cheeriest part of Mamma Mia! Unfortunately the rest of the film can't live up to it. The story has potential but its payoffs are weak. The cast feel out of tune with each other and the music. They're either too comfortable and it's cringeworthy drunken karaoke or too uncomfortable and difficult to watch. Perhaps it's due to the lack of charisma from Amanda Seyfried, who usually has a personality, but here she couldn't be less interesting. I imagine it's something that works way better on stage because all you need is a pretty young thing but film demands more, at least a more visionary director. The production design is otherwise underwhelming and unconvincing, not having the colour that it needs, although it may have the sunlight. Catchy songs sure, but I can't help but not be convinced by the conviction, even if there's a touch of passion there.
5/10