Friday, July 18, 2008
Mamma Mia!
Since ABBA released their trademark tune "Mamma Mia!" in 1975, this popular song has become a culture icon. The hit Broadway musical "Mamma Mia!" makes the song even more popular to the new generations. Based on this musical, an exhilarating film "Mamma Mia!" (USA/UK 2008, 108 min.) surely will get more people out their seats, singing and dancing.
The story is probably already known to most people due to the musical. Twenty years old Sophie (Amanda Seyfried) lives with her hippy mom Donna (Meryl Streep) on a beautiful Greek island, but she does not know who is her father. In order to let her unknown father give her away at her wedding, Sophie secretly invites all three possible men (Pierce Brosnan, Stellan Skarsgård, and Colin Firth) to the island. Their presence turns Donna's emotion, as well as Sophie's wedding, upside down. Obviously the plot doesn't fly very high, nor convincing. However, I doubt that anybody who comes to this film would care. We will smile widely while listening to the familiar tunes, watching the hilarious choreography, enjoying the beautiful Greek scenery, and giggling at Pierce Brosnan's singing. The immensely joyful energy from this film will carry us away and we will forgive the flaws in the film. There is no need to spoil a good time by poking at this film. Let's face it, this is not meant to be a thought provoking or an emotionally touching film. It's a light hearted comedy, and a musical, with a dancing and singing Meryl Streep. Meryl Streep and her two hippy pals, Rosie (Julie Walters) and Tanya (Christine Baranski), are the funniest characters throughout the film. When they bounce around, in bed or not, I wonder if they are practicing before competing in next month's summer Olympics.
"Mamma Mia!" entertains us with its undeniable charm and gets us out of the chair to sing and dance with the characters, especially when the song is "Dancing Queen." "Mamma Mia!" opens today in theaters. |
