The total running time for Mamma Mia! is 1 hr. and 48 minutes. I didn't google that. I know it by heart because I counted each excruciating minute of the big screen adaptation of the comedy/musical.
The story is simple enough: Sophie Sheridan (Amanda Seyfried) is a young, beautiful 20-year-old getting married to her beau on the small island in Greece. Donna Sheridan (Meryl Streep) is the single mother who raised Sophie, and for the past 20 years Donna has never revealed to her daughter who her father is simply because she doesn't know. Based on the timeline and the fact that her mother's sexual escapades closely resemble 7Eleven's hours of operation policy, one of three men could be Sophie's father. Island life is simple and so is the world. Sophie takes it upon herself to invite all three to the wedding, decide which one isher father based on sight and first impressions, and sort the rest out later.
It seems like a good idea. A musical with endless beach scenes and cliffside views of the ocean that tugs on the heartstrings of the human condition and the relatable experience of summer love. Unfortunately, this musical misses more than a few beats. That isn't a smile on the audience's face. It's a cringe at the thought of sitting through "SOS" or any of the songs highlighting the vocals of Pierce Brosnan.
It's a musical that makes you wish it were a movie. Every other line is a song, and it's not just any song it's an ABBA song. And it's not just an ABBA song, it's an ABBA song sung by Pierce Brosnan. He's really trying, which becomes distracting in a movie that's supposed to be light and fun-filled. Other successful musicals like Hairspray (2007) or Once (2007) make you want to go out and buy the soundtrack, learn every word, and sing-a-long to all the songs during the second, third, and fourth times you go to watch the movie.
The best thing about Mamma Mia! is that it was shot on location in Greece. The scenery is great and I loved the color palette used throughout the movie. It was live, vibrant, and carefree. But then the ensemble casts would run into frame and ruin it with their singing and dancing. There are no villains in this film. All the characters are presented as likable, therefore there is something horribly wrong if the audience still finds themselves wishing for someone to fall off a cliff or have the wooden dock collapse sending the ensemble company into a watery grave. Perhaps a water gurgled version of "Voulez-Vous" would sound better than what is presented here.
If you really want to see Mamma Mia! I suggest watching the 2 min. 36 second HD trailer online. The trailer is amazing. It shows how fun this musical could have been if it were shorter and not bogged down with, you know, all that awkwardly forced singing and dancing.
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August 18, 2008,
Graeme
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"Other successful musicals like Hairspray (2007) or Once (2007) make you want to go out and buy the soundtrack, learn every word, and sing-a-long to all the songs during the second, third, and fourth times you go to watch the movie." Clearly, you have not checked the Billboard charts. The Mamma Mia! movie soundtrack is Number ONE on the Billboard 200, and is the biggest selling album in America, so obviously millions ARE running out to buy the soundtrack. Also, the Mamma Mia! movie has already grossed MORE than Hairspray. And what on earth is Once. Never heard of that one. I also see nothing *but* smiles on the faces of the audiences each time I've seen the film. Utterly fabulous entertainment. And the songs are dynamite, even allowing for Brosnan's vocal weakness. |
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August 18, 2008,
?????
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pierce is an ok singer the film was great i bet u could not do wat they done so don't start on any one cause ur just jelous :evil: :evil: :angry: |
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August 18, 2008,
Marie Constance
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i wanted to like this movie. i really really did. the only way i'd recommend it would be to echo the words of glenn beck (and i don't even like glenn beck!): "What's it going to take to get you to go see Mamma Mia? Are you ever with people in a restaurant and they're like, does this taste spoiled? And then they, you know, try to get you to eat it? 'Try some, I think this is spoiled, is this bad?' This movie is so bad you have to taste it." Or maybe just echo the words of the girl leaving the theater behind me: "That movie was HILARIOUS. like laugh at not with hilarious." Once is an Irish musical that was made for $160,000 and saw international success through word of mouth because it was genuinely a strong story and every song drove the story progression. Whereas at time with Mamma Mia a song would finish and I would ask myself "What the heck just happened?" Neither of the two lead actors in Once (Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova) were had mega star pull, and I wonder if Mamma Mia would be as successful without the names. One of the things I enjoyed, aside from the scenery, was Colin Firth, shirt or no shirt. That much I will admit.  |
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August 19, 2008,
alicia
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I can't imagine a person going to a movie that is a musical and has been adapted from a musical play and being dissapointed that 'every other line is a song'. Have you ever gone to a musical? That's sorta the point. And when it comes to the ensemble cast, often times you are looking for a person that doesn't only sing, but also acts and can be entertaining. Perhaps pierce does have a difficult time, but don't blame the entire cast for the politics of hollywood. How about commenting on the amazing performance by Maryl Streep or the blow away breakthrough of Amanda Seyfried. It is obvious that you are an inexperienced theater goer and cannot realize how amazing it is for a play to go hollywood so that those of us who are unable to spend money on broadway can still enjoy the performing art. And for the comment about there being no bad guy; as if this were a bad thing. What you don't realize is that every one of the characters in this play was a bad guy, at some point. Sam for cheating on his fiance; Sophie for being too obsessed with her own feelings to ever consider her mother's or her fiance's emotions; Donna for being a little bit of a slut for while. These are all bad guy traits, but the reason you can't hate any of these people is because they are real, they are human! They have made mistakes and they regret many of them, just as we have all done before. Please, think a little deeper before you write such a dreadful review....you should have already known that this is a responsiblilty of someone who criticizes. |
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August 19, 2008,
jenny
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Methinks the writer here knows not what she writes. Why wouldn't a musical created to highlight ABBA songs be full of ABBA songs? Was she expecting it to feature songs by the Bangles? I counted three, maybe four songs sung by Pierce Brosnan out of a movie nearly two hours long. That's hardly every other song. And the Mamma Mia soundtrack is currently number one on the charts, which means somebody, no lots of somebodies left the theatre and bought copies. And why not? The songs were great and Pierce's singing was all part of the fun. Both the domestic and international box office have been phenomenal. In fact, no one was cringing in the theater I attended. Everyone was laughing, and cheering right along. Loosen up, get a few tatoos and don some spandex. Then maybe you'll be in the right frame of mind to write a decent review. |
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August 19, 2008,
Matt Urdan
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Hey, I think you've missed the point. If you go to see Mamma Mia! expecting a coherent story line written by a National Book Award Winner with all the carefully developed plots, subplots, story arcs and depth of character development than you're going to be disappointed. If you go to see Mamma Mia! expecting to escape from the weight of the world and to have a good time and to exult in the over-the-top physical comedy of Meryl Streep, Christine Baranski and Julie Walters while basking in the nostalgia of ABBA's awesome music, then you will find yourself smiling throughout the film and humming and toe-tapping to the beat all the way to the record store to pick up your copy of the Mamma Mia! soundtrack. This is NOT Oscar Material. This is NOT Danielle Steel Melodrama. This is just pure escape and fun. See it for what it is. Enjoy it for what it is. And most of all, just lighten up! If the entire world went out to see Mamma Mia!, I bet we could solve South Ossetia, Iraq, and declare peace in the Middle East all in one day. Cheers! |
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August 19, 2008,
Julian Moorer
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you know what, at the end of the day its a musical based on the music of ABBA. :pinch: |
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August 20, 2008,
Kermode
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Wow, are you going to die early of all that bitterness. Lighten up, save your self from disease. |
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August 21, 2008,
Thors Hammer
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Why is it that in all of the "bad" reviews I've seen for Mamma Mia, the major complaint is "there's too much singing." It's a movie adapted from a MUSICAL. It was in musical theaters before it was in movie theaters...why do people not GET that? THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE SINGING!The whole idea of the production was to tell a story using ABBA songs. What a novel idea! And how perfectly did these songs fit? I'd say the original producer and director did an excellent job of taking ABBA songs and making them into a story, and they did an even better job of turning that production into a movie. True, Pierce Brosnan is not the best singer, but I can overlook the 3 songs (out of how many?) that he actually sang in because I was so blown away by how AMAZING Amanda Seyfried was as Sophie. Where did she come from? From supporting roles and bit parts to being one of the two main characters in a movie that has a pretty deep ensemble cast...I think she stole the show. I was not familiar with her work before, but she has a great voice and if she ever decides to do singing AND acting, I'd buy her music as well as see her movies or TV shows. Even if musicals aren't your cup of tea and you didn't like this particular one, you have to admit that Seyfried has made a name for herself. The people over at HBO should do their best to keep her on Big Love and make her a major player in that series while they still have the opportunity before she moves on to bigger and better things. |
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August 24, 2008,
Michelle
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Yes, the movie is very cheesy and a total kitsch-fest and, no, the vocals are not perfect throughout the movie. On the other hand, if you just go with the flow and allow yourself to enjoy the movie, overlooking any imperfections, then it's also a lot of fun. A truly enjoyable, funny, feel-good movie. Amanda Seyfried was great, while Meryl Streep, Julie Walters and Christine Baranski were absolutely fantastic and stole every single scene they were in. They also looked like they were having a fantastic time making the movie and that enjoyment was very infectious. |
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August 25, 2008,
Geoff Gray
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As a lifelong Abba fan, with all the records, and i went to see them when they came down under, i loved the musical, and i also love this film. I think a lot of reviews are coming from 'non Abba' people, and show only too clearly that a critic is merely a single person's opinion. In regards to the actors singing, the critics should be blown away how well these well known actors can sing. In regards to Pierce Brosnan, funnily enough, now that i have the album, i find his three songs amongst the highlights of the album. In fact, 'when all is said is done' is my most played song of the record, just in front of Meryl's 'The winner takes it all', where she is awesome. Luckliy for me, they are side by side on the CD. |
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September 08, 2008,
Adrienne
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It was a nice escape from virtually any concept of reality as I know it, but it also made me laugh, sing outloud, and swoon over Domic Cooper (such yummy gazes at Sophia)! I loved it! It was goofy and a bit unrealistic; but come on, that's the point of seeing cinema and going to the movies-- a chance to just get away and be on a Greek Isle for a couple of hours with some of the funniest and most entertaining bunch of people. I would see it again and again just to lift my spirits! :whistle: |
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