"Just when Mamma Mia! was about to induce vomiting with its saccharine-saturated beginning, it somehow put me at ease thanks its truly talented cast."
It seems that movie musicals have come back in a big way. How else can you possibly enjoy Broadway hits without spending the money or taking the time to actually see them in New York City? The trend seems to go that once a movie generates buzz at the Tony's, it is time to project on the big screen for people to enjoy across the country. The most recent and notable examples are Hairspray and Sweeney Todd. In fact, it was Hairspray that ended up being the surprise hit of last summer. And what better way to follow up that success? You guessed it-ABBA. Some may be aware of the Broadway hit Mamma Mia!, which is comprised of songs once written and performed by the Swedish pop group. In a jungle of blockbusters, the musical makes its debut against the heavy-hitter The Dark Knight. I never thought I would see the day when The Joker and ABBA would be throwing down for box office glory. I think it is a no-brainer which picture will take away the jackpot this weekend, but the question still remains if Mamma Mia! still has the potential to be a steady and profitable performer in the box office.
The storyline is very much short of original. In fact, without the music, there would be no point to such a plot. Cutie Sophie (Amanda Seyfried) is about to get married on a Greek island where her mother Donna (Meryl Streep) runs a run down villa. The problem is that Sophie doesn't know who her father is. In an effort to meet the man, she mails out invitations to the three possible contenders. Despite the fact that none of these men have come into contact with Donne in over 20 years, they all decide to make travel plans and show up at the wedding. There is the suave and debonair Sam (Pierce Brosnan), uptight charmer Harry (Colin Firth), and the rugged and nomadic Bill (Stellan Skarsgard).
Of course the unexpected arrival of these men sparks excitement for Sophie and tension for Donna. How is a once-promiscuous wild girl to deal with the sudden arrival of three men that she schtooked during a short time span? Sam in particular seems to be rekindling a fire that was put out 20 years ago. However, with the moral support of her loyal gal pals Rosie (Julie Walters) and Tanya (Christine Baranski), Donna attempts to stay on track in resuming the wedding, reuniting with her former flames, and singing pop songs in between.
The film Mamma Mia! begins with an opening number that involves Sophie and her bimbo friends giggling and singing bubble gum pop about getting giddy and getting married. Within the first 15 minutes of this film, I already felt as though it was over. It was as if someone had taken a 2 liter bottle of pure cola and forced me to drink it, only to leave me with a feeling of stomach-churning nausea. Could it be that this entire film will be in the vein of teenie-boppery sickness? I braced myself for the worst and told myself that it would only be 2 hours. Then something miraculous happened: the adults showed up. The young girls were then shoved into the corner so we could meet Donna and her friends, while also getting to know the unsuspecting men who have confusingly shown up at this wedding. The film felt as though it was placed in control thanks to the presence of veteran performers who actually know how to sing a song while selling their likeability.
Despite the film's decision to focus on more mature characters, it was still injecting me with ultra-sweet syrup. However, I found myself embracing its flamboyancy rather than denying it. Meryl Streep is an actress with whom everyone is acquainted, yet I never tire of her. It is clear that Streep is enjoying every minute of chewing up the scenery as she sings and dances her way to the closing credits. But instead of feeling exhausted, I only wanted more of what Streep had to dish out. There is a certain magnetism that eminates from Meryl Streep. She may not sing as well as the performers who have played her character on Broadway, but it is incredibly difficult to not root for her confidence.
Streep is backed up by a very strong cast. Amanda Seyfried is a promising up-and-comer as Sophie as is Dominic Cooper, who plays her husband-to-be, but they are overshadowed by the true professionals here. Perhaps they will one day have the honor of playing older characters when they film a remake 30 years down the road. Firth, Skarsgard, and Brosnan are all likeable enough as the suitors, despite the fact that Brosnan is clearly not cut out for the musical genre. The women are a whole different story. Christine Baranski and Julie Walters are absolutely fantastic as Donna's supportive friends. Walters provides that much-needed dose of physical comedy while Baranski brings her strong song and dance roots to a couple of numbers. Baranski's solo about being a seductive cougar is particularly noteworthy.
What it comes down to is that I dislike ABBA and I despise films that try to poison me with sugar. However, I do like musicals. Just when Mamma Mia! was about to induce vomiting with its saccharine-saturated beginning, it somehow put me at ease thanks its truly talented cast. ABBA is not America's most universally beloved group, but their music is actually enjoyable when utilized the correct way. Here their hits are sung and celebrated by a fine assembly of actors. This movie does not hold back on the flamboyant punches and it not for everyone. However, if you have at least a soft spot for musicals, then you owe it to yourself to "Take a Chance" (ABBA joke) on this film.
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