Mamma mia

...title of the film - Mamma Mia! - and immediately dismissed it: a musical based on ABBA's songs? It couldn't be anything but naff, right? Wrong.

Mamma Mia! is a heartwarming, rip-roaring success of a film, based on the highly-acclaimed West End musical of the same name.

Since the film's release on the 10th July 2008, Mamma Mia! has had huge success at the Box Office, heading straight to number one and knocking Hancock ...
...was great as Bill in Mamma Mia! Pierce Brosnan breaks his Bond stereotype for the role of Sam, but Colin Firth plays yet another bumbling nice guy (though there's a twist to his story that inspires much laughter!)

Sophie's fiancé, Sky (Dominic Cooper), has very little to do but Cooper pulls off the role well - and it doesn't hurt that he's not bad to look at either!

Other supporting characters, such as Sophie's friends ... more

You've undoubtedly seen the adverts on the television, heard about it on the radio or noticed the posters that adorn many a roadside billboard. Perhaps you've seen the title of the film - Mamma Mia! - and immediately dismissed it: a musical based on ABBA's songs? It couldn't be anything but naff, right? Wrong.

Mamma Mia! is a heartwarming, rip-roaring success of a film, based on the highly-acclaimed West End musical of the same name.

Since the film's release on the 10th July 2008, Mamma Mia! has had huge success at the Box Office, heading straight to number one and knocking Hancock into second place.

The film has some huge names attached - Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan and Julie Walters to name but a few - and I highly recommend it.

--So, What's It About?--

You might be forgiven for thinking that a musical based on ABBA songs might have a silly, contrived plot. However, this is not the case. Whilst the story is second only to the showstopping musical numbers, the plot is solid and it's a great story that's told through hit after ABBA hit.

Donna (Meryl Streep), an independant single mother who owns a hotel on a beautiful Greek island is planning the wedding of her only daughter, Sophie (Amanda Seyfried). When Sophie discovers her mother's old diary, she finds out that she has three possible fathers, and invites them all to her wedding. Cue much hilarity, when Sam (Pierce Brosnan), Bill (Stellan Skarsgard) and Harry (Colin Firth), all arrive on the island - unbeknownst to Donna. Add Donna's old friends Rosie (Julie Walters) and Tanya (Christina Baranski) into the mix, and there's a recipe for fun, frivolity and random outbursts into song.

The film takes place the day before and the day of the wedding - and how will Donna react when she finds out her three old flings are there?

The plot is fresh and fun, and the selection of ABBA songs fit the story remarkably well.

--Characters--

Every one of the characters is fantastic. Donna, who is lovingly described by her friend Tanya as 'an ageing hippie', is a great leading character, played with aplomb by Meryl Streep. You really feel for Donna as she struggles to come to terms with finding out that Sam, Harry and Bill are on the island.

Sophie is another wonderful character, who's so smiley, happy and full of life that you can't help but like her. Amanda Seyfried is very good as Sophie, never taking her performance over the top but adding in just the right level of excitement.

Tanya and Rosie - Donna's best friends and the backing singers from her old group - are hilarious. Julie Walters can do no wrong, and she is amazing in this film - her comic timing is spot on and she provides some true laugh-out-loud moments. Tanya is fab as well, and her little sub-plot with Best Man Pepper is pure hilarity. The perfect supporting cast for Donna.

The three potential fathers - Bill, Harry and Sam - are great. Bill is an adventurous travel writer; Sam an architect living in New York and Harry a bumbling banker from London. I'd only ever seen Skarsgard as the barnacled Bootstrap Bill in Pirates of the Caribbean, but he was great as Bill in Mamma Mia! Pierce Brosnan breaks his Bond stereotype for the role of Sam, but Colin Firth plays yet another bumbling nice guy (though there's a twist to his story that inspires much laughter!)

Sophie's fiancé, Sky (Dominic Cooper), has very little to do but Cooper pulls off the role well - and it doesn't hurt that he's not bad to look at either!

Other supporting characters, such as Sophie's friends Allie and Lisa, and Sky's best man Pepper are all great, adding dimensions to the cast and fleshing out the festive feeling of the film.

--Songs--

The film manages to pack a whopping twenty ABBA hits into it's running time of 108 minutes. I admit, I have never been a fan of ABBA's music, but after seeing this film I concede that Benny and Bjorn knew what they were doing!

*I Have A Dream - This song opens and closes the film, and it's sang hauntingly well by Amanda Seyfried (Sophie). The song fits the actions on-screen perfectly, and despite my prior hatred of the song (blame Westlife for that!), it's one of my favourites in the film. The slight twist to the arrangement of the song to include a Greek sound worked really well.

*Honey, Honey - When Sophie has discovered her mother's diary and Donna's antics of twenty years ago, this song provides the soundtrack to the revelations. It's a great rendition by Seyfried - a happy, bouncy song that puts a big grin on your face.

*Money, Money, Money - You all know this song, and once Donna's friends find out that she's struggling for money, the three of them launch into the track. Some fantastic, hilarious, cheesy and campy moments during this number - I dare you not to laugh out loud!

*Mamma Mia - The song from which the film got its name, this is performed by Donna when she finds out Sam, Bill and Harry are on the island. The catchy hit fits Streeps voice very well, and though this isn't a favourite song of mine, I was still singing along!

*Chiquitita - Rosie and Tanya try to cheer Donna up by singing Chiquitita to her. Very well sung by Baranski and Walters, and accompanied by some great physical comedy from the both of them. Note: this song does not feature on the soundtrack.

*Dancing Queen - The showstealer! One of my favourite parts of the film. Tanya and Rosie continue trying to cheer Donna up by reminding her of her carefree past. Cue a massive dance number as all the local Greek women join in the dancing and head down to the dock for the finale. Again, Baranski and Walters provide some truly hilarious moments. This song will have you singing along and dancing in your seat.

*Our Last Summer - Harry, Bill and Sam reminisce about their individual memories of Donna. Whilst none of the men's vocals are brilliant, it doesn't seem to matter as they all infuse their singing with the emotion needed for the song.

*Lay All Your Love on Me - One of my favourites, this is sung by Sophie and Sky as he sets off for his stag night. Very well sung by Seyfried and Cooper, with a hilarious finale of wacky flipper dancing provided by Sky's friends. Another laugh-out-loud moment.

*Super Trouper - Donna and the Dynamos get together once more for a performance of Super Trouper at Sophie's hen 'do. Not my favourite moment in the film, but great vocals by Streep and the costumes worn by Donna, Rosie and Tanya are bound to get a giggle.

*Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! & Voulez-Vous - I've grouped these two together as in the film they lead one into the other for a show-stopping, ground stoming dance number. Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! sees all the girls at Sophie's hen party swarming around Harry and Bill (very funny!). At the same time, the three men are all coming to the realisation that they might be on the island for a particular reason... Voulez-Vous is a fantastic moment in the film, and a great rendition of the song for the big dance with the whole cast gathered in the hotel courtyard.

*SOS - Poor Pierce Brosnan has been getting a lot of bad press for his singing in SOS - but when you're caught up in the context of the film you don't care about his slightly flat vocals. In this number, Sam is pleading his love to Donna, despite the fact that he left her 20 years earlier for another woman.

*Does Your Mother Know - A fantastic foot-tapping song performed incredibly well by Christina Baranski. Pepper, the twenty-something best man is entranced by the older Tanya, and she's spurning his advances. One of my favourite songs from the film.

*Slipping Through My Fingers - A beautiful, heart-warming song. Donna's helping Sophie get ready for her wedding, and the lyrics about letting go of a loved one fit the moment so well, and it's almost enough to bring a tear to your eye.

*The Winner Takes It All - Wow - what can I say about this song? Donna's big solo as she tells Sam that nothing can happen between them, Meryl Streep shows off her fantastic voice and there's so much emotion in the song that you can't help but get goosebumps. Wonderful.

*I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do - A funny little insert in the chapel. It's not the full song, but it doesn't need to be, the few lines we get are perfect for the situation. Note: this is not on the soundtrack.

*When All Is Said and Done: Sam and Donna sing to each other. A hidden gem in the film that even Brosnan's poor vocals can't ruin.

*Take a Chance on Me - Hands down, this song has some of the funniest moments in the film. Rosie wants Bill - will he take a chance on her? And Harry wants someone as well... Walters is a genius at the physical comedy and she shines in this song. If you don't laugh and sing along during this one, then well... what's wrong with you?!

*Waterloo - Stay for the credits! As the film finishes, Donna, Rosie and Tanya return in their spangly catsuits and platform shoes for another rendition of Dancing Queen, swiftly followed by a fab version of Waterloo...made all the better when Bill, Harry and Sam come on stage in similar attire! They're soon joined by Sophie and Sky for a group singalong of one of ABBA's most beloved hits that will have you dancing in the aisle. Note: this is not on the soundtrack.

*Thank You For the Music - Stay for the second set of credits, or you'll miss a treat in the form of Seyfried's beautiful version of Thank You For the Music. Whenever I hear any version of this song I get tears in my ears (it has sad connotations for me), but this haunting rendition with a backing of only a piano brought a lump to my throat. Note: this is on the soundtrack, but it is a 'hidden track', beginning about a minute after I Have a Dream.

--So, I Should Go See It?--

Yes, yes, absolutely, yes! I can't recommend this film enough. Put your prejudices about ABBA aside and get set for a film that will have you grinning all the way through, humming the songs for the rest of the day and that will leave you with the urge to jump up and burst into the chorus of Dancing Queen (...what? I can't be the only one!)

This also has to be one of the funniest films I've seen in a long time. Even when I think something is funny in films, I'll usually just smile or chuckle. During Mamma Mia! I was laughing out loud, not caring what anyone else in the cinema thought because they were all doing the same!

I can't recommend this film enough.

--Details--

Cast: Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, Stellan Skarsgard, Julie Walters, Dominic Cooper, Amanda Seyfried, Christina Baranski

Runtime: 108 minutes

Rating: PG

--Anything Else I Need to Know?--

Don't go into the cinema expecting a serious film. Mamma Mia! is cheesy, it's camp and it's funny - but it's brilliant.

I've seen the film four times now (...ahem...) and during each screening the other people in the cinema were singing (or mouthing) along to the songs, people were seat-dancing and everyone came out with huge smiles on their faces.

I think that's about all you need to know, except... go see it! 

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