The Phantom Tollbooth - Movies Reviews Index


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Home Subscribe About Us Features News Album Reviews Movie Reviews Past Movies Movie Resources Concert Reviews Book Reviews Top 10 Contact Us	Mamma Mia Stars: Meryl Streep, Amanda Seyfried, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, Stellan Skarsgaard, Julie Walters, Christine Baranski and Dominic Cooper Director: Phyllida Lloyd Scriptwriter: Catherine Johnson Composer: music and lyrics by Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus Universal/Playtone Rating: PG 13 for sexual comments Running Length: 108 minutes www.mamma-mia-themovie.com Greece has always been an enchanted country and now we go there, with ABBA music, to be a guest at the wedding of Sophie (Amanda Seyfried) and Sky (Dominic Cooper). Weather is always perfect, sea ranges from blue to turquoise and the men always have their shirts off. Such is the setting for the Broadway musical, “Mamma Mia” which is now on the big screen. Phyllida Lloyd directs the movie, as she did the stage play, going by Catherine Johnson’s story. Photography is wonderful, especially the wedding procession. Meryl Streep stars as Donna, mother to Sophie, and owner of a small hotel. Sophie is going to be married the next day to Sky. Sophie has never known who her father was, but wants someone to walk her down the aisle. She accidentally finds her mother’s diary of 20 years ago and figures out that three men, Bill (Stellan Skarsgaard), Sam (Pierce Brosnan) or Harry (Colin Firth) could be her dad as each had sex with Donna within a short time span. Sophie invites all three men to her wedding but they don’t know why they are coming to Greece. You can imagine what happens when they arrive early---together---and Sophie has to hide them before Donna meets them. This is one of the humorous moments in the film and Meryl Streep makes the most of it as she crawls around the rooftops trying to get a look at the new “guests.” I see a fashion statement being made here with Streep’s Capri-length, dark blue overalls. Sophie has two friends helping her, and Donna has HER two friends, Rosie (an over-the-top Julie Walters) and Tanya (Christine Baranski). All are trying to figure out what to do with the three men and eventually, the secret is out as to why Sophie invited them. Mamma Mia is a travelogue for Greece and with ABBA music, you may leave the theater dancing your way to the nearest airport. Streep has a good, strong voice and really goes at it in the dance department. Stand-out music numbers are “Money, Money, Money,” “Mamma Mia,” “Dancing Queen,” Super Trouper” and “The Winner Takes All” which is a showcase for Streep. The stars do their own singing, but the weakest is Pierce Brosnan, who unfortunately, has the most to sing. He looks as though he is enjoying himself, but audiences may wonder. Amanda Segfried has eyes the color of Greek seas and is aptly cast as the innocent-looking/savvy Sophia. Julie Walters goes over the top as a best-selling cookbook author, while Christine Baranski gives sex chit-chat new meaning. Stellan Skarsgaard, who usually plays a villain, does a nice turn as an adventurer with a soft spot and Colin Firth is, well, Colin Firth, and women will notice. Since this is Greece, there has to be a Greek chorus and it ranges from a music chorus, to a few asides from the cast. By the way, stay through the end credits. The cast must have had a ball filming this movie. Who knew you could even walk in six-inch platform boots. Copyright 2008 Marie Asner