Mamma Mia! (2008)

Director:

Phyllida Lloyd

Writers:

Catherine Johnson (screenplay)
Catherine Johnson (musical book)

Release Date:

18 July 2008 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Musical | Romance

Tagline:

Take a trip down the aisle you'll never forget

Plot:

The story of a bride-to-be trying to find her real father told using hit songs by the popular '70s group ABBA.

Plot Keywords:

Wedding | Island | Singer | Song | Hotel

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Golden Globes. Another 9 wins & 13 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Fri. Dec. 4	10:00 AM	HBO
Fri. Dec. 4	7:00 PM	HBO

Cast

Amanda Seyfried	...	Sophie
Stellan Skarsgård	...	Bill
Pierce Brosnan	...	Sam
Nancy Baldwin	...	Sam's PA
Colin Firth	...	Harry
Heather Emmanuel	...	Harry's Housekeeper
Colin Davis	...	Harry's Driver
Rachel McDowall	...	Lisa
Ashley Lilley	...	Ali
Meryl Streep	...	Donna Sheridan
Julie Walters	...	Rosie
Christine Baranski	...	Tanya
Ricardo Montez	...	Stannos
Mia Soteriou	...	Arina
Enzo Squillino Jr.	...	Gregoris

Also Known As:

Mamma Mia! The Movie (UK) (promotional title) (USA) (promotional title)
Mamma Mia! (Germany)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for some sex-related comments.

Runtime:

108 min

Country:

UK | USA | Germany

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

SDDS | Dolby Digital | DTS

Certification:

Ireland:PG | Australia:PG | Philippines:PG-13 (MTRCB) | Sweden:Btl | Netherlands:AL | Finland:K-3 | Malaysia:U | USA:PG-13 (certificate #44470) | South Korea:12 | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PG (British Columbia) | UK:PG | Singapore:PG | Norway:A | Portugal:M/6 | Hong Kong:IIA | New Zealand:PG | Argentina:Atp | Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Geneva) | South Africa:PG | Peru:PT | Brazil:10 | Germany:o.Al. | Singapore:M18 (DVD rating) | Mexico:B

Filming Locations:

Agios Ioannis Chapel, Skopelos, Greece

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

‘Mamma Mia!’ was the first film to be shot on the new 007 Stage at Pinewood Studios following a fire after Casino Royale (2006) wrapped. The new 59,000 sq ft stage was used for song and dance numbers that could not be filmed in the sun in Greece.

Goofs:

Continuity: During the "Does your Mother Know" dance scene at the beach bar, a dancer in the background is suddenly wearing sunglasses in one shot, they are gone on the next shot of her, and then she's wearing them again.

Quotes:

Tanya: [after a crack loudly appears in the courtyard after "Money, Money, Money] What happened?
Donna: [laughs] Didja feel it? The earth moved, darling. We're falling apart here.
[she snatches the bottle of champagne from Tanya's hands and walks off]
Donna: Don't think about it. C'mon. Let's go have fun...

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Modern Family: The Bicycle Thief (#1.2)" (2009)

Soundtrack:

Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)

Here we go again ...

Mamma Mia! Does the mention of anything Abba-ish send you cringing to a corner? Or are you already joining in and dancing on the tabletops? Maybe another few drinks . . .

In short, if you are not allergic to Abba, book your tickets now. If you are, why would you be reading this? At a pinch, it is worth seeing for Meryl Streep alone, who not only throws herself headlong into every refrain with unashamed gusto, but adds a touch of class and nuance to what otherwise could be a one-dimensional adaptation. Streep vacillates engagingly between playing herself and not taking herself too seriously. Pierce Brosnan just about keeps up, and manages more expressions than he ever did as James Bond. Colin Firth and Julie Waters trail behind somewhat. Yet Mama Mia! is a roller coaster of emotion, careering colourfully from the blue waters of the Adriatic, bursting 'like Aphrodite's Fountain' into the lives of Donna (Meryl) , her lovers and friends, and her soon-to-be-wed daughter. It is the party spirit that says kick your shoes off and sing silly cheesy songs. Altogether now.

And yes – there's a story. Donna's daughter Sophie is getting married. To the buff-looking Sky. Only – where's her dad? She's never met him. A sneak-peek at Mom's diary shows Mom had three lovers before Sophie was born and Sophie secretly invites all of them. This is a film of threesomes. Three past lovers (Sam, Bill and Harry). Three close friends (Donna and two best pals). And, not to be outdone, Sophie meets up with two other young girls at the start of the film.

The breakneck pace still allows for brilliantly put together shots. Like Streep doing a 'Titanic' with drapes blowing in the wind. Or a pier-load of young hunky stag night crew doing a dance in trunks and deep-dive flippers. Moonlit boats and beaches to "I Have a Dream." Filmed on location, the views won't disappoint. And like a favourite song whose ending we know, the drama is in the details and execution.

As with many adapted-from-stage musicals, two young leads are played by talented singers, and the older parts by serious actors can sing well enough. Streep manages extremely well. Her performance is so professional and assured it leaves others standing. Fortunately, it is perhaps easy to paper over any cracks in musical comedy. Sweeney Todd relied heavily on Depp's charisma and stunning cinematography. Across the Universe, too heavily on the songs. Mamma Mia!, on the other hand, simply tailors everything to its joyous headlong rush. The songs fit naturally to the action. Streep even manages to sing them with her tongue firmly in cheek. She confesses to having been a "stupid reckless little slut" but then says she "grew up". (To which her pals chime in, "Well grow back down again!") The film is not without faults. There is a notable lack of chemistry between the people that throw themselves rapturously against each others' faces. Even Streep looks less than convincing in a brief lips-mash. And the men are a bit croaky in the singing department (Hugh Grant might even have been a preferable casting choice). And some of the time-line is wobbly. For instance, strange as it may seem, music from more than twenty years ago does not all come from the same era. So reminiscing about flower power (early sixties) in the same breath as a Johnny Rotten t-shirt (Sex Pistols, mid-late seventies) is either anachronistic or wishful thinking.

Sadly, I am of a generation that can remember Abba-mania. The records would shoot to number one. Yet even then few people would admit to buying them. I used to manage a night club, and Abba was great music to ask a girl up to dance. My entire chat-up repertoire at that time consisted of, "Would you like to dance?" and "Do you want to come back for a coffee?" But girls would be so happy dancing to Mamma Mia they'd say yes anyway. I'd fall in love with a new girl each week. Ah, those were the days! Now there's a new generation of Abba fans who have no need to 'come out of a closet'. Abba is retro-chique. Even Madonna segued an Abba riff into one of her songs. From karaoke to hen nights. From '70s' nights to gay dance-floors. Dress up. Camp it up. Sing it up. Get sassy and cheesy. Or, if you're old enough to remember, fly back in time to wonderful memories.

Mamma Mia!, whatever detractors might say, has been one of the most successful stage shows of recent times. Supported by the same director and original band members, the movie may well reach the similar fan bases. Or just the party spirit in all of us.