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Movies / On DVD / Mamma Mia!
Mamma Mia!

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Mamma Mia! (2008)

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Reviews Counted:169

Fresh:90

Rotten:79

Average Rating:5.5/10

Consensus: This jukebox musical is full of fluffy fun but rough singing voices and a campy tone might not make you feel like "You Can Dance" the whole 90 minutes.

Australian Rating: PG [See Full Rating] Mild sexual references and coarse language

Runtime: 1 hr 49 mins

Genre: Comedies

Australian Theatrical Release:
Jul 10, 2008 Wide

US Box Office: $143,704,210

Synopsis: After its run as a West End hit in London, MAMMA MIA became a Broadway smash when it opened in New York back in 2001. With a story framed around the music of the Swedish pop band Abba, crowds loved... After its run as a West End hit in London, MAMMA MIA became a Broadway smash when it opened in New York back in 2001. With a story framed around the music of the Swedish pop band Abba, crowds loved its raucous, dance party vibe. Now it comes to the silver screen, with some truly delightful performances from the likes of Meryl Streep and Pierce Brosnan. It is the story of Sophie (Amanda Seyfried) a young woman living on a picturesque Greek island with her mother, Donna (Streep.) Together, Donna and Sophie run a ramshackle island inn, and they are in the midst of preparing for Sophie's wedding. As the wedding approaches, Sophie becomes troubled by the fact that she has never known her father. She was the result of one of her mother's summer flings, and her mother has never revealed her father's identity. When Sophie stumbles upon her mother's diary, she learns that there are three possible men who could be her dad. Without telling her mother, she invites all three to her wedding. When Harry (Colin Firth), Sam (Brosnan), and Bill (Stellan Skarsgard) all arrive at the same time, Donna is of course shocked and overwhelmed by seeing her old lovers again after such a long time. She turns to her two best friends, Tanya (Christine Baranaki) and Rosie (Julia Walters), for their support, and vows to just get through the wedding and weekend. Meanwhile, Sophie spends time with each man, determined to learn the truth. Major hijinks and confusion ensues, all amidst the utterly romance scenery, and the rather irresistible, swelling love ballads. Streep has a lovely singing voice, and to watch her throw herself into this whimsical role is truly a delight. She looks like she is having a ball, and it is hard not to shimmy along with her. Baranski reliably delivers an over-the-top showstopper, and Brosnan's tender singing voice makes his character all the more touching. The film strives to be a jubilant celebration of mother/daughter relationships and the love between good friends, and no matter how cheesy some may find Abba, it is hard to resist its many charms. [More]

Starring: Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, Amanda Seyfried

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

Director: Phyllida Lloyd

Director: Phyllida Lloyd
Screenwriter: Catherine Johnson
Producer: Judy Craymer, Gary Goetzman
Composer: Benny Andersson, Bjorn Ulvaeus
Studio: Universal Pictures

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Reviews for Mamma Mia!

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1 - 20 (sorted by comments; Australian critics are listed first)
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Perhaps your enjoyment will depend on how much you like the songs (I’m not a huge ABBA fan), but the great thing about this film is its joyousness.

Full Review Source: At the Movies (Australia) | comment 3 Comments
07/18/08
David Stratton
David Stratton
At the Movies (Australia)
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

A film that actually earns the exclamation mark that adorns its title, thanks to the exuberance that Streep and her co-stars bring to the job of reviving the rituals of the movie musical.

Full Review Source: Sydney Morning Herald | comment 2 Comments
07/11/08
Sandra Hall
Sandra Hall
Sydney Morning Herald
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ABBA's legacy will stand the test of time far longer than this

Full Review Source: Dark Horizons | comment Comment
09/11/08
Garth Franklin
Garth Franklin
Dark Horizons
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

This joyous frolic propelled and inspired by the timeless music of ABBA is a bit like Grease for the older set, with Meryl Streep and Pierce Brosnan playing the leading roles

Full Review Source: Urban Cinefile | comment Comment
07/05/08
Urban Cinefile Critics
Urban Cinefile Critics
Urban Cinefile
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Haritomeno kai akros diaskedastiko panigyri elahistopoiimenis kinimatografikotitas, me aboli skinothesia periorismenis horografikis kai allis dimioyrgikotitas, se koyrastika kleisto optiko pedio (logiko, gia na pantreyontai to miso stoyntiako plastiko yli

Full Review Source: Movies for the Masses | comment 19 Comments
07/03/08
Joseph Proimakis
Joseph Proimakis
Movies for the Masses

The most fun to be had at the movies this or any other recent summer.

Full Review Source: Hollywood Reporter | comment 13 Comments
06/30/08
Ray Bennett
Ray Bennett
Hollywood Reporter

Unfortunately, Streep and her ancient co-stars create pure torture whenever on screen together. This is the Catwoman of movie musicals

Full Review Source: Peterborough This Week | comment 12 Comments
09/09/08
Mike Sage
Mike Sage
Peterborough This Week

The only way to make Abba songs sound worse than they already are is to have them spring forth from the mouths of Meryl Streep and Pierce Brosnan.

Full Review Source: Beaumont Journal | comment 9 Comments
07/15/08
Danny Minton
Danny Minton
Beaumont Journal

You can have a perfectly nice time watching this spirited adaptation of the popular stage musical and, once the hangover wears off, acknowledge just how bad it is.

comment 7 Comments
07/17/08
A.O. Scott
A.O. Scott
New York Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

It is not merely that Pierce Brosnan cannot sing; it is that he looks so uncomfortable doing it.

Full Review Source: FilmStew.com | comment 7 Comments
07/21/08
Pam Grady
Pam Grady
FilmStew.com

This film version of Mamma Mia! is such a full-scale disaster in every way that it's hard to know what has held theatergoers' attention for so long.

Full Review Source: Slant Magazine | comment 6 Comments
07/13/08
Dan Callahan
Dan Callahan
Slant Magazine

Make that Grandma Mia!

Full Review Source: jackiekcooper.com | comment 6 Comments
07/25/08
Jackie K. Cooper
Jackie K. Cooper
jackiekcooper.com

The legal definition of torture has been much aired in recent years, and I take Mamma Mia! to be a useful contribution to that debate.

Full Review Source: New Yorker | comment 5 Comments
07/21/08
Anthony Lane
Anthony Lane
New Yorker
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Miscast, poorly shot, possibly choreographed by a spastic eight-year-old, Mamma Mia! is a mess, but it's kind of an impressive mess.

Full Review Source: Movie Retriever | comment 5 Comments
07/20/08
Brian Tallerico
Brian Tallerico
Movie Retriever

Streep has a sweet voice and knows how to use it, but it’s sad to watch a perfectionist remove part of her brain and try to convince us she’s having a jolly time.

Full Review Source: New York Magazine | comment 5 Comments
07/14/08
David Edelstein
David Edelstein
New York Magazine

Maybe watching three older women prancing around in tight spandex singing ABBA is someone's idea of a good time, but I wouldn't want to be stuck in a room with those people for more than 90 minutes ever again.

Full Review Source: ComingSoon.net | comment 5 Comments
07/15/08
Edward Douglas
Edward Douglas
ComingSoon.net

Unless you buy into this ersatz jubilance and its grim determination to make you feel good, you're apt to long for a tranquilizer gun by the 20-minute mark.

Full Review Source: Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC) | comment 5 Comments
07/22/08
Ken Hanke
Ken Hanke
Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

Nusicals traditionally rely rather heavily on things like singing and dancing; but what stage director Phyllida Lloyd throws onto the screen could better be described as "singing" and "dancing."

Full Review Source: Los Angeles CityBeat | comment 4 Comments
08/01/08
Andy Klein
Andy Klein
Los Angeles CityBeat

I love musicals and I love ABBA, so I was really excited for this movie. I pretty much got what I deserved.

Full Review Source: Sin Magazine | comment 4 Comments
07/21/08
Austin Kennedy
Austin Kennedy
Sin Magazine

Shot on location in Greece, but the way Meryl Streep tears through the scenery, you'd think she was in a giant reptile suit on the back lot at Toho.

Full Review Source: Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN) | comment 4 Comments
07/25/08
John Beifuss
John Beifuss
Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN)
 
 
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Latest News for Mamma Mia!

February 04, 2009: Exclusive: Inside Pinewood/Shepperton - A Photo Tour
Every year, the BAFTA film awards present a trophy for Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema. Introduced in 1978, the award recognises an organisation or a person's career... More...

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December 28, 2008: There's a neat free spirit versus family values message here, about a dad being no big deal when you can have three. Not to mention that family is more about who loves you, than whatever does or doesn't dangle between their legs. Opens in new window
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