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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: Musical & Performing Arts

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 date; Australian critics are listed first)
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Reviews
Tomatometer Critic Review Category
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Garth Franklin

ABBA's legacy will stand the test of time far longer than this

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Sep., 11 2008 10:09 PM

Dark Horizons

tomato
3.5/5

David Stratton

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: | comment 3 Comments | Jul., 18 2008 12:19 AM

At the Movies (Australia)

tomato

Sandra Hall

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: | comment 2 Comments | Jul., 11 2008 03:15 AM

Sydney Morning Herald

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Urban Cinefile Critics

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: | comment Comment | Jul., 05 2008 01:33 AM

Urban Cinefile

splat

Fernando F. Croce

A mostly ghastly spectacle

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Aug., 25 2009 09:28 PM

CinePassion

tomato
6/10

Dragan Antulov

Mnoge od scena su nadrealno %u0161a%u0161ave

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Jul., 15 2009 02:19 PM

Index.hr

N/R

Betsy Sherman

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Apr., 23 2009 03:16 AM

Boston Phoenix

splat
0/4

Walter Chaw

After this, after "Movin' Out" (based on the deplorable songbook of one Willliam Joel), it's not even satire to suggest that the next big thing will be a musical inspired by the oeuvre of Howard Jones

Full Review Source: | comment 1 Comment | Feb., 18 2009 09:47 AM

Film Freak Central

tomato
2.5/4

David Nusair

...certain sequences are inherently far more affecting and engaging than others.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Feb., 10 2009 08:08 AM

Reel Film Reviews

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4.5/5

Rory L. Aronsky

More fluff like "Mamma Mia!" than "Made of Honor" would make mid-year moviegoing a happier experience.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Jan., 06 2009 12:08 AM

Film Threat

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5/10

Stephen Himes

As for Meryl Streep, you sense that she's thinking what you're thinking: That she can't actually be in this movie.

Full Review Source: | comment 2 Comments | Nov., 20 2008 07:53 AM

Film Snobs

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1/5

Peter Bradshaw

The story is ... urh. No film has ever had a more irrelevant story.

Full Review Source: | comment 2 Comments | Oct., 18 2008 08:59 AM

Guardian [UK]

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B

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Oct., 18 2008 08:59 AM

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

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1.5/5

James Kendrick

Even the most exuberant musical numbers feel either flat or forced.

Full Review Source: | comment 1 Comment | Oct., 18 2008 08:59 AM

Q Network Film Desk

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Mike Goodridge

The infectious, decades-old ABBA songs on which the film is anchored are the only thing keeping it afloat.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Oct., 18 2008 08:59 AM

Screen International

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Jean Lowerison

Brosnan, Firth and Skarsgard have a great time playing the bimbos who may be Sophie's dad.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Oct., 18 2008 08:59 AM

San Diego Metropolitan

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2/5

Kenneth Turan

A sage once advised being wary of movies in which the people on screen are having more fun than the people in the audience. Mamma mia, was that good advice.

Full Review Source: | comment 3 Comments | Oct., 18 2008 08:59 AM

Los Angeles Times

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D+

Nathaniel Rogers

I believe that genealogy would prove "director" Phyllida Lloyd a descendant of Ed Wood himself.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Oct., 04 2008 08:27 AM

Film Experience

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5/5

Pete Hammond

An absolutely hilarious, rousing and joyous celebration that ought to have you dancing in the aisles.

Full Review Source: | comment 3 Comments | Oct., 01 2008 03:15 AM

Hollywood.com

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Joe Baltake

Streep's 'Mamma Mia!' Is Like Taking a Tiny Vacation

Full Review Source: | comment 1 Comment | Sep., 16 2008 01:42 PM

Passionate Moviegoer

 
 
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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...

January 21, 2009: Razzies Name 2008's Worst Movie Nominees
No awards season would be complete without the Golden Raspberry Awards (AKA The Razzies), awarded each year to the very worst movies to hit Hollywood. This year's winners will... More...

January 07, 2009: People's Choice Awards Winners Announced
The 35th annual People's Choice Awards were handed out on January 7, 2009. A complete list of film nominees, with winners in bold, follows below. More...

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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