Mamma Mia! The Movie [DVD]

Mamma Mia! opened on July 10th in the Philippines which was more than a week ahead of its US release on July 18th. It ran for almost 3 months in theaters here in Manila where a hit movie would probably last up to three (3) weeks and a dud would just play for a few days. I saw this film almost 20 times in different theaters around Manila and saw how people from all ages - the teens to the older generation - enjoyed the film. Maybe it was the music, maybe it was the acting and the singing, maybe it was the lush setting in Greece. It was all of these. The producers were able to weave a wonderful story of love lost and found amidst an impending wedding set in a remote Greek island with the timeless tunes of ABBA. What really helped in the appreciation of ABBA's music was the familiar arrangements which Benny and Bjorn did not change but even enhanced a bit. The familiarity really struck a nostalgic chord especially with the generation who grew up with ABBA's music. The showstopper of course was Dancing Queen played in the middle of the film where Donna and the Dynamos start singing in the room and go out into the streets and are joined by the village women in an anthem of woman empowerment. Even the finale is wonderful where they sing Dancing Queen as a trio with Waterloo as the fitting ending song where the Dynamos are joined by the men and the young couple Sophie and Sky. Believe it or not, in the Philippines, people never stay for the credits and in fact automatically head for the exit when a movie or a concert finishes (it's a given - they have no appreciation for credits and would rather be ahead of the rest in getting out of the venue) but with Mamma Mia! people really stayed to see Dancing Queen again and until Waterloo was over - and some stayed until the final notes of Thank You for the Music. I was aghast to read that critics bashed Mamma Mia! But this is plain amusing to most of the people who appreciated this wonderful film. Critics and bashers can say all the negative things they want but the people have spoken with it's resounding commercial success - Mamma Mia's soundtrack hit No. 1 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums and has been certified platinum (no ABBA album ever hit the Top 10 in the US). Mamma Mia! the movie has grossed almost $144 MM at the US box-office to make it the 4th biggest grossing musical of all time in the US (behind Grease, Chicago and The Sound of Music). Mamma Mia! the movie did even better in the UK because it has grossed 67 MM pounds and is the second biggest film of all time in the UK behind Titanic which grossed 69 MM pounds. Not bad indeed! Bravo to the cast! Meryl Streep proved in this film that she can do absolutely anything! America's finest actress is poised for a double win at the Golden Globes in 2009 -Best Actress in a Musical / Comedy for Mamma Mia! (her brilliant singing in Winner Takes it All alone can make her win the Globe) and Best Actress in a Drama for Doubt. A fitting reward for a truly great actress! The upcoming DVD deserves all the attention it can get. The perfect Christmas gift. Cheers!!!

I have not seen the stage musical, but I liked this movie very much. I mean, it has Peirce Brosnan - so there's that. It is definitely better than the Wicked movie...there, I said it.

Mamma Mia! is a cinematic gem that seamlessly weaves together the magic of ABBA's timeless music with a heartwarming and joyous storyline. From the moment the movie begins, it grabs your attention with its vibrant colors, picturesque settings, and a soundtrack that's bound to make you tap your feet. The film follows the enchanting journey of Sophie (Amanda Seyfried), a bride-to-be on a quest to discover the identity of her father. The plot unfolds on the sun-kissed Greek island, adding a charming and idyllic backdrop to the unfolding drama. The decision to set the story against such a visually stunning location enhances the overall experience, creating a sense of escapism for the audience. The standout feature of Mamma Mia! is undoubtedly the musical numbers. ABBA's hit songs are masterfully integrated into the narrative, creating moments of pure cinematic magic. The cast, including Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan, and Colin Firth, surprises with their vocal performances, bringing a genuine and endearing quality to the musical sequences. While the plot may be light-hearted, it doesn't shy away from exploring themes of love, family, and self-discovery. The characters, though somewhat clichéd, are brought to life by a stellar ensemble cast that injects humor and warmth into their portrayals. Meryl Streep, in particular, shines in her role, delivering a performance that is both funny and emotionally resonant. The film's pacing keeps you engaged, and the transitions between dialogue and musical numbers are smooth and well-executed. There's a perfect balance between the heartfelt moments and the sheer exuberance of the musical performances, creating a feel-good atmosphere throughout. Mamma Mia! succeeds not just as a musical but as a celebration of love, friendship, and the enduring power of music. It's a movie that will leave you with a smile on your face and a desire to dance along to ABBA's infectious tunes. Whether you're a fan of musicals or simply in need of a dose of joy, Mamma Mia! is a delightful choice that promises an entertaining escape into a world of music and sunshine.

One of my all time favorite movies

The Greek Islands are amazing. I love the music, the actors, the scenery, you name it.

A lovely, spirited romantic movie set in the beauty of Greece- its incredulous mountains and cliffs overlooking the sparkling blue sea looked down upon by bluer than blue skies. Whitewashed buildings made blindingly bright by the sun. The audience arrives at the scene along with the cast of attendees of Donna's daughter's wedding and the music draws us in to be full participants. Donna had traveled to Greece as a seventeen year old young woman to enjoy a summer of the sights and carefree life there but never returned home - the consequences of casting fate to the wind and loving freely that impetuous summer. Her light-hearted, free and easy ways of her youth had abruptly ended with that summer. As the movie begins, we learn that she has lived out her life over the past twenty years in financial hardship, having been disowned by her mother when her pregnancy was found out. The three young men with whom she had had romantic encounters that summer had moved on with their lives and never knew of her strife. Having the good fortune of inheriting a goat farm property on a precarious hillside, she has spent all her money and invested her back breaking labor in trying to restore the place into an Inn from which to draw an income. The reality was it was crumbling faster than she could repair it and no amount of whitewash could cover its decline. What was planned as a simple village wedding ceremony with plenty of food and drink exploded over night into something quite unexpected as the guests begin to arrive and partake in the festivities. Donna is horrified when the three men - one of which was the father of her daughter - arrive on the scene. They had received invitations from her daughter whose deep-seated need to find out who her father overtakes all caution following finding her mother's diary about that summer and decides to invite the three possible "fathers" to her wedding - never really expecting any to come. This convergence is rounded out by the arrival of Donna's two oldest and dearest friends from her back-in-the-day youth. The friendships of the young bride-to-be and her circle of close friends have their eyes opened to what her mother and friends had experienced in their youth as they provide the entertainment for the "girls only" party the night before the wedding by performing their array of disco songs. The young bride-to-be and her friends and the locals are shocked, but totally taken with the freeing tone those songs projected and the whole place goes crazy with everyone joining in along with the three men watching from the edge of the crowd as their old love, Donna, leads the 'playback" of songs and fun they had each personally shared with her as a young girl some twenty years before in this same breath-taking place. The ending is a happy one. There is a message we come away with upon leaving the theater. For me it is, "Take time dear girls to form you own set of dreams. Find out who you are, recognize your talents, so that you can choose a career or path that will be the "work" of your life and also the source of what fulfills you outside of a relationship - before the worldly responsibilities of becoming an adult are laid upon you. Donna had swallowed the shame she felt in becoming an unwed mother. Rebuilding her crumbling property into an Inn became her life. An impossible dream given her financial resources yet she would not give up. Deep inside her, it represented a dream talked about with Sam back in that summer of long ago. A dream she would not let go of despite his no longer being there to share in it. For all its crumbling conditions, it was home for her and her daughter. To ensure that unlike her, her daughter would find a safe and happy haven in life. The Rules would be followed! Her wings would be lovingly clipped to protect her from flying away to the temptations of inexperienced youth. A lovely wedding to remember, a devoted husband on which to depend BEFORE a baby came on the scene.... all would come to pass by following the "Rules". While the memories of her daughter and her circle of friends are being formed, Donna's old memories - and those of the three men, come flooding back. They are both whimsical and lighthearted, filled with youthful innocence as they came to know one-another's budding interests and then gave way to their over-powering sexual attractions. Yet the jarring and sobering realities that followed for Donna in how her life had played out after that summer of unfettered fun is unleashed in emotion as she sings, "The Winner Takes It All". This is definately a "Chick Flick". Men will probably not come away with any of its deeper meaning. So see the movie with your girlfriends instead. Buy the CD and watch it alone to have a good laugh and cry when the load dumped upon your shoulders seems too much. Bring tissues because we women will cry when they see the parallels found in our own lives, others will cry for those in our sisterhood who gave up their young dreams and devoted the balance of their lives to making the most of their own dealt hand of reality. It reminds us of how restorative it is when we connect with our old friends and reminisce about the life journey we shared. But the movie's most important reminder is that there is nothing on earth to equal the deep and abiding connection between a man and a woman in love whose main expression of that love is to allow each to realize their dreams and be the support in those endeavors... It is such love that happens in both Donna's life and her daughter's that makes for the movies happy ending.

Mamma Mia! was an absolute delight - full of energy, sunshine, and feel-good ABBA hits that had me smiling from start to finish. I loved the vibrant setting, the playful story, and the all-star cast that clearly had a blast making this movie. The musical numbers were infectious and brought a lot of charm and heart to the film. Meryl Streep was fantastic, and Amanda Seyfried was perfectly cast. The film captured that carefree, joyous spirit that makes it such a comfort watch. That said… let’s talk about Pierce Brosnan’s singing. While I appreciate the enthusiasm, his vocal performances were definitely a weak spot. Thankfully, it didn’t ruin the experience - it just added a bit of unintentional humor! Overall, Mamma Mia! was a joyful, sing-along-worthy escape that I thoroughly enjoyed (even with a few off-key moments)!

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