Mamma Mia - A Movie Review

Mamma Mia, how can I resist you? I should not have let you go.

Based on the hit musical, Mamma Mia!, the film adaptation premiered in theaters in 2008. Sophie has never met her biological father. After reading her mother’s diary, Sophie invites three men who may be her father to her wedding. Only, she has no idea when they arrive and shenanigans arise on the island.

Mamma Mia is another film I regret not seeing in theaters, but it was an unforgettable experience when I watched it on DVD with my mom and grandmother. Mamma Mia is a musical extravaganza that delights audiences with a comical story about friendship, love, and believing in yourself.

A totally talented ensemble was cast in Mamma Mia. Several actors were considered for the roles. Everyone matches their part, whether vocally or character-wise. All singing was performed live. The cast had a spectacular time working on this film.

Meryl Streep is dynamite as Donna Sheridan, showcasing fierce vocals and expert acting. Streep and Amanda Seyfried (Sophie Sheridan) made an excellent mother-daughter duo. Sophie is a great character, whose ideas get the better of her.

Streep, Julie Walters, and Christine Baranski have electric chemistry like nobody else. I love their friendship. This trio is the highlight of the movie. Their friendship is a beautiful symbol of adult friendships. Just because you age, the teenager in you never goes away. They were fantastic in all of their scenes, even when teasing each other.

Pierce Brosnan, Stellan Skarsgard, and Colin Firth play the three men who Sophie invites to the island. One of them is Sophie’s dad. Reluctant to join at first because the actors said they didn’t have musical backgrounds, this film would be lost without their presence. Firth said that Mamma Mia is his favorite project.

Let me confess one thing that I like about Mamma Mia, which the fanbase has endured mixed opinions about. I like Pierce Brosnan’s singing. It’s not perfect, or Hollywood, but it’s good. Brosnan creates his own range and gives it his all in songs. I can never stop listening to ‘S.O.S.’

Phyllida Lloyd directed the original Mamma Mia when it was on Broadway. Lloyd made this film a fun, quirky, and sing-tastic time for both the audience and the cast. She tried new things, as evidenced by clips of musical numbers. In the song, ‘Lay All Your Love On Me,’ she changed the famous flipper dance from the sandy beach to the dock.

This isn’t just a movie. Mamma Mia is a dance-a-thon! With music by ABBA, songs were recorded by Benny Andersson. You’ll be dancing to musical numbers, like ‘Dancing Queen,’ Streep’s epic ‘Mamma Mia’, and ‘The Winner Takes it All’ number, along with countless more songs. My favorite scene is everyone on the island joining in for ‘Dancing Queen.’

Mamma Mia has loads of behind-the-scenes tales. Those ocean backgrounds were filmed on islands in Greece. It’s a beautiful setting. During one musical number, Julie Walters injured herself, but continued to film the rest of the scene.

Mamma Mia is about being true to yourself. Sophie’s wild decision causes an uproar around the island, but it makes everyone realize their love and friendship for one another. Nobody is ever alone.

Mamma Mia never gets old. The film has fun being what it is. Movie musicals are the greatest! I have seen the musical a few times onstage, and it’s a fun time. It’s a musical I’d like to be in someday. This is a movie to watch if you haven’t seen it yet.