The hit Broadway musical Mamma Mia, based on the songs of the 1970's top selling pop band ABBA, been made into a movie. It's called Mamma Mia!
If you're not familiar with the show, roughly twenty ABBA songs have been woven into a storyline about a middle aged, single woman, played by Meryl Streep, who lives on a remote, Greek island with her daughter who's about to get married.
But it's not that easy. Without her mom's consent, she invites all three perspective dads to the big event and figures that over the course of a few days she'll find out the truth.
The three possible fathers are played by Pierce Bronson, Colin Firth and Stellan Skarsgard and throughout the film, ABBA tunes pop up out of nowhere and only occasionally do they advance the action.
What worked on stage doesn't work well here, with what seems like a camera two inches from an actor’s face. In a Broadway theatre an audience can accept actors suddenly bursting into song for no apparent reason. But in a film, it's just hard to buy into. This approach might have worked in the 1940s and 50s, but today it's tough to accept. Mama Mia director Phyllidia Loyd who also directed the stage musical, can't seem to capture the spirit of the show on film.
Neil Rosen reviews the hit Broadway musical Mamma Mia, based on the songs of the 1970's top selling pop band ABBA, been made into a movie. It's called Mamma Mia!
Meryl Streep has a decent voice and sang much better than I expected. But Pierce Brosnan received unintentional laughs at the screening I attended whenever he burst into a tune.
The scenery was beautiful and the cinematography is lush. But the choreography is too stagy and I was embarrassed for supporting players like Christine Baranski.
The makers of Mamma Mia try to be campy one moment, serious the next, but they can't have it both ways. So why did the talented cast agree to do this. Maybe the answer can be found in an ABBA song.