Mamma Mia

Mamma Mia! became a Broadway smash when it hit Broadway 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 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.

-Prior to giving you our reviewer’s opinion of Mamma Mia, Film Chair would like to point out that this film was reviewed by a man who doesn’t particularly like chick flicks, musicals (except for Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, random!?!) and seems to have gone against the opinion of the nation.  Here’s his review-

Mamma-Mia what a bad film -

The film that has belted its way to becoming the second highest grossing film in UK cinema history truly amazed me. Take one successful female lead, add a James Bond, a British stiff upper lipped gent, and a British Institution and people it seems will show up.

However in reality this film which plods along slower than your Gran is a true bore. Not having the option just to turn off as being stuck on a plane this movie made a 2 hour flight feel like it was a slow train across Africa. I do not mind musicals, one of my favourite films is Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, but this film would comically burst into a song which just did not flow.

The voices are dreadful, Bronson could possibly be the worst singer in Hollywood and making no attempt to dub in the studio recorded voices and sync in over the film was dreadful.

All in all I did not like this film. It’s a classic boy meets girl, she has 3 dads because her mum was a dirty slapper and they make a song and dance about it. Avoid it like the plague but get it for your mum in her Christmas stocking.

Special Features

• Sing-a-long option
• Feature commentary with director Phyllida Lloyd
• Behind-the-scenes look at the making of Mamma Mia!
• The ‘Gimme Gimme Gimme’ music video
• Deleted scenes, including the deleted musical number ‘Name of the Game’
• And loads more…