Directed by:
Phyllida LloydScreenplay:
Catherine JohnsonCinematography:
Haris ZambarloukosComposer:
Benny AnderssonCast:
Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, Stellan Skarsgård, Amanda Seyfried, Julie Walters, Christine Baranski, Dominic Cooper, Rachel McDowall (more)VOD (4)
Plots(1)
Donna, an independent, single mother who owns a small hotel on an idyllic Greek island, is about to let go of Sophie, the spirited daughter she's raised alone. For Sophie's wedding, Donna has invited her two lifelong best girlfriends - practical and no-nonsense Rosie and wealthy, multi-divorcee Tonya - from her one-time backing band, Donna and the Dynamos. But Sophie has secretly invited three guests of her own. On a quest to find the identity of her father to walk her down the aisle, she brings back three men from Donna's past to the Mediterranean paradise they visited 20 years earlier. Over 24 chaotic, magical hours, new love will bloom and old romances will be rekindled on this lush island full of possibilities. (Universal Pictures US)
(more)Reviews (9)
Four amazing actors sold themselves out to a naïve script, a talentless director and a colorblind Greek director of photography. Even the slugs in Microcosmos were filmed in a more dynamic, interesting and original fashion than the dance numbers in this movie, which is just cheap, TV-like entertainment for non-discerning audiences. It is an embarrassment for the first-league Hollywood musical genre.
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It’s so naive and kitsch that it’s fun. Really, that the only interesting thing about it are ABBA’s songs is besides the point, because Mamma Mia! will work great for its target audience.
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A condensate of ABBA, with lashings of sun-sparkling Metaxa in the form of a refreshing soda. For most people hell, for me a surprisingly bearable guilty pleasure (and shockingly unbearable choreography). Without Meryl, it would have been just half a movie, but so what. She’s here and she’s amazing. It’s just Brosnan who spoils it. As long as he’s sitting there grinning, everything is ok, but he really shouldn’t have opened that mouth of his. His singing sends chills down my spine. Chills of terror, not pleasure. I’m convinced that it’s intentionally over-kitsch ad absurdum and the filmmakers are obviously making fun of it. At least I sincerely hope so. And I’m not looking forward to the Czech dubbed version. I can hear it right now, The Winner Takes It All sung by Czech Golden Girl Vondráčková or other stars of Saturday night variety shows. P.S.: Stellan “I don’t own a T-shirt" Skarsgård’s bare chest is more than a heterosexual man is able to stand in a movie. Much more.
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Young people love each other, older people love each other, everyone dances, the older ones even jump on the beds, and everyone sings Abba, Abba, and Abba again. And after the first ten minutes, I lose my slightly contemptuous expression and a smile appears in its stead. And it simply doesn't want to disappear for anything. There hasn't been a more positive movie in a long time, plus Amanda Seyfried is the sweetheart of the summer of 2008, plus all three "fathers" are partially clowns and partially dads to admire. Not to mention that Meryl Streep's "The Winner Takes It All" is such a fantastic number that I couldn't find any flaws until the (slightly extended) end. When I see it again on the screen, maybe the magic will start to fade. For the moment, however, I hope it never does.
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A well-known female film critic once wrote about this film that it is a crystalline kitsch, but so sweet and cute that it is simply impossible to be angry at it. This is where the poverty of film criticism manifests itself when almost all the reviews in newspapers and magazines are written by women, and gender bias inadvertently influences their reviews. I can only confirm that from my perspective, it is a kitsch unlike any other, but as a man, I wouldn't consider it cute. It can be considered a parody of itself, and even the songs of ABBA, which I grew up with, sound disgusting here and it's probably the worst use of musical motifs by a popular Swedish group that I can remember. While they usually enhance the atmosphere, such as in the case of the Australian film Muriel's Wedding, here they seem forced. Overall impression: 20%.
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I’m not the target group, but I really didn’t expect fingernails on chalkboard. Brosnan is the only person to put on at least an ok performance (not his singing), the others just spend the time making faces. Streep really didn’t deserve this. A cruel, unsatisfying ending and incredibly dumb people. It reminds me of Czech movies.
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Excellent for the effect, but at its core it’s a terribly naive movie with a script so silly that I have to admire the director's courage to dare to make a feature film with it. The dance choreographies are surprisingly bland and the cinematographer must have shot them slightly under the influence, but I still can't slag the film too much. The quartet of excellent actors do what they can, and together with a very pleasant atmosphere, a beautiful setting and, of course, the songs by the immortal ABBA, they manage to trump the non-existent story and somehow live up to the huge expectations that have accompanied this film since its release. Not great, but as an easygoing comedy for a relaxing summer evening it’s OK. 70%
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The immortal music of the legendary ABBA comes to life in a film named after one of her biggest hits in an enojoyable and unpretentious musical complete with a stellar cast and a simple script. The trio of "grandmothers" are surprisingly energetic to the point of taking one's breath away (or at least mine), and their "Dancing Queen" and "Super Trouper" are absolutely perfect. I loved how they were often able to appropriately incorporate the lyrics into the context of the film to make it sound as meaningful as possible. In short, a cool showcase of timeless music that doesn't get old even after repeated viewings.
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It's a musical created around the songs of ABBA; it's incredibly optimistic and playful, even though the songs aren't always cheerful. I just can't help but rate it highly because this is simply a film that always brings me immense joy, and I'm just so enthusiastic about it. Plus some of the newer versions of the songs are also very good, even if the original is the original.
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