Mama Mia! Release Date: July 18, 2008 Studio: Universal Pictures Director: Phyllida Lloyd Screenwriter: Catherine Johnson Starring: Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, Stellan Skarsgård,
Julie Walters, Dominic Cooper, Amanda Seyfried, Christine Baranski Genre: Comedy, Musical, Romance MPAA Rating: PG-13 (for some sex-related comments) Official Website: MammaMiamovie.com
Plot Summary: Meryl Streep leads an all-star cast in the feature-film
adaptation of the beloved musical that has been seen by more than 30 million
people in 160 cities and 8 languages around the world. Bringing the timeless
lyrics and melodies of iconic super group ABBA to movie audiences, Summer 2008
is the season for "Mamma Mia!"
The three women who created the worldwide smash stage hit--global producer Judy
Craymer, writer Catherine Johnson and director Phyllida Lloyd--repeat their
roles in bringing this joyful, musical story to the big screen. The Mamma Mia!
film is produced by Judy Craymer and Gary Goetzman.
Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, Stellan Skarsgård, Christine Baranski, Julie
Walters, Amanda Seyfried and Dominic Cooper join Streep in this celebration of a
mother, a daughter and three possible dads.
An independent, single mother who owns a small hotel on an idyllic Greek island,
Donna (Streep) is about to let go of Sophie (Amanda Seyfried), the spirited
daughter she's raised alone. For Sophie's wedding, Donna has invited her two
lifelong best girlfriends--practical and no-nonsense Rosie (Julie Walters) and
wealthy, multi-divorcee Tanya (Christine Baranski)--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.
Inspired by the storytelling magic of ABBA's songs from "Dancing Queen" and "S.O.S."
to "Money, Money, Money" and "Take a Chance on Me," Mamma Mia! is a celebration
of mothers and daughters, old friends and new family found.
EN 5 Second Review:
Somewhere in our 70's hearts we want to recommend this
movie, then we realize just how cheezy we are in our 70's hearts. Not
nearly as cheezy as this movie.
Cheese
-- but what wonderfully salty, sinfully satisfying cheese it is Linda Bernard: Toronto Star
Set on an idyllic Greek island, the music is the message.
Catherine Johnson's story seems cribbed together to justify the endless
flow of 22 ABBA hits penned by Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus and Stig
Anderson. (Keep your eyes peeled for Andersson as a grizzled piano
player in "Dancing Queen.")...more
Everything's
in twinkle overdrive. As with most stage-to-screen
transfers, about a half-hour of material has been excised,
and Mamma Mia! never had that much story to begin
with Michael Phillips: Chicago Tribune
It’s funny what you buy completely onstage and resist
completely, or nearly, on-screen. Case in point: “Mamma
Mia!” —the ABBA-fueled stage phenomenon that has now become
“Mamma Mia! The Movie.”...more
EN 5 Second Review:
Somewhere in our 70's hearts we want to recommend this
movie, then we realize just how cheezy we are in our 70's hearts. Not
nearly as cheezy as this movie.
Cheese
-- but what wonderfully salty, sinfully satisfying cheese it is
