Reviewed by Victor Rebikoff.
Director: Phyllida Lloyd, Universal Pictures, PG 108 Minutes.
This delightful musical comedy from director Phyllida Lloyd, in her first feature film, is about a bride-to-be determined in having her real father present at her wedding and told through ABBA’s hit songs of the ‘70s serving as the backdrop.
The movie opens with 20-year-old Sophie Sheridan (Amanda Seyfried – ‘Solstice’) living with her mother Donna (Merryl Streep – ‘Doubt’) on a picturesque Greek island where she runs the Villa Donna as she prepares for her daughter’s wedding.
On reading Donna’s diary Sophie has decided to invite the three men mentioned in her diary, Sam (‘James Bond’ Pierce Brosnan), Harry (Colin Firth – ‘King’s Speech’) and Bill (Stellan Skarsgsard – ‘Thor’), not knowing who is her real father and without telling Donna.
Meanwhile Donna has also invited her two friends to the wedding from her singing group, Rosie (Julie Walters – ‘Harry Potter’ franchise) and Tanya (Christine Baranski – ‘Into the Woods’) with their arrival coinciding with that of the ‘three fathers’ – much to Donna’s huge surprise.
As the story evolves some of ABBA’s iconic songs are sung by Sophie, Donna and even Sam while arrangements are being concluded for the wedding ceremony between Sophie and Sky (Dominic Cooper – ‘The Duchess’).
When the time comes for the start of the ceremony it is Donna giving Sophie away but then surprises everyone by confessing to the presence of the three potential fathers together with other secrets unravelling before the assembled crowd.
The consternation caused by these revelations result in Sophie and Sky changing their mind on getting married with the attention switching to Donna and Sam as they profess their love for each other; and in order not to waste the wedding party they both agree to get married by singing ‘I do, I do, I do’, much to everyone’s delight.
Lloyd has made a memorable musical by blending two dozen of ABBA’s most popular songs including ‘I Have a Dream’, ‘Money, Money, Money’, ‘Dancing Queen’, ‘The Winner Takes it All’ and ‘Mamma Mia’ – each sung by the movie’s cast.
In addition to incorporating ABBA’s hits into an enjoyable storyline there is the superb performance from Streep as an actress, dancer and singer not to mention the enjoyable portrayals by the leading cast member – especially Seyfried, Brosnan, Baranski and Walters.
The additional highlight appears in the concluding credits with Brosnan, Firth, Skarsgsard joining Streep, Baranski and Walters in their sumptuous costumes to sing ‘Dancing Queen’ and ‘Waterloo’.
Vic’s Verdict: 4 Stars
MAMMA MIA is to be televised on Channel 9 at 7.30pm on Saturday 16 October
