Mamma Mia (2008) is a scenic and joyful musical event that should not be missed. The film’s all-star cast includes Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan, Amanda Seyfried, Colin Firth, Stella Skarsgard, Dominic Cooper, Christine Baranski, and Julie Walters. After watching this film you will speed-dial your travel agent and book your next vacation to the Greek Isles.  

Mamma Mia tells the tale of lost and renewed love thru some of ABBA’s greatest hits. Donna (Streep) is the owner of a run down resort hotel in Greece and a single mother raising Sophie (Seyfried) who is a stunning twenty-year-old set to marry her sweetheart Sky (Cooper). The day before the wedding Donna’s long lost friends from her 70’s disco group, which include Rosie the “loan wolf” (Walters) and the vain Tanya (Baranski), arrive to help celebrate. As Donna is renewing her friendship, Sophie’s surprise guests appear: Sam Carmichael (Brosnan) an architect, Harry Bright (Firth) a rich English banker, and Bill (Skarsgard) a nomadic novelist. From reading her mother’s diary Sophie discovered that one of these three men is her biological father. The problem is how to decide which man is her dad, but she soon realizes this task is not as easy as it seems.

Amanda Seyfried stands out as the sweet innocent Sophie. Amanda’s angelic looks match her beautiful voice. This film will launch her into super stardom. Meryl Streep proves once again why she is such a respected actress. It’s a given that Streep will receive another Oscar nomination for this role. Veteran actors Walters and Baranski provide most of the comedic relief. They are both wonderful in their own right. The men did not fair as well. Every time Pierce Brosnan opened his mouth to sing I cringed. He was completely tone deaf and looked out of place. Colin Firth held his own in the singing department and for us lucky ladies he ended up in another wet white shirt.

The rookie Phyllida Lloyed directs Mamma Mia and her inexperience shows. The flow of the film is choppy at times. The transition from dance numbers to dialog is not as smooth as it could have been. The helicopter shots during The Winner Takes It All were disorganized and seemed out of place.

The film is a fun carefree experience that should not be taken seriously. The movie is better then Hairspray, but it does not quite reach the level of Grease. If you are fond of musicals and are looking for a good campy time check out this film.  
 Rated PG-13

The above author's byline must be attached to the work if being distributed.