RottenTomatoes.com
Log In | Register | What is RT?
Found a Bug? Squash It! Report Bugs Here
  • Home
  • Movies
  • DVD
  • Celebrities
  • News
  • Critics
  • Trailers & Pictures
  • CommunityBeta
  • Box Office
  • | Best Of
  • | Certified Fresh
  • | Showtimes
RT Search Powered by Google
help icon Enhanced RT
searches on Google
Click here to turn on enhanced search results from RT on your Google searches.
 
Movies / On DVD / Mamma Mia!
Mamma Mia!

Rate this Movie Help Icon

  • Write a Review
  • Read Reviews
  • Add to List
  • Buy Poster External Icon
  • Visit Official Site External Icon
Bookmark and Share

Mamma Mia! (2008)

  • T-Meter Critics
  • Top Critics
  • RT Community
  • My Critics
  • My Friends
  • DVD
53 %
Tomatometer
Template ImageTemplate Image

How does the Tomatometer work Help Icon

Reviews Counted:169

Fresh:90

Rotten:79

Average Rating:5.5/10

Consensus: This jukebox musical is full of fluffy fun but rough singing voices and a campy tone might not make you feel like "You Can Dance" the whole 90 minutes.

Rated: PG [See Full Rating] for some sex-related comments.

Runtime: 1 hr 49 mins

Genre: Comedies

Theatrical Release:04-07-2008

Synopsis: After its run as a West End hit in London, MAMMA MIA became a Broadway smash when it opened in New York back in 2001. With a story framed around the music of the Swedish pop band Abba, crowds loved... After its run as a West End hit in London, MAMMA MIA became a Broadway smash when it opened in New York 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 some truly delightful 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. Major hijinks and confusion ensues, all amidst the utterly romance scenery, and the rather irresistible, swelling love ballads. Streep has a lovely singing voice, and to watch her throw herself into this whimsical role is truly a delight. She looks like she is having a ball, and it is hard not to shimmy along with her. Baranski reliably delivers an over-the-top showstopper, and Brosnan's tender singing voice makes his character all the more touching. The film strives to be a jubilant celebration of mother/daughter relationships and the love between good friends, and no matter how cheesy some may find Abba, it is hard to resist its many charms. [More]

Starring: Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, Amanda Seyfried

Starring: Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, Amanda Seyfried, Stellan Skarsgard, Julie Walters, Dominic Cooper, Christine Baranski

Director: Phyllida Lloyd

Director: Phyllida Lloyd
Screenwriter: Catherine Johnson
Producer: Judy Craymer, Gary Goetzman
Composer: Benny Andersson, Bjorn Ulvaeus
Studio: Universal Pictures

[See More Credits]

  • Trailers
  • Pictures
  • Trailer
    >
    Trailer #2
    >
    RT Review Revue Mini - Mamma Mia!
    >
    Discovering Amanda Seyfried
    >
1 - 4 of 4

See More Movie Trailers & Pictures

Reviews for Mamma Mia!

  • T-Meter Critics
  • Top Critics
  • RT Community
  • My Critics
  • My Friends
  • DVD
 
 
121 - 140 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | |< << 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 >> >|
Arrange By:Fresh | Rotten | Comments | Name | Source | Date
 
 

By turns entertaining and excruciating, Mamma Mia!, the jukebox musical that strings together 19 ABBA hits on a narrative thread flimsier than dental floss, had me smiling and wincing, often at the same time.

Full Review Source: Philadelphia Inquirer | comment Comment
07/17/08
Carrie Rickey
Carrie Rickey
Philadelphia Inquirer

Constructing a play -- and now a clumsily staged film -- around ABBA songs is the definition of a frivolous enterprise, and little has been done to temper the ecstatic mood with other shadings of human emotion.

Full Review Source: AV Club | comment Comment
07/17/08
Scott Tobias
Scott Tobias
AV Club

A playful and light-hearted screen version of the popular Broadway musical which is carried by the snappy and happy songs of Abba.

Full Review Source: Spirituality and Practice | comment Comment
07/17/08
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
Spirituality and Practice

It gets by on the featherweight golden oldies of ABBA, and the treat of seeing and hearing some golden oldies of the cinema break character and belt out a song.

Full Review Source: Orlando Sentinel | comment Comment
07/17/08
Roger Moore
Roger Moore
Orlando Sentinel

There's something infuriatingly entertaining about this silly story, those slumming actors (Meryl Streep! Pierce Brosnan!) and those cruel, cruel songs.

Full Review Source: San Diego Union-Tribune | comment Comment
07/17/08
James Hebert
James Hebert
San Diego Union-Tribune

In bringing her stage production to the screen, first-time film director Phyllida Lloyd has retained the show’s goofy charm and mostly breathless pacing.

Full Review Source: Kansas City Star | comment Comment
07/17/08
Robert W. Butler
Robert W. Butler
Kansas City Star

Watching the film rear back and launch constant fireworks of joy is a wonderful thing to behold, positioning itself as an ideal summer diversion to counteract all the cartoons and superheroes...a heavy dose of syrup, but it stomps proudly and effectively.

Full Review Source: BrianOrndorf.com | comment Comment
07/17/08
Brian Orndorf
Brian Orndorf
BrianOrndorf.com

Mamma Mia! presents itself as a piece of clever counter-programming to this summer's surfeit of pounding, effects-driven comic-book movies. But filmgoers eager to sample its sunny, synth-pop pleasures are likely to feel just as bludgeoned.

Full Review Source: Washington Post | comment Comment
07/17/08
Ann Hornaday
Ann Hornaday
Washington Post

It's ok. Drop your troubles at the door and dance along. After all, it's ABBA. Who can resist?

Full Review Source: EDGE Boston | comment Comment
07/17/08
David Foucher
David Foucher
EDGE Boston

There is a fine line between something that is so bad it's good, and something that's genuinely good, and Mamma Mia! straddles it throughout.

Full Review Source: DustinPutman.com | comment Comment
07/17/08
Dustin Putman
Dustin Putman
DustinPutman.com

The singing-and-dancing work for the basic excitement and energy of a live performance, but an additional boost of cinematic prowess is needed to sustain a similar rhythm on film.

Full Review Source: Variety | comment Comment
07/17/08
Jordan Mintzer
Jordan Mintzer
Variety
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Logic is unnecessary to savor Mamma Mia! Escapist and fun, it never takes itself too seriously.

Full Review Source: USA Today | comment Comment
07/17/08
Claudia Puig
Claudia Puig
USA Today

When Streep, Walters and Baranski share the screen, Mamma Mia! comes alive and earns its exclamation point. The rest is forced gaiety pushed to the breaking point.

Full Review Source: Rolling Stone | comment 1 Comment
07/17/08
Peter Travers
Peter Travers
Rolling Stone

The ingredients seem perfect: a stellar cast, an unassailable soundtrack and source material from a proven hit. Somehow, though, this sugary mix turns into a sour hairball that will have you gagging to expel it for 108 minutes.

Full Review Source: Newsday | comment Comment
07/17/08
Rafer Guzman
Rafer Guzman
Newsday

I won't really defend Mamma Mia!, but I will recommend how to watch it: Just stop rolling your eyes and listen.

Full Review Source: Entertainment Weekly | comment Comment
07/17/08
Owen Gleiberman
Owen Gleiberman
Entertainment Weekly

I could do without 'Dancing Queen' stuck in my head, but that will unstick soon enough, and with any luck so too will the memory of Streep noodling on an air guitar.

Full Review Source: Austin Chronicle | comment Comment
07/17/08
Kimberly Jones
Kimberly Jones
Austin Chronicle

Mamma Mia! is not going to make you think, nor does it want to. But it will make you sing, as long as Brosnan keeps his mouth shut.

Full Review Source: Arizona Republic | comment Comment
07/17/08
Bill Goodykoontz
Bill Goodykoontz
Arizona Republic

A collection of droopy ditties draped around a threadbare plot.

Full Review Source: City Pages, Minneapolis/St. Paul | comment Comment
07/17/08
Ella Taylor
Ella Taylor
City Pages, Minneapolis/St. Paul

My, my, it's easy to resist this.

Full Review Source: Metromix.com | comment Comment
07/17/08
Matt Pais
Matt Pais
Metromix.com

A sappy, meaningless story, something on the order of Gidget Goes to Greece, but perhaps inferior to the Sandra Dee standard.

Full Review Source: Entertainment Insiders | comment Comment
07/17/08
Janos Gereben
Janos Gereben
Entertainment Insiders
 
 
121 - 140 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | |< << 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 >> >|
all

Latest News for Mamma Mia!

February 04, 2009: Exclusive: Inside Pinewood/Shepperton - A Photo Tour
Every year, the BAFTA film awards present a trophy for Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema. Introduced in 1978, the award recognises an organisation or a person's career... More...

January 21, 2009: Razzies Name 2008's Worst Movie Nominees
No awards season would be complete without the Golden Raspberry Awards (AKA The Razzies), awarded each year to the very worst movies to hit Hollywood. This year's winners will... More...

January 07, 2009: People's Choice Awards Winners Announced
The 35th annual People's Choice Awards were handed out on January 7, 2009. A complete list of film nominees, with winners in bold, follows below. More...

December 28, 2008: There's a neat free spirit versus family values message here, about a dad being no big deal when you can have three. Not to mention that family is more about who loves you, than whatever does or doesn't dangle between their legs. Opens in new window
More...

See All

More DVDs

Top Rentals
Tomatometer Percentage Movie
44% 44% Night at the Museum: B…
32% 32% Terminator Salvation
36% 36% Angels & Demons
95% 95% Star Trek
25% 25% Four Christmases

More Rentals…

New On DVD This Week
Tomatometer Percentage Movie
83% 83% Harry Potter and the H…
67% 67% Public Enemies
75% 75% Julie & Julia
95% 95% The Cove
85% 85% World's Greatest Dad

More New Releases…

What’s Hot On RT

Twilight Saga: Eclipse

Twilight Saga: Eclipse

5 facts straight from the cast.

Disney Animation

Disney Animation

We chart the studio's classics.

Avatar

Avatar

An exclusive look at the human hardware.

Eric Bana

Eric Bana

The Star Trek star talks cars with RT.

Other News

  • Top Stories
  • Popular
  • Interviews
 
 

Comments

 
 
Top Stories
Headlines Comments
  
  • Marvel Begins Iron Man 2 Viral Campaign Source: Superhero Hype
6
  • Bryce Dallas Howard Talks Spider-Man 4, Terminator, and Twilight Source: ComingSoon.net
12
  • David Lynch Says He Turned Down Return of the Jedi Source: CinemaBlend.com
33
  • Thomas Dolby Starts a Star Wars Rumor Source: Ain't It Cool News
31
  • Robert Downey Jr. talks Sherlock Holmes & Iron Man 2 - RT Interview
54
  • The Twilight Saga: Eclipse Headed for IMAX Source: Collider.com
48
  • James Cameron Developing Sci-Fi Film for Fox Source: ComingSoon.net
10
  • Peter Jackson Reveals Which LotR Characters Will Return for The Hobbit Source: MTV
26
  • Josh Brolin Rumored for Men in Black 3 Source: Los Angeles Times
26
  • Malkovich and Hathaway Rumored for Spider-Man 4 Source: Movieline
90
Popular
Headlines Comments
  
  • Total Recall: Keith David's Best Movies
65
  • Five Favorite Films With Avatar's Sam Worthington
51
  • Sundance 2010: RT's 10 Most Anticipated Movies
41
  • Weekly Ketchup: Tron Team to Remake The Black Hole
37
  • The Gimmicks That Changed Cinema: Part 1
34
  • Box Office Guru Wrapup: The Blind Side Takes the Lead
29
  • Friday Harvest: Iron Man 2, Harry Potter, and more!
24
  • Help Us Choose the Community Golden Tomato Award
22
  • Awards Tour: D.C. Film Critics Name Up in the Air as Year's Best
18
  • Robert Downey Jr. talks Sherlock Holmes & Iron Man 2 - RT Interview
18
Interviews
Headlines Comments
  
  • Robert Downey Jr. talks Sherlock Holmes & Iron Man 2 - RT Interview
18
  • Five Favorite Films With Avatar's Sam Worthington
51
  • Director Ruben Fleischer Talks Zombieland
2
  • "I Don't Hate Women": Lars von Trier on Antichrist
17
  • Eric Bana talks Love the Beast - RT Interview
12
  • Fight Club Sound Designer Reflects on Film's 10th Anniversary
23
  • James Schamus talks Taking Woodstock - RT Interview
8
  • John Hurt Talks Harry Potter, Quentin Crisp and Alien - The RT Interview
15
  • Terry Gilliam Talks Doctor Parnassus
23
  • Wes Anderson Talks Fantastic Mr. Fox - RT Interview
9
 
 

Sponsored Links

Around The Network

  • Mamma Mia! at Rotten Tomatoes
  • Mamma Mia! at IGN
  • Mamma Mia! at AskMen

Fresh Links

Featured
RT on YouTube
RT on YouTube External Link

Subscribe to RT's YouTube channel and don't miss a second of our cracking video content.

RT on Twitter
RT on Twitter External Link

Follow Rotten Tomatoes and join us as we tweet about the week's releases.

 
 
About| Site Map| Help| RT To Go| Contact Us| Critics Submission| Linking to RT| Licensing| Movie List| Celebs List| Newsletter
IGN Logo

IGN.com | GameSpy | Comrade | Arena | FilePlanet | GameSpy Technology
TeamXbox | Planets | Vaults | VE3D | CheatsCodesGuides | GameStats | GamerMetrics
AskMen.com | Rotten Tomatoes | Direct2Drive | Green Pixels


By continuing past this page, and by the continued use of this site, you agree to be bound by and abide by the User Agreement.
Copyright 1998-2009, IGN Entertainment, Inc. About IGN | Support | Advertise | Privacy Policy | User Agreement | Subscribe to RT's XML feed! IGN RSS Feeds
IGN's enterprise databases running Oracle, SQL and MySQL are professionally monitored and managed by Pythian Remote DBA
Certain product data ©1995-present Muze, Inc. For personal use only. All rights reserved.