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Movies / On DVD / Mamma Mia!
Mamma Mia!

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Mamma Mia! (2008)

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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: Musical & Performing Arts

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

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Reviews for Mamma Mia!

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141 - 160 (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
 
 

...perhaps the worst example of what is known as a 'jukebox musical.'

Full Review Source: Sun Publications (Chicago, IL) | comment Comment
07/17/08
Josh Larsen
Josh Larsen
Sun Publications (Chicago, IL)

You could listen to a greatest-hits CD with nearly the same result.

Full Review Source: Let's Not Listen | comment 1 Comment
07/16/08
Tricia Olszewski
Tricia Olszewski
Let's Not Listen

Upbeat, silly ABBA musical is flimsy but fun.

Full Review Source: Common Sense Media | comment Comment
07/16/08
S. Jhoanna Robledo
S. Jhoanna Robledo
Common Sense Media

The cast of non professional singers, epitomized by the mediocre talents of Meryl Streep and Amanda Seyfried, disrespects ABBA's melodic 1970's music. What a shame.

Full Review Source: tonymedley.com | comment 3 Comments
07/16/08
Tony Medley
Tony Medley
tonymedley.com

like cotton candy, unsubstantial, brightly colored, way too sweet, and ultimately unsatisfying in any meaningful way. Plus it might just make you just a little nauseous

Full Review Source: Killer Movie Reviews | comment 2 Comments
07/16/08
Andrea Chase
Andrea Chase
Killer Movie Reviews

Come to be swept into a warm surround of stage-seasoned music, choreography and talents of the two primary leads, Streep and Seyfried. Okay, so it's slightly overabundant and dizzying.

Full Review Source: Cinema Signals | comment Comment
07/16/08
Jules Brenner
Jules Brenner
Cinema Signals

Mileage will vary, depending on one's affection for ABBA, nonsensical dance numbers and middle-aged women cutting loose in sparkly outfits.

Full Review Source: CinemaBlend.com | comment Comment
07/16/08
Katey Rich
Katey Rich
CinemaBlend.com

The new film version of the Broadway musical Mamma Mia! seems to be made by people who have no instinctive connection to pop music.

Full Review Source: New York Press | comment 3 Comments
07/16/08
Armond White
Armond White
New York Press

None of them can sing, and nothing they do looks natural. Rarely have I witnessed so many pros appear so clueless.

Full Review Source: New York Observer | comment 4 Comments
07/16/08
Rex Reed
Rex Reed
New York Observer

This movie isn’t just unapologetic fluff; it’s aggressive, out-loud-and-proud fluff. Just like ABBA.

Full Review Source: Time Out New York | comment Comment
07/16/08
Hank Sartin
Hank Sartin
Time Out New York

It makes for campy fun at times, but the bottom line is that it's hard to get swept up by the story when the singing keeps making you wince

Full Review Source: Sean the Movie Guy | comment Comment
07/15/08
Sean McBride
Sean McBride
Sean the Movie Guy

The only way to make Abba songs sound worse than they already are is to have them spring forth from the mouths of Meryl Streep and Pierce Brosnan.

Full Review Source: Beaumont Journal | comment 9 Comments
07/15/08
Danny Minton
Danny Minton
Beaumont Journal

It's the very vague nature of these pop songs that universalizes them and makes them worth celebrating in this fashion.

Full Review Source: MovieMartyr.com | comment Comment
07/15/08
Jeremy Heilman
Jeremy Heilman
MovieMartyr.com

Helmer's lack of vision and technical skills and the use of conventional format result in a schmaltzy, mildly enjoyable musical that services but doesn't enhance Abba's iconic songs--and yes, Meryl Streep can and does sing nicely.

Full Review Source: EmanuelLevy.Com | comment Comment
07/15/08
Emanuel Levy
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com

If Mamma Mia! works on any level at all, it's through the sheer radiance of Meryl Streep.

Full Review Source: Associated Press | comment Comment
07/15/08
Christy Lemire
Christy Lemire
Associated Press

On the scale of Celebrities Who Can't Sing, [Brosnan]'s a few notches above Lee Marvin in Paint Your Wagon but falls short of the vocal skills of Burt Reynolds in At Long Last Love.

Full Review Source: MSNBC | comment Comment
07/15/08
Alonso Duralde
Alonso Duralde
MSNBC

Even were it not the title of one of ABBA's most beloved songs, this might just be the most aptly-titled movie of the year.Because my Mom is gonna loooooooove it.

Full Review Source: AfterElton.com | comment Comment
07/15/08
Brian Juergens
Brian Juergens
AfterElton.com

We're literally left in the cold with many questions raised that are ignored undermining the entire premise and the reason why we came to watch...

Full Review Source: Cinema Crazed | comment 2 Comments
07/15/08
Felix Vasquez Jr.
Felix Vasquez Jr.
Cinema Crazed

Maybe watching three older women prancing around in tight spandex singing ABBA is someone's idea of a good time, but I wouldn't want to be stuck in a room with those people for more than 90 minutes ever again.

Full Review Source: ComingSoon.net | comment 5 Comments
07/15/08
Edward Douglas
Edward Douglas
ComingSoon.net

Streep has a sweet voice and knows how to use it, but it’s sad to watch a perfectionist remove part of her brain and try to convince us she’s having a jolly time.

Full Review Source: New York Magazine | comment 5 Comments
07/14/08
David Edelstein
David Edelstein
New York Magazine
 
 
141 - 160 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | |< << 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 >> >|
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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...

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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
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