Oh.. Mamma Mia! What a movie…
My friend Jackie and I decided to impulsively go see Mamma Mia at The Varsity Theatre on Thursday night. We hadn’t spent time together in a long while and we both love a good “chick flick”. Plus I have a strong affinity for ABBA..(which some might be ashamed of…however for me, I proudly assert my ABBA affection!) One can never have too much ABBA in their life!
I’ve had a mixed relationship with musicals in the past. For some reason they make me nervous..(Except for “Singin’ in the Rain”….that one just is too classic to criticize) At the opening scene when the starlet takes her first breathy note, I almost inwardly cringe…..I mean Who DOES that?? Who just breaks out into song, when greeting friends!?? I never knew anyone who did that… but I digress.
Mamma Mia, directed by Phyllida Lloyd, stars some great Hollywood names, and some relatively unknowns. The mix is great. 20 year old Sofie, is getting married to her true love Sky, at her Mother’s hotel on a Greek Island. While reading her mother’s diary, she finds out she has 3 possible fathers and her biggest wish is to have her father walk her down the aisle at her wedding. So Sophie decides to invite all three to the wedding. ….Let the hilarity ensue! The fathers were great! Pierce Brosnan stole the show, Colin Firth was perfect playing someone uncomfortable in their own skin, and Stellan Skaarsgard, the “lone wolf” adventurer was up for almost anything! But Pierce?? Oh Pierce…he was charming, slightly starched, and ultra cool. But all that aloof-ness went out the window when he opened his mouth. Umm..Pierce? You don’t have a great voice..I’m sorry to say…but it was so endearing, because you sang with such heart! AND it proved you’re not absolutely perfect in every respect…women love that! (sigh)…
Meryl Streep has a set of pipes on her I can’t deny. Wow! I had no idea she had such a voice! But now I can get back to the whole discussion of musicals as a whole. Even though most musicals make me nervous and slightly twitchy….this one started as no exception. However about half-way through the first song I relaxed and just went with it. This story is supposed to be a fairy tale! It’s not realistic…it’s fantastic. The actors were gorgeous, the lighting and set decorations on the island were gorgeous, the ocean….gorgeous! The whole thing was a beautiful dream, and as such.. I was able to let my skepticism about musicals slide away and enjoy the movie for what it was…an estrogen rich, sweet, hilarious, ABBA filled dream!
Abba!!….Three women dancing around a bedroom belting out Dancing Queen?? It was every young girl’s idea of what a sleepover should be! Halfway through the movie I found myself humming along…and by the end I was full on singing the finale “Take a chance on me” along with Jackie and half the others in the theater…it was fabulous! One of the things I loved most about this movie was the obvious unadulterated JOY radiating through every one of the actors. You could just tell they were all having a blast making this film!
One thing though….Leave the boyfriends and husbands at home for this one….They won’t like it. They’ll cringe, shake their heads, and scowl (a lot). It’s just too much of a good thing for guys! I mean most guys appreciate a love story. Think, “Last of the Mohicans”, “Lord of the Rings”, “Open Range”, and a myriad of other well balanced action/love story movies. However this one is a little heavy on the syrup…and while most women understand the syrup (because honestly now…we’ve all felt that way at least once or twice) Guys just can’t take that much sweetness. (sorry fellahs…wait for the DVD, when you can relax in the privacy of your living room, and after a cocktail or three, belt out Dancing Queen with your own sweetie!)
I give Mamma Mia four golden popcorns out of five. Go see it, when you need a little optimisim in your life!
