Mamma Mia! the movie musical

[FoscasBohemianDream]

Posted: 4/19/06 at 2:20am

Wow, I am just shocked that this is actually happening. According to Variety:

"Mamma Mia! -- the tunertuner that made theater snobs cringe but that worldwide auds embraced -- has fueled the bigscreen interest of Playtone partners Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman.

They closed a deal with Littlestar -- the company run by the show's producer, Judy Craymer -- and Abba songwriters Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus, and they are in talks with Universal to finance and distribute.

The filmmakers are eyeing release by late 2007. The show's book writer, Catherine Johnson, is penning the screenplay, which will stick closely to the crowd-pleasing musical's plot."

Consider me one of the theater snobs who are cringing!

Unbelievable Updated On: 4/19/06 at 02:20 AM

[Queenie Was A Blonde]

Posted: 4/19/06 at 3:01am

Oh wow. Well what isnt getting made into movies now?

[mygfdontliveincanada]

Posted: 4/19/06 at 3:10am

"The show's book writer, Catherine Johnson, is penning the screenplay, which will stick closely to the crowd-pleasing musical's plot."

There was a plot? Hmmm...they definately fooled me.

[mateo]

Posted: 4/19/06 at 3:18am

ughhhh.

Why THIS Musical? *cough*ABBA Review*cough* I can think of far more worthy plays and musicals to be made into motion pictures.

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 4/19/06 at 5:17am

Wow, it seems as if everything is being turned into a movie musical nowadays.

[AReinkingfan]

Posted: 4/19/06 at 5:47am

I have never seen Mamma Mia, yet I still would not have picked this musical to make into a movie. And weren't they planning to make a movie version of "Contact" a few years back?

[bwayondabrain]

Posted: 4/19/06 at 7:01am

oh my goodness...

[bwayondabrain]

Posted: 4/19/06 at 7:01am

oh my goodness...

Posted: 4/19/06 at 7:43am

I actually really enjoyed seeing Mamma Mia in the theater---saw it more than once. However-----IMO--the enjoyment of this show is in the live production, the amplification of the music and the audience reaction. There is such a thin plot---it's the (again)LIVE experience that is the show---I'm having a difficult time picturing enough substance for a 90 minute (or so) film. We'll see. (tho' probably not me)

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 4/19/06 at 8:30am

Starring Meryl Streep and Hillary Duff. With Jeffrey Tambor, Tom Wopat, and Jack Nicholson as "The Dads".

[Katurian2]

Posted: 4/19/06 at 8:32am

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! With all the great shows out there, why this one? And they wonder why movie musicals are falling out again! Does Tom Hanks know nothing about theatre history?

EDIT: But this should be w long while in the future, Hanks first plans to make a movie called "How Starbucks Saved My Life"

Updated On: 4/19/06 at 08:32 AM

[Amneris]

Posted: 4/19/06 at 9:29am

will they have a bouncing ball at the end so the audience can dance in the AMC aisles?

[Sings_in_the_Rain]

Posted: 4/19/06 at 9:36am

I agree with justafan-- while I had a great time when I saw this live, I really don't see it working as a movie. This should be interesting to see...

[YankeeGal#24]

Posted: 4/19/06 at 9:40am

UGH.

[Jon]

Posted: 4/19/06 at 9:46am

Interesting - ten years ago, Letterman asked Tom Hanks if he had seen, or was planing to see, the musicla verson of "BIG" that was on Broadway. Hanks responded with an extended riff on how he HATED BROADWAY MUSICALS.

[ruthiefan_felix]

Posted: 4/19/06 at 9:53am

TOTALLY agree with justfan! The musical is very enjoyable... bad plot but what the hell... LOVE the encore! But cannot see it as a movie! It was bad enough for me watching The Producers but cannot applause as it was so gd but it was in a cinema!
I think its the audience involvment and the atmosphere which makes the show still going on... and yeah, there are SO many musicals out there... choose another one! Into The Woods, Sweeney Todd... pick one!

[Sant]

Posted: 4/19/06 at 10:11am

Do we really need this?!?!? The theatre version is enough.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 4/19/06 at 10:31am

Tom Hanks is quite shrewd, actually. Hollywood is about making money and Mamma Mia is a HUGE moneymaker. If directed well, the film could be a dazzling memorable funfest (especially is filmed on location in the Greek Isles). ABBA's music is loved the world over. The musical has been universally embraced as well. And judging from the popularity of comedy films with bad scripts (The 40 Year-Old Virgin, anyone?), I don't see how Mamma Mia's book would hamper the film in any way. The musical sequences and film clips could also air as music videos. I don't see how anyone could think this is a bad idea. I only wish I could have a piece of the action.

Many of you guys say there are so many more musicals which would be better options for transfer to the screen. Maybe there are musicals you like better, but that doesn't mean they would benefit from a film treatment, nor would the movie-going public want to see them. Mamma Mia, however, is a crowd-pleaser and a successful film version could make this the biggest musical in theatre history. I've seen the show three times and always had a great time. Just remember guys....musical theatre was founded as popular entertainment. A string of fun songs with very thin books designed solely to entertain and dazzle audiences for a couple of hours. Mamma Mia does just that. The fact that the songs were not written directly for the stage is inconsequential. It's the entertainment factor that makes it a good show and a lasting show. I hope the film is as successful as the stage production.

[colleen_lee]

Posted: 4/19/06 at 10:35am

This whole idea makes me want to vomit.

Despite the fact that the show is dreadful, I simply can't see the whole idea behind it transferring well to film. Like many have said, it's about the live performance.

[almostxfamous]

Posted: 4/19/06 at 10:37am

This kind of made me die a little inside. I mean, the musical itself was SEMI-enjoyable. Thus, the movie will be BARELY enjoyable. The plot is paper thin, and not even that interesting. So her mother got around, big whoop.

[Enjolras77]

Posted: 4/19/06 at 11:02am

I tend to agree with Mister Matt. Although I am not a huge fan of this show I agree that the chances are good that it will be successful (i.e. making money). Will this movie win any Academy Awards? Probably not. Unlike movies like Rent and Phantom, this film won't try to take itself so seriously. They won't be trying to make a film that is artistic, message-laden, or award-worthy. It will be a feel-good fun film that will bring in a lot of people who will expect nothing except to be entertained for two hours -- much like the Broadway show itself. It will appeal to a wider range of moviegoers since its score is nothing but the ABBA songbook. It will make a lot of money and probably be shut out at awards time. I think this movie will be a macrocosm of the Broadway show. It will appeal to the masses but not to the diehard theatre fans. The diehard theatre fans would rather see some of the "better" specimens of the art form made into films (not an "inferior" jukebox musical)....but the problem is that the masses (and their wallets) vastly outnumber them. I think this film has a chance to be very successful.

Updated On: 4/19/06 at 11:02 AM

[BwayLover]

Posted: 4/19/06 at 11:04am

I'm with Mister Matt. This can be HUGE, and I for one will go see it. Especially if they cast Louise Pitre as Donna. (Which I doubt, but one can dream...)

[FOAnatic]

Posted: 4/19/06 at 11:07am

The beauty of this film is that it can RAKE in the cash.

ABBA music + Big stars + Light-hearted fun book = $$$

[I<3bway]

Posted: 4/19/06 at 11:08am

NOOOOO!!!! This is awful.

[Adam Chris]

Posted: 4/19/06 at 11:10am

bad idea.