My Mamma Mia! Movie Review

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 7/19/08 at 5:33pm

Thought I'd share the review I put up on my blog.
_____________
Every turbulent time in world history has ushered in a large amount of frivolity. The 1930's and 1940's were especially heavy on fluff, with artists like Ziegfeld, Porter, and Rodgers & Hart giving their audiences an escape from the uncertainty to be found outside the comforting walls of the theatre. Such is the case with Mamma Mia!, the film adaptation of the hit Abba-scored musical, opening in wide release this weekend. And while I'd hardly call this stage-to-screen treatment perfect, it's sure a lot of fun. (click below for full review)


Broadway on Screen: A Joyfully Harmless Mamma Mia! Updated On: 7/19/08 at 05:33 PM

[StockardFan]

Posted: 7/19/08 at 5:47pm

Good review, Robbie!

I'm looking forward to it. Kinda wish they would have dubbed Brosnan's singing from the sound of it though LOL!

[WickedBoy2]

Posted: 7/19/08 at 5:54pm

Do they have 'no audience singing' screenings ???? lol

[Eagleman]

Posted: 7/19/08 at 6:12pm

Great job and beautiful website.

I'd ask you to re-examine what might be a knee-jerk response to Pierce.

His job was not only to sing it was to be a guy who could carry a torch for Donna,
and realistically emote to the dilemma of discovering he had perhaps fathered a child
by the one that got away.

Brosnan sings for what, five minutes?

Christ, Ethel Merman and Carol Channing were for me personally much harder on the ears.

The larger question is, how does he pull off a part with not a lot of meat on it.

I think he's absolutely believable and does the best anyone could with the few dramatic moments he's given.

Most of all, though, he should be given major kudos for even attempting to sing knowing he would universally be considered the human "anchor" of the film because he tried to.

A more savvy director like Mike Nichols would have worked around it, I'm sure.
But this is one whole that is much greater than the sum of its parts and women,
by and large, (I'm guessing) are going to just zoom right in on the attributes that
have made Pierce Brosnan and international superstar, and that it the always
indefinable "it" factor--and find his singing acceptable.

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 7/19/08 at 6:16pm

Thanks guys.

I actually sat on my review of Brosnan for a good day before coming to those comments. I think what Merman and Channing had was great pitch, which Brosnan obviously lacks. I agree, his singing is limited, but it sure feels long. Just found it to be the worst movie actor singing in recent memory.

[Eagleman]

Posted: 7/19/08 at 8:21pm

I wouldn't wish it on you but you might check out the movie "Paint Your Wagon".

God, does that take guts (singing publicly when you know you can't) and I don't care how big the paycheck is. You've got to be pretty thick skinned not to be gutted by
some of the real nasty things people say.

The late Spalding Grey did a wonderful riff on critics after his turn in "Our Town".

I forget the name of the monologue. "Monster in a Box"?

[EponineAmneris]

Posted: 7/19/08 at 10:09pm

I have been in love with Pierce for what seems like my whole life.

I loved this movie.

THANK GOD they allowed HIM to sing. He was natural, believeable and pefect.

And it's not like you need to SING to be in MAMMA MIA!

Updated On: 7/19/08 at 10:09 PM

[jaystarr]

Posted: 7/19/08 at 10:52pm

Every turbulent time in world history has ushered in a large amount of frivolity. The 1930's and 1940's were especially heavy on fluff, with artists like Ziegfeld, Porter, and Rodgers & Hart giving their audiences an escape from the uncertainty to be found outside the comforting walls of the theatre. Such is the case with Mamma Mia!, the film adaptation of the hit Abba-scored musical, opening in wide release this weekend.

Attempting to analyze this Mamma Mia! beyond its glossy surface will likely cause frustration and headache. But if you sit back and let those irresistible Abba tunes take you away, you're likely to have a more satisfying time!

this Mamma Mia! is harmless summer fun that won't dent your pocketbook!


These were my favorite lines from your review and really captured my feelings toward the movie! Great job, Robbie! What a wonderful analysis, I guess you captured everything THAT NEEDED TO BE SAID without diffulties. Yours, Yankeefan & Miss Pennywise's reviews are my favorite~pretty much nailed it. We saw the show last night and both enjoyed it~and as I said in another thread-that's what matter most!

J*

[A Director]

Posted: 7/20/08 at 4:58am

The 1930's and 1940's were especially heavy on fluff, with artists like Ziegfeld, Porter, and Rodgers & Hart

Ziegfeld didn't do much in the 1930s and 1940s; he died in 1932.

Unlike the musical goo of ABBA, the Gershwins, Rodgers & Hart, Rodgers & Hammerstein, Arlen, Harburg, Lane, Duke and many others wrote great songs of great depth, wit and feeling.

[broadwayfan7]

Posted: 7/20/08 at 9:51am

Thanks for your review. I really enjoyed the movie a lot!

[Eagleman]

Posted: 7/20/08 at 11:56am

O.K., Herr Director: why don't you give us a masterclass on precisely how these lyrics are briming with "great depth, wit and feeling",

The man who only live for making money
Lives a life that isn't necessarily sunny;
Likewise the man who works for fame --
There's no guarantee that time won't erase his name
The fact is
The only work that really brings enjoyment
Is the kind that is for girl and boy meant.
Fall in love -- you won't regret it.
That's the best work of all -- if you can get it.
Holding hands at midnight
'Neath a starry sky...

And these are "musical goo: (Keeping in mind that nearly a half century
of cultural evolution insinuated itself between the two. And then if you'd like we'll compare Gershwins' "American in Paris" to "The New World Symphony" so you can work the other side of the street or will weight the relative musical accomplishment of "Porgy and Bess" to "Lohengrin which were seperated by 75 years.

Can you hear the drums fernando?
I remember long ago another starry night like this
In the firelight fernando
You were humming to yourself and softly strumming your guitar
I could hear the distant drums
And sounds of bugle calls were coming from afar

They were closer now fernando
Every hour every minute seemed to last eternally
I was so afraid fernando
We were young and full of life and none of us prepared to die
And Im not ashamed to say
The roar of guns and cannons almost made me cry

I can't wait until the fur flies when "Kristina" previews. There's going to have to be an entire new lexicon of Abba criticism envoked because "musical goo"won't quite
get the job done.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 7/20/08 at 1:19pm

Bobby! So nice to read all the positive comments on your review. I haven't read it yet because I haven't been able to see the movie and I'm trying to stay away from most reviews. I am actually heading out in about an hour, will comment when I get back :)

[jewishboy]

Posted: 7/20/08 at 1:38pm

Have fun, Ray! Also, I agree with EponineAmneris about Brosnan's singing. Although he was trying a little too hard, maybe he was fulfilling his fantasy about being a rock singer a little too much.

Updated On: 7/22/08 at 01:38 PM

[Namaste]

Posted: 7/20/08 at 2:45pm

I think Pierce watched one too many Katherine Hepburn movies. He seemed to have lost control of his head as it shook uncontrollably through his awkward (and sudden) crooning.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 7/20/08 at 7:13pm

Bobby, just read your review and I can say I pretty much agree with anything you wrote, though I don't find the moment at the end with Firth to be homophobic. I mean, to be fair any romance that is in the movie (apart from Sophie's and Sky's) sort of comes out of nowhere. I think the screenplay underdevelops all romances equally, not only the gay ones.
I had such a fun time at the theatre. It really was a blast. On the off-topic thread, PalJoey said that Meryl turns "Winner Takes It All" into "Rose's Turn" and I couldn't agree more with him. So true. Seyfried is wonderful. Julie Walters and Baranski almost made me pee myself, particularly during "Chiquitita" and "Dancing Queen" (though "Does Your Mother Know?" is a showstopper). What a good time. I can't wait to see it again. Oh, and it's also the first time I see a musical (movie or stage) where I'm having a really hard time keeping myself from singing along with the actors. (I couldn't contain myself during the ending credits though...neither could the rest of the audience so it was okay).

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 7/20/08 at 8:14pm

I think my Firth comment comes from being in a theatre of mostly teenage girls and older women, who at that moment, said "ewww" and giggled as if it were painful to watch. It just feels like every movie lately thinks it's okay to mock gay people (however small or large it may feel).

Glad you liked the show ray!

[Patash]

Posted: 7/20/08 at 8:19pm

From the Mark Kermode of BBC review:
"Is that the QE II docking or is it Pierce Brosnan searching for a C?"

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 7/20/08 at 8:22pm

Bwah!

[PalJoey]

Posted: 7/20/08 at 9:02pm

Nice review but I adored the surprise with Colin Firth's character and didn't find it at all homophobic, in fact my bf and I found it the opposite. And no one in our Manhattan audience (mostly women) said "Eeew."

[defyinggravity42694]

Posted: 7/20/08 at 10:21pm

I saw the movie today, LOVED IT!

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 7/21/08 at 12:27am

Yah, I live in a small college town but everyone seemed happy for Firth's character, rather than "ewwww"-ing it. I don't think it was a source of amusement more than a source of pairing every single character out randomly at the end (same as Julie Walters who shared ONE two-second moment with Sagarskar during the whole movie yet has to profess her desire to be with him in "Take a Chance on Me").
Bobby, I most definitely loved your comments about Streep, especially the line about her attention to lyrics. This--and not necessarily her voice, even if unlike a lot of people, I do find it thrilling--is what makes her a perfect candidate for a stage musical. Seeing her add true emotional complexity to ABBA songs was just priceless. I loved it and now more than ever I think Encores! should BEG her to play Cora Hoover in ANYONE CAN WHISTLE. Now that her youngest daughter is 17, she might want to get back to her musical theater roots on Broadway.

Updated On: 7/21/08 at 12:27 AM

[chrisampm2]

Posted: 7/21/08 at 12:46am

I agree wholeheartedly with Bobby's review. Also, I loved all the men's singing. They sounded so vulnerable - esp Brosnan. Their going for it despite obvious vocal limitations added a much needed emotional dimension and yearning to stock characters. For those like Ray and Bobby who enjoy Streep's way with lyrics, I recommend watching her in "Alice at the Palace," which is on DVD through the Braodway Theater Archive and I believe is available on Netflix.

Updated On: 7/21/08 at 12:46 AM

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 7/21/08 at 12:56am

Chris, I've heard about ALICE AT THE PALACE. I want to rent it but don't have netflix, I do have an audio ripped from the DVD that I want to listen to but not till I see the actual video. I also have an audio of her singing at HAPPY END and she does a wonderful job. I've heard her say in interviews before how much she loves singing even if she thinks she's not that good...glad to see her being part of a full-blown movie musical (and one can only wonder what brilliant things she could have done with Mrs.Lovett).

[chrisampm2]

Posted: 7/21/08 at 2:35am

I love how casting is destiny. I can't picture Streep in the released Sweeney Todd, which made Sweeney and Lovett into a well-matched pair, verging on being twins. With Streep, it would have been a much different film, certainly better sung. But then we wouldn't have that brilliant moment in Not While I'm Around when Bonham-Carter's Lovett realizes she's human just after proving she's capable of anything. Updated On: 7/21/08 at 02:35 AM

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 7/21/08 at 3:45am

Streep as Cora is superb casting. Encores! has been rumored to be doing Anyone Can Whistle for several seasons. She'd play the role like nobody else.