Before plunking down your cash for a ride on the Mamma Mia! express when it pulls into town, just ask yourself one question: Do I really dig ABBA? It's a relevant query not only because the ebullient musical is packed to the gills with songs made famous by the Swedish '70s supergroup, but also because ABBA's fluffy, feel-good anthems really capture the vibe of the whole movie. Don't let the presence of its grande dame star Meryl Streep fool you — Sophie's Choice it ain't. But if you're willing to forego such trifles as a solid, believable plot, or clear, well-developed characters, this flick will do the trick to release your inner "Dancing Queen."
Set on a stunning Grecian isle, Mamma Mia! is a frenzied farce revolving around Donna (Streep), a single mom throwing a wedding for her almost-supernaturally beautiful daughter Sophie (Amanda Seyfried) at the hotel Donna's been running since she first became pregnant with Sophie. On the guest list are Donna's kooky best friends from her days fronting the girl-group Donna and the Dynamos (Julie Walters and Christine Baranski), some squealing bridesmaids, and a legion of toned and tanned townies. But unbeknownst to Donna, Sophie has also invited three figures from her mother's past (Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, and Stellan Skarsgård), men Sophie is convinced will be able to untangle for her the riddle of her true identity.
The wedding theme clearly gave the triumvirate of women responsible for both the Broadway hit and its leap to the big screen—producer Judy Craymer, writer Catherine Johnson, and director Phyllida Lloyd — plenty to play around with. And when you've got a storyline as transparent and frothy as the sparkling Aegean waves that surround it, there's time enough for a dance break around every whitewashed corner. So go in expecting a good time on par with a night at the disco, don't demand too many vocal pyrotechnics from the charming cast of movie actors (Streep, of course, can do anything, but just grit your teeth and think of your queen when Brosnan gets his solo), and get ready to dust off those old ABBA discs on vinyl. Because afterwards, you'll want to keep this party going all summer long.
Copyright © 2008 Hachette Filipacchi Media U.S., Inc.