| Overall Grade: |
B |
|
| Story: |
C |
|
|
| Acting: |
B- |
|
|
| Direction: |
B+ |
|
|
| Visuals: |
A+ |
|
|
Ladies and Gentlemen...
by JosephH (movies profile)
Jul 19, 2008
53
of
68 people found this review helpful
Wendy really wanted to see this movie, so I asked her yesterday morning which showing she'd like to attend. At the one she chose, there were about 100 Wendys in the theater. Three other men had accompanied their personal Wendy, and one poor teenage boy had been taken along.
The Wendys loved it. They laughed uproariously at every joke and sight gag. From time to time, a few of them quietly sang along. They danced in their seats.
While the Wendys wildly embraced the film, I enjoyed it passively from my seat next to my Wendy, trying not to get too much in her way.
What made the movie enjoyable for me were the music, the visuals, and, surprising to me, Meryl Streep. I usually don't like Streep's movies or her performances. Her films tend to contain subject matter I don't care for, and, often, they are preachy in a way that I find disagreeable. The tendency to underplay a role is normally a desirable quality in an actor. Unfortunately, she underplays to barbiturate levels.
However, Mama Mia is a musical. It is upbeat. It is over-the-top. It made her climb out of her pill-box. It also made her use her voice. She doesn't get to sing enough in the movies she typically makes. Too bad.
Pierce Brosnan, on the other hand, is not that suited to the musical genre. Also too bad. His format is usually over-the-top, and he does that well. But, his singing voice is only passable, and, for some unknown reason, he seems to be trying to play a dramatic role here.
Like I said, too bad. Brosnan is one of my favorite actors and, most of the time, Streep's presence is likely to keep me away.
Greece is a scenic setting for the story, the beautiful island providing ample grist for the cinematographer's mill. With such a mother lode of visual raw material, it would be hard NOT to make a beautiful film.
The music? What can I say? It's ABBA! Guys don't like to admit this truth, but ABBA is GOOD music. It is fun ("funny" in Sweedlish) to listen to, and apart from the sappiness and the one-dimensional nature, the lyrics are actually clever. Again, though, this is a musical--and not a serious one at that. High quality music with sappy story lines is a prerequisite for the singing numbers.
Ladies, you'll love this movie. Gentlemen, put your machoness down for a couple of hours and take your Wendy to see Mama Mia on the big screen. Enjoy the scenery and pretend not to tap your toes to ABBA. |
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