Spring Break
'Mamma Mia!' for older audience
Movie review
Carli Baylor
Issue date: 7/24/08 Section: ARTS & LIFE
The glitz, glamour and catchy Abba tunes in "Mamma Mia!" may be uninteresting for young moviegoers but will have every woman over the age of 40 pining for their youth.
Sophie is an intelligent woman preparing for her extravagant white wedding. Longing to discover the secrets of her mother's past, Sophie reads her mother's old diary and realizes she has three potential fathers.
Inviting all three of them to the wedding, she hopes to discover who she is and where she comes from. But while attempting to keep her mother from finding out what she has done, a series of crazy events unfolds, including a surprising ending.
This film does fulfill the criteria needed for the typical musical. Tunes like "Mamma Mia!" and "Dancing Queen" will have every Abba fan singing along in their seats. The cheesy dance numbers and frilly costumes remind this reviewer of a New York Broadway production.
The rim lighting set around each character during their musical numbers and the romantic setting with the sparkling sea give the film the feel of a fairy tale. And although Meryl Streep and Amanda Seyfried have fairly adequate singing voices, the sharp camera movements from actor to actor may make audiences a bit sea sick.
While expecting most of the plot to be about Sophie and her quest to find her father, the film concentrates mainly on Meryl Streep's character, Donna, and her inability to grow up. When reuniting with her two gal pals, Rosie and Tanya, played by Julie Walters and Christine Baranski, the three women are portrayed as washed-up, drunken harlots incapable of acting like mature adults.
Baranski's low cut skimpy outfits, Streep's long hippie hair and their old memories about feeling young and carefree will tickle the funny bone and tug at the heartstrings of a woman missing her childhood. Those under the age of 30 may not be able to relate to reminiscing about the 'good old days' when they have just begun to experience those days themselves.
Sophie is an intelligent woman preparing for her extravagant white wedding. Longing to discover the secrets of her mother's past, Sophie reads her mother's old diary and realizes she has three potential fathers.
Inviting all three of them to the wedding, she hopes to discover who she is and where she comes from. But while attempting to keep her mother from finding out what she has done, a series of crazy events unfolds, including a surprising ending.
This film does fulfill the criteria needed for the typical musical. Tunes like "Mamma Mia!" and "Dancing Queen" will have every Abba fan singing along in their seats. The cheesy dance numbers and frilly costumes remind this reviewer of a New York Broadway production.
The rim lighting set around each character during their musical numbers and the romantic setting with the sparkling sea give the film the feel of a fairy tale. And although Meryl Streep and Amanda Seyfried have fairly adequate singing voices, the sharp camera movements from actor to actor may make audiences a bit sea sick.
While expecting most of the plot to be about Sophie and her quest to find her father, the film concentrates mainly on Meryl Streep's character, Donna, and her inability to grow up. When reuniting with her two gal pals, Rosie and Tanya, played by Julie Walters and Christine Baranski, the three women are portrayed as washed-up, drunken harlots incapable of acting like mature adults.
Baranski's low cut skimpy outfits, Streep's long hippie hair and their old memories about feeling young and carefree will tickle the funny bone and tug at the heartstrings of a woman missing her childhood. Those under the age of 30 may not be able to relate to reminiscing about the 'good old days' when they have just begun to experience those days themselves.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Sw33tt3a03
Robyn Siegel
posted 7/28/08 @ 9:27 AM CST
I have yet to see the movie. Let me start off with that. BUT, I have seen the musical. which is why it reminds the writer of a "New York Broadway production. (Continued…)
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