Review: Mamma Mia! (2008)

I came into the theatre on this one fully prepared for an amusingly saccharine singing and dancing extravaganza, with Meryl Streep radiating her way through the whole shiny spectacle.

I left the theatre with an urge to vomit. Oh dear god.

Let’s begin with an exceedingly important disclaimer: I have seen and am in love with the original stage production of Mamma Mia. ABBA’s music is (of course) perfect, and the whole show is a fun ball of camp that is meant to be enjoyed and nothing more. In other words, enjoying the stage show does not equal enjoying the film.

Here’s the concept in brief. Imagine if an eccentric and over-the-top high school director took an aging community theater troupe, flew them all to Greece, gave them ecstasy, and simply filmed what happened next. That would be Mamma Mia in a nut shell. Now, how could such an amazing source material, with an even more amazing cast, ruin a film so completely? Let’s go step by step.

The amazing spectacle that is the Broadway show Mamma Mia!

In my opinion, the set did more to ruin this film than any one person’s actions. Mind you, Greek island=beautiful, and it is the actual setting of the story, but it killed the entire mood and power of the narrative. For those who haven’t seen the show, half the wonder of the presentation is in the highly stylized sets and beautiful light displays, all of which enhance while simultaneously downplaying the over-the-top story and performances happening around it. Making the set real forces the complete idiocy of what’s actually going on into an embarrassing limelight.

Now, let’s talk about some of that idiocy. Remember when I said that the show is meant to be a singing and dancing extravaganza? There is no dancing. Wait, pause, let me rephrase. The movie was choreographed by a manic 11-year old who has just learned where a baby comes from. Much of the movement is inappropriately raunchy to an absurd degree, and that’s when it doesn’t look badly improvised from start to finish. The vocals, meanwhile, are alright… with the striking exception of Pierce Brosnan’s Sam, who looks and sounds as though he is trying to dislodge a demonic bagpipe from his throat. You think I’m exaggerating? Buy the soundtrack.

Meryl Streep, on severely dangerous chemicals

No! WAIT! Don’t buy the soundtrack! Please! Let’s let ABBA have some dignity, please!

Having said all of this, there are some shining moments. Meryl Streep, while possibly committing the worst performance of her career, still manages to make it through the film relatively unscathed, as does the charming Amanda Seyfried as her daughter Sophie, though both of them approach career suicide with horrific Madonna impressions, rolling around the floor in a sexual manner. In truth, there is one number that is simply perfect, and made me believe (albeit for a brief moment) that the movie’s quality would turn around. Streep and Seyfried’s rendition of “Slipping Through My Fingers” is truly heartbreaking and beautiful, and do you know why? Because it is devoid of everything that ruins the rest of the film: the dancing, the over-the-top performances, the awkward backing chorus of Greek nobodies, and really every other actor on the screen. Frankly, I am glad to have seen this film, if only for this one scene.

“Sliping Through My Fingers”, the film’s one perfect scene

Okay, now I have to inform you all of a discovery I made while leaving the theater. Based on my mother’s vehement denial of the film’s failure (and her own generally good taste when it comes to film), I have come to believe that the movie version of Mamma Mia simply may not be meant for anyone currently under the age of 40. As she pointed out to me, the combination of nostalgic recollection of the film’s soundtrack and a mental perspective of the plight of the middle-aged characters makes the absurdity of the presentation much more acceptable. Naturally, being under the age of 40, I do not understand her position. Also, being a lover of ABBA’s music myself, I’m not sure I can follow this line of thinking, but I present it for your consideration nonetheless.

Recap Time:

Good things about the film: Amanda Seyfried, Meryl Streep (minus some extreme issues now and then), “Slipping Through My Fingers”, laughing at Pierece Brosnan’s horrific bagpipe demon voice

Bad things about the film: Everything else. Absolutely everything else.

In conclusion: See the show, buy the show’s soundtrack, and let it go there. Unless you’re over 40, then you can give it a shot. Maybe.