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Musicals are bonkers, Mamma Mia! perhaps more than most. It has an Italian title but is set in Greece and it centres on songs written by a pair of Swedes. But we aren’t allowed to care about that.
Meryl Streep plays a single mum who is the impoverished owner of a dilapidated island taverna, about to celebrate the wedding of her only daughter. This daughter (Amanda Seyfried) wants her dad to take her down the aisle but because Meryl was once the island bike she doesn’t know who the father is.
Anyway, the daughter invites all the possible candidates (Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth and Stellan Skarsgård), while her mum invites her two best friends (Julie Walters and Christine Baranski) for a bit of (im)moral support.
Throw in a groom, bridesmaids, a vicar and a chorus of picturesque Greeks and you have an awful lot of people who need to say exactly the right thing at exactly the right time in order to have just the right excuse to break into the right song, which is barely in English anyway. It should be beyond bonkers. It should be a mess.
It isn’t. They’ll probably revoke my membership of the Straight Men’s Sneering Association for this, but Mamma Mia! is actually rather wonderful. It is sharp, hilarious and so beautifully shot that you can almost smell the Ambre Solaire.
Streep slams wonky, wooden shutters and leads her mob of bridesmaids, ageing sluts and lumpy Greek peasant women on a rampage through that sleepy village like a sun-kissed, middle-aged parody of Cyndi Lauper.
Walters cackles away like the old pro she is, and even though Colin Firth is in full Bridget Jones awkward mode, you never properly want to beat him to death with an oar.
Streep is the real star here, and she does serious acting, too, investing a cliff-top rendition of The Winner Takes It All with far more teary gravitas than should be possible for a song that contains the line: “I figured it made sense/ building me a fence”.
Brosnan, meanwhile, is at his funniest and most unBondish. Bless him, but the man cannot sing at all. It’s not that he can’t hold a tune, exactly, more that you can really hear him trying. I hope he is in on the joke.
Maybe it is the mature cast that makes Mamma Mia! work so well. The film is hectic but relaxed. It doesn’t take itself too seriously. Every act of breaking into song is a gag and every dance move an undignified scramble.
In the right sort of way, it is also gloriously subversive. Three sexual partners in a week is a bit of a laugh and the older a woman gets, the more likely she is to drink, leer and lust.
With the exception of Baranski’s rather gruesome duet with a young barman on Does Your Mother Know? the film is almost completely without campery. For a musical full of Abba songs, that is truly remarkable.
There is, however, an important caveat to make here before I get carried away, and that is to admit that I saw this film in a little screening room in Soho. In your average multiplex you’ll have people twirling and singing along, which may, if you are of a certain bent, spur you to murder.
But even so, if you can resist a smile as 30 muscular chaps in tiny Speedos and huge Technicolor flippers bop away to Dancing Queen on a rickety Greek pier, then you are a straighter, even more sneering man than I ever was.

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The movie was mainly shot ( 6 weeks) on the island of Skopelos. Find the beach of Kastani, Amarandos bay, and the small church at Agios Jannis and you'll see. A pity you went to the other islands to look for the spots.
Daphne, skopelos town, greece
As a fan of Abba's music and the stage production of Mamma Mia I was looking forward to seeing this, despite being conscious of the fact that it is a 'chick flick'. I was sadly disappointed. For the most part the 'singing' was truly tragic (with a few exceptions). Not one for men or music fans!
Keith Davidson, Downpatrick, Northern Ireland
Just been to see this today - WONDERFUL!!! I found myself smiling throughout the entire film, laughing out loud many times and even wiping a away a tear or two! Joyful, beautiful.
I have never really been an Abba "fan", but this was brilliant! The ultimate "feel-good" movie - see it and smile!
Val, Plymouth, UK
Absolutely fantastic! Ive seen it 3 times in 1 week. Have bought the sound track too. Definitely cannot wait for the dvd to be released
Katrina Payton, Chelmsford, UK
What a fantastic feel good film seen it three times in 4 weeks cant wait for the dvd
julie, Cleethorpes, uk
There really is nothing bad to say about this wonderful film. I thought the vision of Colin Firth emerging wet shirted from the water was enough of a memory to keep me warm on a cold English evening. I now have the memory of him in platforms and sparkly spandex.
Superb
Lindi, Bournemouth, U.K.
loved it loved it loved it!!
seen it twice already & looking to try & convince my mum to go & see it again this week!
yes Pierce's singing voice isnt the best, but I've heard far worse - Richard Gere in Chicago springs to mind!
but Streep & Seyfried definitely raise the bar back up ... GO SEE IT!
Roni, Exmouth, Devon
It is an awesome movie!!! It is heading to gross more than 200 million world wide, and may reach 100 mill in the US!!!
Don't listen to any negative critics... If they are so good then why aren't they making movies???!!!
It is a fun movie and a great time...GO SEE IT!!!
Mike Friddle, Ruskin, Florida, USA
I caught the movie twice in one weekend, and I would see it again. No question that M. Streep is outstanding. She deserves an Oscar! Sophie (Amanda) is beautiful to look at, and fit the part extremely well. Every inch of her personified the love of a any mother who has a daughter. Go See It!!
Joan, R.V.C., USA
It's easy to hate a movie if you're not into it. Mamma Mia! fits this genre. If you're not a die hard ABBA fan, then you really won't have
much reason to watch it, unless you happen to like musicals as well. But for those who enjoy ABBA and their music, Mamma Mia is a great watch. Enjoy it!
Norberto Sison, Mandaluyong City, Philippines
Loved this film - perfectly captures the joy of the freelovin 70's and the gorgeous Greek Isle's that became the symbol of a generation devoted to freedom, beauty and love. If this movie doesn't open your heart - you are morgue material. Three CHEERS!
Jeff, Santa Fe, USA
What a fabulous film! At the end, the cinema audience applauded and rightly so!!! This should be available on the National Health as it is so uplifting. Let's have more films like this - a bit of escapism works wonders.
Kath, Newtown, Mid-Wales,
This film is the best feel good movie I have seen in years. At the end all of the people in the cinema were clapping and shouting for an encore! No high tension, its not avant garde and its not oscar fueled but there are lots of side splitting laughs. I will certainly see it again and again. Brill!
Eve, Birmingham, UK
saw the film and absolutely LOVED it!! a really entertaining movie. Pierce tried really hard, and it hurt, but who cares, he still looked great. Loved Meryl. Amanda's charming and she's got great pipes. Can't wait for the DVD so I can watch again and again....what a sweet torture!
Daisy, Melbourne, Australia
It's fun, fun and funny. Don't go expecting anything else. Everyone in the cinema was bopping and singing along and laughing at some very silly lines. No stiff upper lip around. The cinema brave enough to offer sing along sessions will truly make a real killing. Have a laugh - you're worth it.
Tony , Warrington, England
Yiasou!! I cringed during the first 10 mins due to the over-acting but it reeled me in and I was in hysterics by the half-way mark. Fabulous, film with great actors who simply let their hair down and had a laugh with the script but still managed to have us almost in tears at times. Superb !!
Marcia, London, United Kingdom
Being a Greek myself I was stunned by the landscape! Exciting film. It's true Pierce Brosnan's voice was ridiculous. He was too serious as well. Very good choreography...I was amazed by Streep's energy and body flexibility. She proved she can play all types of movies.
Stella, London, England
My dad and i were ABBA fans when i was little. Grew up thinking how much fun there are in the melodies.amanda...wow!! Gorgeous, peirce.bless him he tried soo hard to sing!! .But meryl singing winner takes it all..so emotive,such passion.Blew my 37yo straight guy socks off. Nota dry eye inda house
sam, Coventry, UK
High camp nonesense - fantastic!
JJ, London, UK
"The film is almost completely without campery"
What? Did I see the same film?
Was a joy!
Craig, London, UK
AMAZING. i saw it tonight in orlando and i LOVED it!!! dominic cooper was an absolute stud, had me drooling every scene he was in.
the music was great, the actors were surprisingly capable, and it just makes you want to dance and fall in love!! i could see a lot of guys enjoying this as well!
KM, Orlando, FL, USA
I saw the movie today. i intended to see Angelina"s WANTED which I was told wasnt showing yet so I reluctantly went to watch MAMMA MIA instead. Guess what? I thoroughly enjoyed the film. It was fantastic. I found myself singing along. Ms Streep is really versatile.
Liza, Laguna, Phils
I saw it tnight at a preview in Plymouth.
I thought it was brilliant!
Julie Walters was FABULOUS. But the real stars were Dominic and Amanda. Such a great pair of leads.
Zoe Fell, Plymouth, Devon
Saw it yesterday at the London preview, and thought it was incredible. I had expected it to be rather trashy, but it was really well done in my opinion.
But I think more should be mentioned about Dominic Cooper and Amanda Seyfried who I thought were incredible and really drew in us youngsters :P
Kirsti, London, England
What is a "post MTV value"? What does it mean? Does it mean anything?
Steve, London, UK
Nice review, which would, under normal circumstances, make me want to see the movie. However, can I put up with an evening of Abba songs? No contest, of course I can't.
Marc, Paris, France
Was at Skiathos premier last night. The film was shot here last year! Mostly on Skopelos, also Skiathos & Pelion - the most beautiful areas in Greece! The film was wonderful & some of the old dears who were in it, were sitting behind us in the open air cinema reading the Greek subs & having a ball
Pegs, Skiathos-Skopelos-Pelion, Greece
I was lucky enough to go as a guest to the 'cast and crew' filming. It is a fantastic feel-good film and I'm going to see it again as soon as it is on general release. Meryl Streep is amazing and the men are gorgeous, even if the voices are not brilliant.
Linda, Chelmsford, UK
I think the movie is shot in Santorini or Amorgos- I'll be there in August and investigate by myself
Erik, Denmark,
This looks lilke real entertainment, cant wait to go and see it.
Colin Firth will be eye candy if nothing else.
Ann Frankham, Littlehampton, UK
Twenty years ago, she would have been a bike ! Now it's probably way below the norm for our drunken young English ladies, who don't even remember the night before.
Beth, Manchester, UK
Couldn't have been that much of a bike if there are only three candidates for Daddy.
Liz, London,