<p>Just came back from seeing "Mamma Mia" and had a blast! This movie is so much fun: over-the-top in a great big musical way! It was enjoyable seeing Meryl Streep burst into song and even Pierce Brosnan had some endearing musical moments, though he certainly isn't a singer! </p>
<p>I would love to hear what other people think. </p>
<p>I recognize that this film won't win an Oscar, but it sure was a fun way to spend a summer evening with my MT daughter. (And the scene where the mom and daughter are getting the daughter ready for her wedding is guaranteed to evoke tears in moms and dads whose kids are about to go away to college. Bring some Kleenex.)</p>
<p>Wholeheartedly agree with you, NMR!! I absolutely LOVED it and I was gushing buckets of tears during that scene. I have 2 girls off to college in a few weeks and for the first time, an empty nest! So I was basically hysterical when Meryl Streep sang that song.</p>
<p>I thought it was SUCH a FUN movie and a joyous night out. It's a must-see for all of the MT parents and kids!! Meryl Streep was fabulous and LOOKED AMAZING for her age! She is such a tremendous talent no matter what she is doing!!</p>
<p>Mascara alert for sure on the mother/daughter pre wedding song. D and I had a blast at this FUN, FUN show. The reviews may not be glowing but I just cannot think of a better way to enjoy time with my daughter. I have not seen the stage "Mamma Mia", is there water involved in the final scene in the stage show?</p>
<p>LOL! No water in the final scene in the stage show as I remember. Could'nt agree more. I dont usually sit in the front of the theatre, but I knew that I couldn't watch it without "breaking into song" and did not want to offend others in front of me. As it was, the movie theatre was full of my generation and older who were all tapping their feet and singing along, so it was obviously catching and contagious. The casting was brilliant for the movie. I have NO daughters (mom of 3 sons) and I was in need of tissues as well. It is one that I definately will own when it comes out on DVD. Oh, and it is not just a chick flick. My hubby loves ABBA and loved the movie!!!</p>
<p>Mamma Mia was the worst movie I have seen in a long, long time...simply execrable. I sort of felt insulted, that the producers figured anyone who likes musical theatre would like this miscarriage of a film. I love ABBA, and I liked the B'way musical, but the movie was close to unendurable.</p>
<p>No doubt the movie will win no awards and the singing AND dancing were not broadway polished, BUT, I had a blast just enjoying the music and the time with my d.</p>
<p>I loved the movie as did just about everyone else in the theater. I must agree that the pre wedding scene was a tear jerker. Another favorite at theater was the "Dancing Queen" scene. By the end there were people literally dancing in the aisles. So much for the reviewers!</p>
<p>Most amazing of all is that my husband did not fall asleep - that never happens!</p>
<p>I read an article that when they were casting they were not particulary interested in getting good voices. Apparently, a directing decision was to make it more like real people attempting to sing than a musical theater extravaganza. In other words, it wasn't supposed to be the play on screen.</p>
<p>I thought it was fun but awfully frantic. Meryl Streep's reaction to everything was too over-the-top to be enjoyable... very one-note which is so different from every other role she's ever done. Definitely cried several times.</p>
<p>MaryTN, she reminded me of a chipmunk on speed...not that I have ever seen a chipmunk on speed...unless they're ALL on speed and that's why they're so frantic. Twenty years on a Greek isle would HAVE to chill somebody out a bit, don't you think?</p>
<p>Skwidjymom, it seems you are in the minority here! I can't wait to see it again and plan to do so on my upcoming beach vacation, if it happens to be playing in the small resort city where we spend a week each summer. My husband, who is something of a movie snob, will probably resist going and then will have to admit he had a great time! :)</p>
<p>Even though they might not be the greatest singers and dancers, it is still better than movies like "West Side Story" where some of the singers were not singers but sang anyway and some had their voices dubbed because they absolutely could not sing! I watched it the other day and cringed, but their are people who say it was the best movie that they ever saw and still watch it and love it. At least when they were casting "Mama Mia" for REAL people they got that person and their talent even if it was mediocre. I think that was part of the charm.</p>
<p>I LOVED Mama Mia. In fact, the folks in my theater cheered! However, I find it very interesting how diverse the reviews have been. People either loved the show or really hated it. There doesn't seem to be many in the middle.</p>
<p>This is a fantastic film, Mery Streep is excellent (she will be nominated for a bunch of stuff, watch this space) and excels at playing against her usual casting. Sure, some of the singing was lacking but in didn't matter in this movie version of a musical (it DID matter in The Producers for example where Uma Thurman was greatly lacking the required skills or Richard Gere in Chicago - terrible). I haven't had so much fun watching a movie in a cinema for a long time and by the end even the guys who had blatantly been dragged along by their girlfriends, etc were dancing along and having a blast. I much preferred it to the stage show (of which I was never a great fan). I don't know how anyone could not see Meryl Streep giving the most heartfelt performance of her life here, especially in The winner takes it all.</p>
<p>I know this is swaying the topic a bit but WEST SIDE STORY is one of the best musical movies ever made. It was typical of the time to have other singers (usually Marni Nixon) sing for name actors who could not sing as well. And what was wonderful is that this particular actress (Marni) had this amazing ability to mimic the speech patterns and voices of the person she was singing for - Natalie Wood, Audrey Hepburn. The sheer brilliance of her work is yet another reason to watch this incredible movie - besides the dancing and Rita Moreno's portrayal of Anita. Interestingly enough, the new Broadway musical (directed by Arthur Laurents) has been cast with teenagers in the roles - they aren't going much older than 18. And the show will be partially done in Spanish. Should be a very interesting take.</p>
<p>I wouldn't have thought anyone is ready at 18 to sing such a difficult score as a lead 8 shows a week. Even Julie Andrews had serious vocal problems doing The Boyfriend at that age and had to take time off the show to sort out her voice, especially after going straight into My Fair Lady. She talks about it in her recent autobiography, very interesting.</p>
<p>argh....I saw the stage version on tour and really had a hard time sitting through it so I highly doubt I will see the movie, not even on dvd or 'on demand'. I know a few people who actually walked out during the middle of the movie. Reminds me of Xanadu.</p>
<p>I have never seen "Mamma Mia" on stage, and admit that listening to the OBC recording did not make me think much of it! However, I know a lot of people who have seen it in New York or on tour and every single one of them (including my D's very proper voice teacher, who is a Juilliard graduate and sang many times at the Met in her youth) reported that the show is just good clean fun! So I was excited to see the movie and it did not disappoint. It's a frothy, strawberry milkshake of a movie: fun for a summer night. As a very smart and educated friend of mine said, it wobbles on the edge between brilliance and ridiculousness, and that's a good way to describe it. Go and just have some fun!</p>
<p>I know this is a MamaMia thread, but back to the ages of the revival of WWS. I had heard that they were looking for teens for the leads and was quite surprised at the ages. I think they were looking for 14-16 year olds. I could be wrong, but that is what I remember. How can they sing those songs 8 shows a week at that age?</p>