<p>The acting and directing in Mamma Mia were far worse crimes against musicals than was the singing. I don't mind non-singers singing...I loved Glenn Close in Barnum...it was that frenetic tearing around that really got on my nerves.</p>
<p>PS: I love WSS, too.</p>
<p>I thought Mamma Mia the movie was spotty...great scenery, fun casting, lots of energy. But I agree that Meryl Streep was over the top sometimes; it was like she was acting for the stage and didn't adjust for the screen. A few of the scenes made me squirm, like when Pierce Brosnan sang SOS. People at my screening laughed. I suspect some laughed at the silliness of the scene for the right reasons, but some laughed because he just didn't sing and act congruously. </p>
<p>I don't think I'd sit through it again. I LOVED the stage show on Broadway. It was lots of fun, celebratory. The movie felt sometimes like the fun was forced.</p>
<p>Funny, I haven't seen the movie yet but when Pierce was on the Today Show for the movie promo, they showed a clip of him singing.... um... I wasn't sure what to think, did they want someone for this role that really couldn't sing or what?</p>
<p>The thing I loved most about the movie (other than the absolutely breathtakingly gorgeous setting and the very lovely young woman playing Sophie, who is just adorable to look at) was that Meryl Streep just seemed to be jumping into the role of Donna feet first, wholely and completely. She threw herself into it, which (imo) is the only way to be part of such a ridiculous story set to music. (I also loved Christine Baranski and Julie Waters as the two back up singers/best friends.) I admit to being puzzled as to why Sophie's two best friends were British, as was her fiance, but heck! so much didn't make sense.</p>
<p>I loved the movie, but I loved the stage show more.</p>
<p>I would have liked better singers. The dancing didn't bother me.</p>
<p>The lyrics of the songs seemed more appropriate in the movie than the show, though.</p>
<p>The whole thing is very silly and it's silly to want more from it.</p>
<p>I did, however, sadly, think Meryl and her cohort were too old. Sad. Some close-ups had Meryl looking more like Sophie's grandmother.</p>
<p>Pierce Brosnan was the only one who didn't work IMO.</p>
<p>But I really enjoyed myself, and I'm sure I will be watching the movie many times -- a sort of silly, musical Gilmore Girls.</p>
<p>Here's a funny review from The StarLedger in NJ:</p>
<p>Mamma</a> Mia! How dreadful! - TV and FILM - NJ.com</p>
<p>
[quote]
Toward the end of "Mamma Mia!" Meryl Streep stands on a secluded Grecian cliff, singing. You can tell it's secluded as there doesn't seem to be a director or choreographer present.....</p>
<p>Pierce Brosnan, an actor who cannot hit a note -- he singlehandedly disproves every cliche about Irish musicality -- gets several songs. Stellan Skarsgard, the one actor here you don't want to see naked, is the only one who is....</p>
<p>I looked at the lovely Aegean seascapes. I endured "Dancing Queen," and began to wonder when it would be time for "Waterloo." </p>
<p>And then I realized. The cast and crew had already met it, long before.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Yeah, the math problem occupied half my head for the whole movie. If Sophie is 20 and Meryl Streep is 55, then Mom was 34 when she was sliding on a wet deck (a bit too old to be using ellipses as a euphemism for well, you know.....).</p>
<p>The other time thing that didn't work is that the outfits on Donna and her backup singers (from the poster and from when they re-enacted their, well, act during Sophie's bachelorette party) seemed to date from the late 1970s, as did the hair/outfits on the three possible dads in their photos/flashbacks. Yet 20 years ago, we were in the 1980s!!!
Skwidjymom, I have to say "uncle" when it comes to this movie's math not making sense.
However, I happily suspended my disbelief and just enjoyed myself, though (like others) I am puzzled why they had to get Pierce Brosnan and only Pierce Brosnan (as lovely as he is to look at) to do the movie when surely there are other men of that age who can at least hold a tune.
(Was anyone else taken at least a little by surprise that Colin Firth's character turned out to be gay? I know he told the other father character that he had come to a realization about himself, but I thought that realization was that he was Sophie's dad. I finally got it when he said that Donna was the first and last woman he ever loved.) :)</p>
<p>NotMamaRose - While I haven't seen the movie yet (we're going tomorrow), I have to agree about Pierce Brosnan's voice. I heard it on my TV (we listen to Sirius radio w/Seth Rudetsky; I LOOOOOOOOVE him!) and I thought it was a joke. I ran to the living room to see who was singing, and sure enough, it was Pierce singing SOS. There are a million good looking actors who can actually SING; why him?? Hollywood can get anyone they want; it's not like it's a community theater production!</p>
<p>It's a big mess of a movie but, if you LET yourself enjoy it you will LOVE it! </p>
<p>I don't think anyone has mentioned Meryl in The Winner Takes It All.....I thought that was the best moment in the movie.....the song, the drama, the scenery with the church on the hill.... I haven't been that thrilled in a movie musical since Barbra Streisand sang from the tugboat in Funny Girl! </p>
<p>I give Meryl a lot of credit for making the movie with little make up. She looked amazing and has the energy of a 25 year old. I can't remember the song, but it's the one where all the women in the town follow her to the pier... it looked like Julie Andrews in Do Re Mi from The Sound of Music.</p>
<p>It's summer. It's all good fun. Go and enjoy it.</p>
<p>Just a note on the casting of the revival of WWS. THe call was for 15-25ish (I don't remember the upper end clearly.) And all kids had to be 16 by Sept. 1. We debated if we should take D to the dance call but the timing was impossible. SO although they may have picked up younger from agents, it seems like 16 was the lower limit. There is a new call out for the role of Maria and Roselia and it is listed as looks 17-21. And they have to be fluently bi-lingual.</p>
<p>I heard that Lea Michele got the part of Maria? Is that just rumor?
My d wanted to try out; we saw the recent posting, but we'll be away. She's played Maria twice, but is not fluent (she took AP Spanish but says she can't remember a word!!)</p>
<p>OMG! I saw the movie tonight. . .and I laughed out loud--alot. It was like watching folks do Karoke--losing themselves in the moment, enjoying themselves immensely, and entertaining the audience with their enthusiasm and carefree attitude. So, sometimes I was laughing WITH them; and sometimes I was laughing AT them. Hmmmm. It's worth going to see the movie to see Meryl Streep in such a role (who would have thought it!) and to see a bunch of folks have so much fun.</p>
<p>Just saw Mamma Mia last night ...could they get ANYONE who could sing?? The girl, Sophie, was ok, and Meryl Streep wasn't terrible, but I know about 200 singers personally who could have done better. I just don't get it. It's a MUSICAL movie; why don't they hire musically talented actors?</p>
<p>For some reason, it didn't bother me.</p>
<p>Whoa - who says Glenn Close can't sing!</p>
<p>She's not known for her singing but I thought she was respectable in Barnum.</p>
<p>I just meant that there's no comparison between Meryl Streep and Glenn Close. Streep is an actress who was dabbling in singing in the movie. Close actually started in singing before college, did musical theater in college and went straight to Broadway in Rex and Barnum after graduating. Her roots are in theater and musical theater. She then moved to movies and television and she's has remained active in theater and musical theater. She's not known for her singing but it's definitely not an afterthought.</p>
<p>"Yeah, the math problem occupied half my head for the whole movie. If Sophie is 20 and Meryl Streep is 55, then Mom was 34 when she was sliding on a wet deck (a bit too old to be using ellipses as a euphemism for well, you know.....)."</p>
<p>It's not about real age but about playing age, Streep looked far from 59 in the film. </p>
<p>"It's a MUSICAL movie; why don't they hire musically talented actors?"</p>
<p>Because it's Hollywood and it's about box office. Just look at the cast of Nine, Penelope Cruz as Carla?? Nicole Kidman??</p>
<p>"Streep is an actress who was dabbling in singing in the movie."</p>
<p>Streep actually trained as a classical opera singer from the age of 12 until she finished high school and decided singing wasn't for her and originally wanted to be a lawyer.</p>
<p>I would prefer someone of Streep's age to be cast as the mom of a 20 year old than what we see too often in Hollywood- a 35ish mom of a 20 year old- or a 20ish romantic lead actress with a 40ish romantic male lead!</p>