Omarotti Reviews: “MAMMA MIA!”

It has been a while since I’ve seen a movie in a THX cinema. Looking at the list of movies shown in theatres this week, I kept wondering what movie will be shown in one of my favourite theatres—TriNoma Cinema 7. WANTED has already been shown in it, so was HANCOCK, and most recently JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH. I thought it will stop there, until I looked again—they’re now playing “MAMMA MIA!”

That comes not as a surprise to me. I see it proper that the film version of the successful musical featuring songs from 70’s band ABBA be shown in a THX cinema so that the audiences will appreciate the music better. They’ve done the same a couple of times already—I’ve seen HORTON HEARS A WHO in it, and even STEP UP 2: THE STREETS was likewise shown in the same theatre. In HORTON, sound was very crucial because in a key scene the miniscule residents of Whoville (led by its Mayor portrayed by comic Steve Carrell) have to make themselves known to the rest of the world by making a lot of noise so that they can be heard. As for STEP UP 2, the movie is all about dancing and music—enough said.

Now comes “MAMMA MIA!” While I admit the film did not really meet some of my expectations, it is still worth watching because of its sheer fun. And if you are a big ABBA fan, you will surely enjoy the movie and could almost exclaim in the end: “Thank You For the Music.”

There is nothing really remarkable about the simple storyline of the movie: Raised on a Greek island by a formerly rebellious mom (Meryl Streep) who never disclosed the identity of her father, a bride-to-be (Amanda Seyfried) locates three men—Harry, Bill and Sam (portrayed by Stellan Skarsgard, Colin Firth, and Pierce Brosnan respectively) who might be her father and invites them to her wedding.

While the story may be simple, what makes “MAMMA MIA!” stand out was its ability to weave the music of ABBA into the storyline. I would have to admit—I am only familiar with at least three ABBA songs: “Dancing Queen,” “The Winner Takes It All,” and “Chiquitita.” But the wonderful thing about the movie is that they sang these songs in the movie—and you have to see how they did it!

Another thing worth watching in this film is the fact that Meryl Streep did not only deliver her acting prowess, but her singing prowess as well. While her singing can not be compared with that of Barbra Streisand and Julie Andrews, her singing effort is nonetheless commendable. Seeing her combine drama and music in her acting is really extraordinary.

Not to be left out is Pierce Brosnan. Check this out: James Bond singing—and in tights! Enough said. (Watch the end credits guys to see for yourself).

Aside from the music, “MAMMA MIA!” also boasts of a wonderful supporting cast (Julie Walters, Christine Baranski, Dominic Cooper) and beautiful scenery (the movie was shot in Greece). It is quite disappointing, though, that the movie reduced the location to a mere backdrop for all the singing, dancing and drama and was not able to give it more importance in developing the movie’s plot.

In sum, “MAMMA MIA!” is worth watching if you need to be infected by the fun and enjoyment the characters in the film are having. But unless you are familiar with the songs (or was a big ABBA fan), appreciating this movie may take quite a while.

Up for review next week: “THE DARK KNIGHT”