Dear reader, I must make a confession. I do not make this lightly. I have agonized for some time about whether or not to put fingers to keyboard and to own up, but some news in today’s paper seemed to compel me to come clean.
I have done it. I too have been one of the millions world-wide who have paid good money to see Mamma Mia! The Movie. And what is worse (if there could be such a thing), I enjoyed it! I even want to get the DVD for Christmas. (You will doubtless be relieved to hear that I didn’t sing along during the performance - even I have some standards.)
Results were reported today confirming Mamma Mia! The Movie as this summer’s cinematic phenomenon. The film cost £28 million to make, but has so far taken £245 million. Britain has had the highest summer cinematic attendance (17.6 million) since 1972.
So why did I enjoy it? What has caused the film’s success? Why, at the end of the screening that I attended, did everyone stand up in the auditorium and applaud? - a phenomenon that I have never ever witnessed in a cinema before.
It wasn’t the fact that I have had Abba songs ringing in my head ever since. That alone might have been enough to prevent me from going in the first place. And it wasn’t seeing and hearing the tone-deaf Pierce Brosnan prancing about singing that really inspired me - though the sadistic streak in me was curious to watch how the mighty 007 would cope with middle-aged blonde and a dated tune.
The settings and photography were breathtakingly beautiful. The Mediterranean blue and the Greek Islands helped create the backdrop and atmosphere of wonder necessary for the story. The acting was, in the main, very compelling. Meryl Streep convinced us of her confused vulnerability, as well as the fact that she really can sing. And Christine Baranski and Julie Walters really did leave you feeling that they were the kind of women you would either want with you on a night out in town, or who you would want to avoid like the plague. There left no room for ambiguity.
I didn’t go to the cinema expecting a comedy, but I haven’t laughed as much, so continuously, for a very long time. I can’t reveal the plot without giving too much away. However, it involves a simple quest that has at least three possible resolutions. It is the intertwining of these possible resolutions, together with the indecision and helplessness of Streep and the craziness of Baranski and Walters that create multiple possibilities for tension, resolution, and farce.
Although the laughter made a grown man cry, it wasn’t just the laughter that brought moisture to my eyes. It is a self-declared fairytale, and like all good fairytales has a happy ending. But this tale moves because it goes deep. The characters are real and likeable and not wooden figures. On the surface someone struggles to survive an economic crisis and manages to find some form of gold at the end. But below the surface there is more for us all to identify with. Deep, unspoken, and unresolved tension in relationships is forced into the open, examined, and settled. The doors to self-imposed prisons are shattered and we dance and sing at the exuberant celebration of new-found freedom and life.
The film appeals because of its rich feel-good factor. It may be a fairytale, but hey, a good fairytale never really harmed anyone.
Me too! I went to London for a weekend with my wife recently and found ourselves in the West End on a Saturday evening, near the various cinemas where you see the London premiers take place.
I said to my wife “Let’s go see a film… we’re here, it’s a great chance…” and she said “Yep… Mamma Mia!”.
So without much chance to find an objection and try to convince her to see the latest shoot-all-the-bad-guys flick we were in the line, had tickets in hand, huge buckets of Coke and bags of goodies to nibble on… all in the blink of an eye and far more money than sense later.
Sitting in the smaller than expected cinema the film started and, being truly honest here, I saw one of my favourite films for a very long time. Some of the scenes were fantastic, the setting amazing, the singing great in places, funny in others but at all times a real feel good feeling for two hours (or so).
My wife sang along throughout the whole film, the French ’students’ next to me laughed every time the word “bu***r” was said and I don’t think anyone left without a big smile on their face.
A great weekend, not made by the film but a part of it, and one that will live me for a very long time.
Thanks Andrew
It’s kinda reassuring to know that I’m not the only one!
As a huge ABBA fan, I too enjoyed MM very much. In fact, I am planning to go to the sing-along version this week.
I actually saw the play in Madrid–in Spanish. It was awesome.
I have read some terrible reviews putting the movie down, and all I can say is that some people don’t know how to have a good time.
The movie is for people who can let their hair down and be silly for a little while. Even my fundamentalist Christian, computer geek husband laughed his heart out.
I am actually hopping to get the sound track for Christmas.
My favourite line? By Colin Firth, “She is the last woman I ever loved. The only one, actually” (or something like that).
OK, I am going to admit that I LOVE Colin Firth. And I found these comments of his of making MM:
” This was quite terrifying, because the guys in this film were really out of their comfort zone with the singing thing. And you know, the first thing we did was to record our songs, because you pre-record before you shoot the film. And then you have to shoot it live, which a lot of it was, and it was the fearsome Benny and Björn of ABBA, and they were notorious hard customers, and they booked me three days in the studio to sing a three-minute song. So my mind was reeling with images of myself, you know, floods of Ambian-fueled tears, while I was being shouted out in Swedish by bearded men. But, fortunately, when I met them, they were friendly. There was something in their friendliness that had a reserve to it. I thought, “I’m going to be friendly as long as I’m not crappy.” And then half an hour later, they were actually ok. Pierce Brosnan and Stellan walked in and I looked at their faces, I was staring into a vortex of fear, both of them in spirals. And nothing bonds you more than blind terror really. Within a few more minutes, the three of us were like the Andrews Sisters around the mike, you know.
Actors are basically drag queens. People will tell you they act because they want to heal mankind or, you know, explore the nature of the human psyche. Yes, maybe. But basically we just want to put on a frock and dance.”
Lorena
I am planning to go to the sing-along version this week. Lorena, that’s bad!
My favourite line? By Colin Firth, “She is the last woman I ever loved. The only one, actually” (or something like that). Yes, I laughed at that too.
Thanks for the Firth quote. I can understand that he has an appeal. It was Christine Baranski that did it for me
Lorena, that’s bad!
Why? You haven’t heard my smooth, silky, on-tune, almost-pro voice, so how can you say that’s bad?
Just kidding. I sing in the shower like everyone else.
Lorena
I’m sure the voice would be wonderful. The ‘badness’ in my mind referred not to the singing, but the thought of a grown adult singing ABBA songs in a public place
. The thought fills me with horror, but there are obviously some people out there who have a less delicate constitution than me 
.
Well, I have resisted going to see it thus far mostly because I have very low tolerance of films where people burst into song at unexpected moments. Plus I don’t like Meryl Streep and to be honest I am not keen on cinemas! I’m such a miserable old trout, aren’t I?
But I do like ABBA and I love Greece and I am a little partial to fairy tales so maybe I should. But what if someone sat next to me and sang along like Lorena did? I think that might be a bit much!!
I always fall asleep in films unless there is someone in them that I fancy. Shame they didn’t give Keeley or the delightful Penelope Cruz a bit part.
The fact that you liked it is making me think that maybe I should give it a whirl. Mind you, you like Celine Dion don’t you???
Reluctant Blogger
It really is very funny and beautiful, and worth the price of the ticket just for that. And if you like the ABBA songs, then that’s a nice bonus. I think you should go.
I agree that the prospect of having a singer next to you is awful. Don’t go to a sing-along performance. We had a bloke sitting next to us who started to sing out of tune. My wife gave him one of her killer glares and he shut up immediately. You could always try that.
I can understand you not liking Meryl Streep, but Christine Baranski is gorgeous (though probably too old for you). There is always Amanda Seyfried.
If you went and hated it, it could, at least provide you with material for your blog.
But what if someone sat next to me and sang along like Lorena did?
I did NO such thing! Heavens no.
I am planning to go to a sing-along version of it, where people will be there with the exclusive purpose of singing.
Yes, that’s true. I could be the only person in the world to hate Mamma Mia! Perhaps I’ll give it a try.
I did click on your suggested eye-candy but I’m afraid neither of them did anything for me!