Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #382 in DVD
• Released on: 2008-11-24
• Rating: Parental Guidance
• Format: PAL
• Original language: English, German
• Subtitled in: English, German, Danish, Finnish, Norwegian, Swedish
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 105 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
The delirious sight of Meryl Streep leading a river of multigenerational women singing "Dancing Queen" is one of the high points of Mamma Mia!, the musical built around the songs of the hugely popular pop group ABBA. The plot sets in motion when Sophie (Amanda Seyfried, Mean Girls), daughter of Donna (Streep), sends a letter to three men, inviting them to her wedding--because after reading her mother's diary, she suspects that one of them is her father. When all three arrive at the Greek island where Donna runs a hotel, Donna flips out and finds that passions she thought she'd laid aside are coming back to life. But let's face it, the plot is not the point--it's a ridiculous contrivance that provides an excuse for the characters to sing the massive hits of ABBA. Regrettably, first-time film director Phyllida Lloyd (who directed the original stage production) has drawn over-the-top performances from everyone involved, even Streep; every production number hammers its exuberance into your eyeballs. Which is too bad, because Mamma Mia! is a rarity: A middle-aged love story. The kids start things off, but the story is really about Streep and the three guys (former James Bond Pierce Brosnan, former Mr. Darcy Colin Firth, and Swedish star Stellan Skarsgard), as well as Donna's best friends (Christine Baranski, best known from the TV show Cybill, and Julie Walters, Calendar Girls). It's a romantic comedy aimed at the people who were around when all these songs were new, and that's an age group Hollywood largely ignores. For that alone, Mamma Mia! deserves to find an audience. --Bret Fetzer

Special Features

• Sing-a-long option
• Feature commentary with director Phyllida Lloyd
• Behind-the-scenes look at the making of Mamma Mia!
• The 'Gimme Gimme Gimme' music video
• Deleted scenes, including the deleted musical number 'Name of the Game'
• And loads more...

Synopsis
Mamma Mia! became a Broadway smash when it hit Broadway back in 2001. With a story framed around the music of the Swedish pop band Abba, crowds loved its raucous, dance party vibe. Now it comes to the silver screen, with some truly delightful performances from the likes of Meryl Streep and Pierce Brosnan. It is the story of Sophie (Amanda Seyfried), a young woman living on a picturesque Greek island with her mother, Donna (Streep). Together, Donna and Sophie run a ramshackle island inn, and they are in the midst of preparing for Sophie's wedding. As the wedding approaches, Sophie becomes troubled by the fact that she has never known her father. She was the result of one of her mother's summer flings, and her mother has never revealed her father's identity. When Sophie stumbles upon her mother's diary, she learns that there are three possible men who could be her dad. Without telling her mother, she invites all three to her wedding. When Harry (Colin Firth), Sam (Brosnan), and Bill (Stellan Skarsgard) all arrive at the same time, Donna is of course shocked and overwhelmed by seeing her old lovers again after such a long time. She turns to her two best friends, Tanya (Christine Baranaki) and Rosie (Julia Walters), for their support, and vows to just get through the wedding and weekend. Meanwhile, Sophie spends time with each man, determined to learn the truth.

Major hi-jinks and confusion ensues, all amidst the utterly romantic scenery, and the rather irresistible, swelling love ballads. Streep has a lovely singing voice, and to watch her throw herself into this whimsical role is truly a delight. She looks like she is having a ball, and it is hard not to shimmy along with her. Baranski reliably delivers an over-the-top showstopper, and Brosnan's tender singing voice makes his character all the more touching. The film strives to be a jubilant celebration of mother/daughter relationships and the love between good friends, and it is hard to resist its many charms.

Customer Reviews

Fantastic Feel-Good Fun Film!
Saw this film last night and thoroughly enjoyed it! Can't remember when I last saw a film at the cinema that had the whole audience buzzing, laughing and smiling by the end of it!

Fantastic cast, especially Meryl Streep and Julie Walters. Glossing over the fact that Pierce Brosnan sounded as though he was trying to sing while being strangled(!), I thought it was wonderful that he, Colin Firth (more eye candy!) and all the other big name cast members were quite happy to make themselves look as ridiculous as possible so that the comedy element wasn't compromised! Certainly looked like they all enjoyed making this film. Pure entertainment from start to finish!

I'd happily go see this again and can't wait for the DVD to come out!

get over first 5 mins shock!
I went to see this without reading any reviews or any preconceived ideas of what to expect.
When it started with the friends singing and talking, I thought 'what on earth have I come to'.... I didn't actually get it!
It was when Meryl Streep came into it after just a few minutes that I just sat back and let the film take me along on a wonderful, amazing journey of fabulous scenery, terrific songs and such a laugh.
Pierce Brosnan was great, he had such guts to sing with his voice!! It was hilarious..... and well Colin firth is sex on legs.
Julie Walters was perfect with Meryl Streep.. what a partnership.
Whoever put these actors/actresses together deserves an Oscar just for that.
Needless to say I took my sister to see it several days after my first viewing. My brother in law passed away tragically only 4 weeks ago. When we came out she said how uplifted she felt and how much better it had made her feel.... perhaps this film should be given out on prescription!!

If you haven't seen it, go see it and I guarantee you will see again and again.
Oh... I bought the cd today and have been singing along all night.....
Just waiting for the singalong version of the song to come into my area and I will be off again.

Wonderful, amazing.

Horribly Guilty Pleasure


Twenty-two ABBA songs? Meryl Streep and Pierce Brosnan? A movie from a musical? It actual works! The story is simple. Donna (mother Meryl Streep) was once a wild child and now, twenty years later has a daughter, Sophie who is getting married. They run a rustic hotel on a tiny Greek island. The trouble is, Sophie never knew who her father was and neither did Donna. Sophie figures out it has to be one of three men, so she seceretly invites them while mother Donna invite her two best friends making a perfect excuse to team up three couples during a wedding. That's it. Really.

Even if you loathe ABBA, you'll find some good humor and songs here amidst the clever (if forced) storyline. The songs and dancing action are non-stop, although some of the choreograophy could have been improved. The visuals are stunning and Greece never looked so good. Sure, some of the songs are goofball and corny, but they carry the story and for the two male members of ABBA (Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus) to have created such a monster hit is remarkable. Yes, Meryl Streep really CAN sing as good as the rest of the cast, but Pierce Brosnan is horridly, inexplicably painful to listen to. No matter. It's a simple, light-hearted film with lots of good music and good feelings. The ending is hilarious. Its just a good time for all.