movie review

Grace Stelzner

Clara Biesel

WRIT 1301

13 October 2018

Mamma Mia! Review

Maybe one of my favorite musicals of all time, Mamma Mia! Never fails to put a smile on my face. This movie is very uplifting, positive, and funny while incorporating covers of songs by Abba into the plot. Amanda Seyfried who plays the feisty daughter of Meryl Streep, invites three mystery men from her mother’s past to her wedding to try and figure out which one is her father. The movie goes through the 48 hours before the wedding and everything that unfolds between  Sophie’s (Amanda Seyfried) potential fathers and everyone else on the small greek island. Throughout the chaotic plot of Mamma Mia!, the uplifting music and flamboyant scenes remind you to just have fun in life and not take anything too seriously.

One very important aspect of this musical is the characters and their individual stories and histories. Sophie, played by Amanda Seyfried, is days away from getting married and feels the need to have her father there even though she does not know who her father is. Donna, Sophie’s mom played by Meryl Streep, had a busy summer 20 years ago in which she fell in love with three different men and became pregnant shortly after. Sophie and Donna are both feisty and hardworking women trying to run a hotel and find love on a remote greek island. Throughout the movie you see how run down Donna is from being a single mother and running a hotel basically by herself for the past 20 years. Her best friends come into town for the wedding and help her realize she needs love again. Sophie puts so much focus on her fathers that she has neglected to place importance on the wedding itself and her fiance. She slowly realizes that a wedding isn’t necessary if you’re with someone you love.  

Being a musical, the music in the film is very important. In some musicals, bursting out into song every couple minutes seems forced and unnatural. This is not the case in Mamma Mia!. Because the director does such a great job at setting up the characters and the spontaneous vibe of the whole film, the music blends right into the dialogue. With the catchy choruses and uplifting choreography, one can’t help but sing along with the cast in all of the musical numbers. It makes the small island appear to be bursting with life and vibrancy and diminishes the worries of paternal rights that the plot introduces. The music also adds to the character development as their feelings are expressed in different ways through the dialogue mixed with the music. It allows you to hear inside their head without an awkward voiceover.

Going along with the music, the visual aspects of the film are bright and well done. Many times throughout the film, the camera spans along the island showing the picturesque views and scenery. It makes you want to lay in the sun and eat some grapes. The shots add to the cheeriness and care-free spirit that can be seen in all other aspects in Mamma Mia!. There are also smaller details that add to the depth and humor of the movie. During the musical numbers the people in the background are very engaged. When Donna sings about being broke, her friends hold up numerous credit cards in the background as if that would solve her problems. It shows that although there are problems on the island, there are more important things to be happy about.

Overall, Mamma Mia! Is a very good film. It has something for everyone; humor, drama, music, and love. Although the problems that arise in the plot are serious ones, the audience is never too down because of the animated and lighthearted themes throughout the movie along with the lively music. For anyone needing a good pick me up or feel good movie, Mamma Mia! is a great choice.