Mamma Mia!

Since it’s arrival in 2008, Mamma Mia!, directed by Phyllida Lloyd, has been a classic musical that nobody knew they needed in their life. Being able to watch this movie over and over again without getting sick of it shows what depths the producers took for it to turn out the way it did. A stellar cast, Meryl Streep and Amanda Seyfried star in this fun and uplifting film about a young, almost married Sophie (Seyfried) who wants to invite her estranged father to her wedding. The problem is, she’s unsure of who her father is and she has three viable options. Of course, Sophie ends up secretly inviting all three of them to the wedding in order to try to find out who her real father is. Each arrives, thinking they were invited by Sophie’s mother Donna (Streep), when in fact Donna is shocked to see all of them. After some initial confusion, Donna’s men, Sam, Harry, and Bill, turn into quick friends, which could also be due to the fact that Sophie failed to mention that one of them was potentially her father. All of the characters acting is fitting for the events that have happened in the past and present. Laughs, cries, and panics are accompanied by the music by ABBA, leaving songs such as “Dancing Queen” and “Mamma Mia” stuck in one’s head for days after the  first (and tenth) watch. If anyone hears these songs and does not want to immediately grab a hairbrush for a microphone and dance like nobody’s watching, they should pass on this movie. As it is a musical, the soundtrack plays a crucial role for the viewers. Although most of the cast are not stars on Broadway, it is difficult to notice because of the upbeat music and dancing that takes away from it. Even within the first two minutes, the mood is set by the spunky music: upbeat and adventurous with a side of mystery. The musical aspect of the film creates an appropriate and playful, yet more emotional viewpoint into the mother-daughter duo’s life. Because Donna and Sophie reside on the Grecian Islands, Mamma Mia! is the perfect movie to watch if you’re craving a trip to Greece. White buildings and blue waters, a well-known, aesthetically pleasing component of Greece, come alive in the film, adding a youthful vibe. While the camerawork is a bit outdated and some blurriness takes away from the beautiful set of the movie, it goes to show how simple it could be for its time. The editing of the film is made for viewers to laugh along with the antics of the men, Bill, Harry, and Sam as their trip to the island is not quite what they expected either. The humor involved throughout the duration of the movie makes it easy to want to watch the movie again and again, no matter a person’s current mood. From the reunion of the iconic trio “Donna and the Dynamos” to Sophie and Sky’s relationship, this true romantic comedy is a feel-good rather than a sappy love story.