Finally, the blockbuster musical, seen by 30 millions of people around the world, represented in 170 cities and translated into eight languages, has turned into a movie that will surely shine to the numbers achieved by the stage version. Sophie, who grew up with her mother (Donna) in a small Greek island, plans to finally realize his dream: to discover the identity of her father, her mother has always refused to disclose. To do that takes advantage of the occasion of his marriage, sending invitations to the three possible candidates, but the company will prove more difficult than it sounds ... although as with any self-respecting fairy tale dreams, and not only those of Sophie, eventually become reality.
storyline, if want, very simple and lightweight. But it's the way it is told striking: eight characters very well defined character, but which are gradually for what they are, in a continuous alternation between them and the "chorus" (the islanders) chasing so the structure of the Greek comedy (with a lot of intervention by the "gods"), but also the rhythms and notes of the musical in a very explosive mix ...
The performers are all fits perfectly. Meryl Streep, a true force of nature, plays an extraordinary woman (mother of Sophie), revealing an actress at 360 degrees, able to sing and dance beautifully so I will not be surprised if will receive yet another nomination for the Oscars. Certainly make the job much more difficult for other "Donna", present and future, and on stages all over the world will have to compete with a champion like her.
addition to Streep, Pierce Brosnan which is a very good, leaving his singing ability, we wonder how he learned to dive so well in a role so far from James Bond to which we had become accustomed. We also find that perfect sweet Seyfred Amanda, a lovely Dominic Cooper, Stellan Skarsgard a fun, a frizzantissima Julie Walters, a very nice and "spontaneous" Colin Firth and Christine Baranski nothing short of fabulous.
But the real driving force of the film is the music of ABBA songs are unequal to turn the show into a party from beginning to end. The timeless hits by Benny Anderson and Bjorn Ulvaeus, superbly arranged for the occasion, seem to take on a kind of new identity in the evolution of the plot, a bit 'like the protagonists of the story.
The film is brilliantly directed by Phyllida Lloyd, who has already signed the direction of the stage version. The different panels are interspersed with music from the essential but excellent screenplay, full of jokes pepper, written by the same author of the theatrical script, Catherine Johnson, who is here enriched and upset some details.
In the sequence of scenes we can find many quotes from classics such as of Music (The Sound of Music), Jesus Christ Superstar, Grease and Evita. Other citations are dedicated to all fans of Abba, from the presentation, which recalls that of Abba The Movie, as well as the scene of the picnic, going through several songs that appear in the background of some scenes (the memorable instrumental version of Knowing me Knowing you style BAO!) or are mentioned with a lallarala up the funny cameos of the two authors of the whole soundtrack: Benny and Bjorn. More quotes about film related to the revival of Abba in the 90s, as Prisiclla: Queen of the Desert and Muriel's Wedding .
The choreography by Anthony Van Laast, deliberately simple but never trivial, seem made to be carried out by the audience too. In particular those carried out by women with the "Dynamos" are to the original ones of Agnetha and Frida, but with the help of the fabulous costumes, become exaggerated to the extreme of kitsch, so make sure the fortunes of many "drag queen".
The scenery (archive on the islands of Skiathos and Skopelos) cropping really a breath and make the evolution of the story much more dynamic than the static characteristic of the stage.
However, the film is very theatrical, which for someone (certainly not me) could be a defect. It seems that the actors want to interact with the viewer through the camera. It is thus to create a karaoke effect. It 's impossible for anyone not at least hum the refrains of Mamma Mia!, Dancing Queen or Take a chance on me, and already a minute into the film we discover that we beat feet to the beat of Gimme ! Gimme! Gimme! The push that you feel to get up from his chair to sing and dance is identical to that caused by the musical theater.
Do not miss the amazing credits, dressed dramatically with glitter, sequins, shoulder pads and shoes with wedges, but especially trabordanti of self-irony. They alone are worth the ticket price.
In conclusion, Mamma Mia! is an enjoyable film which, with its fabulous mix of choreographed songs and fantastic imagery invites the public to interact with the characters on the screen, becoming part of the "chorus". A bit 'the same effect as they always have the same songs of our fabulous four. I think it is preposterous to assume that in a few years MM is still projected in the show night with many cinemas are expected to attend the public dressed in theme, style of Rocky Horror Picture Show . No doubt this film will help keep alive the myth of the Swedish group in the Olympus of pop music for many years.
PS: If you can not see him during the holidays since it is already in the rooms of most of the world the event is scheduled for Oct. 3.
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