Mamma Mia!
Universal Pictures | Release Date: July 18, 2008
6.9
USER SCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 395 Ratings
USER RATING DISTRIBUTION
Positive:
255
Mixed:
72
Negative:
68
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User Reviews

User scoreBy dateMost helpful
5
ElliottWDec 18, 2008
I'm going to give it a five. I personally didnt like it very much, but my mother did, so I suppose this film is only good for the girls.
2 of 3 users found this helpful
4
grandpajoe6191Sep 26, 2011
What I sure know is that they have the crappiest script of the year...
2 of 5 users found this helpful23
All this user's reviews
4
StephenW.Jul 14, 2008
Thought the stage play was great, think the film is terrible. IMO the type of play did not translate well. If you want to see a funny, entertaining and great feel good musical on the screen, take a turn to Hairspray.
0 of 1 users found this helpful
5
ExceladeogunApr 2, 2023
Mamma Mia

Watching this movie for the first time in 2023 I had a lot of preconceived ideas about how grand and spectacular it'd be (I thought it'll be a La la land), so from that believe, I'll say I was disappointed. It was very campy andMamma Mia

Watching this movie for the first time in 2023 I had a lot of preconceived ideas about how grand and spectacular it'd be (I thought it'll be a La la land), so from that believe, I'll say I was disappointed.

It was very campy and fun, and there was a general lightness the movie exuded, but with all these it also lack depth and substance. As a musical, it was a hit or miss, Meryl Streep and Amanda Seyfried gave good vocal performances but other cast members like Pierce Brosnan were an earsore.

It's without doubt that the exact reasons people would love this movie would also be the reasons people won't love it.… Expand
0 of 1 users found this helpful01
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6
StevenH.Jul 28, 2008
The Broadway musical was much better -- very clever & creative story. The "Parent" group was too old -- should have been folks in their 40's not pushing 60 like Streep, Brosnan & crew. Otherwise, pretty fun & entertaining.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
6
MirceaC.Feb 2, 2009
It's a movie that FORCES you to be happy.I don't like that.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
6
GavinCAug 7, 2009
Although 'Mamma Mia' certainly has more believable characters and can make you tap your feet now and then, only SOME of the voices are passable and the amount of time separating each song is ridiculous.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
5
KS.Jul 20, 2008
Well, as a veteran of 3 live performances of Mamma Mia including one on Broadway....I thought Meryl Streep's and Pierce Brosnan's singing was really pretty awful. And Christine Baransky's performance was sooooo bland and Well, as a veteran of 3 live performances of Mamma Mia including one on Broadway....I thought Meryl Streep's and Pierce Brosnan's singing was really pretty awful. And Christine Baransky's performance was sooooo bland and boring. I was disappointed.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
5
BillCJul 29, 2008
Just so-so. Not as good as Chicago or Rent. The story has an ackward flow, and the music and dance seemed to add little. Maybe 2 good music numbers , the others felt like filler to me. Meryl Streep is fearless and I give her credit for Just so-so. Not as good as Chicago or Rent. The story has an ackward flow, and the music and dance seemed to add little. Maybe 2 good music numbers , the others felt like filler to me. Meryl Streep is fearless and I give her credit for another fine job.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
4
ChadS.Jul 21, 2008
During the "Mamma Mia" number, Greek peasants crawl over the side of a building wall like extras in a Billy Idol video. And indeed, Donna(Meryl Streep) has been dancing with herself ever since Sam(Pierce Brosnan) broke her heart twenty years During the "Mamma Mia" number, Greek peasants crawl over the side of a building wall like extras in a Billy Idol video. And indeed, Donna(Meryl Streep) has been dancing with herself ever since Sam(Pierce Brosnan) broke her heart twenty years ago on the same Greek island she lives with her daughter Sophie(Amanda Seyfried). Now, on the cusp of her daughter's white wedding, he's back, along with two other partners from her post-Sam sex bender in "Mamma Mia", the ABBA musical that couldn't find a place for "Knowing Me, Knowing You" and "Fernando". The thin storyline is just an excuse to kill the time in between songs anyway, so the omission of these two standards from the Swedish supergroup's canon seems somewhat arbitrary...and cruel(I love "Knowing Me, Knowing You", especially the "ah-haa" just before the girls launch into "there is nothing we can do"). No need to despair though, there's still "Dancing Queen", the emotional locus of "Mamma Mia", as "Fernando" was for the ABBA-centric(and superior) "Muriel's Wedding". Sung from the perspective of a middle-aged woman, "you can dance/you can jive/havin' the time of your life", Streep's winning rendition transforms this insanely catchy piece of bubble gum into an anthem for lost youth. It's like watching Stevie Nicks perform "Landslide". And then there's Pierce Brosnan's duet with Streep on "SOS", in which James Bond has the audience searching their memory banks for another example of an equally laughable singing performance(think Rob Lowe's serenading of Snow White on an Academy Award telecast from yesteryear). Since Seyfried has the strongest voice in a cast of mostly non-singers, it's a shame that she wasn't assigned to a meaty song like "Take a Chance of Me". Julie Walters' menopausal take on the formerly infectious song about love's first blush left me feeling depressed. And why does the Geico caveman("Jazz hands. Anything with jazz hands.") get better direction from his choreographer than any of the performers from a film that originated on the Broadway stage?… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
5
JesterM.Jul 23, 2008
It's become a bit of a cliche these days to underestimate the impact of a good set of vocal chords. but I think that we can safely assume that Mr. P. Brosnan is not going to cry himself to sleep at night if we point out that his lungs It's become a bit of a cliche these days to underestimate the impact of a good set of vocal chords. but I think that we can safely assume that Mr. P. Brosnan is not going to cry himself to sleep at night if we point out that his lungs give off about as much power as my powerpuff girls nightlight. I mean really people, we need to get over our idolization of 'A' list actors, and actually cast some true to life broadway talent in these roles that involve singing, lest we all leave the theaters futily trying to stem the bleeding coming from our ears. Other than that the movie was somewhat entertaining.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
4
DanE.Aug 11, 2008
Great music, bad plot, bad plot and a bad plot.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
4
TonyHMay 8, 2009
Perhaps my opinion is tainted because I've seen the Broadway version multiple times, but there was little to this movie that kept me interested. I found myself watching it just to see how badly it compared to the stage version. If it Perhaps my opinion is tainted because I've seen the Broadway version multiple times, but there was little to this movie that kept me interested. I found myself watching it just to see how badly it compared to the stage version. If it weren't for the fact that the movie stays fairly true to the Broadway script, this rating would be even lower.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
5
LeeWDec 16, 2008
I've always been a big fan of musicals, and I have to say that this was one of the worst musicals I have ever seen. Go back and look at the dancing, and most of the singing, and I think you'll see how laughable this is next to I've always been a big fan of musicals, and I have to say that this was one of the worst musicals I have ever seen. Go back and look at the dancing, and most of the singing, and I think you'll see how laughable this is next to films like "Moulin Rouge" or "Singing in The Rain." The story was fair, but not worth the $20 bucks.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
6
ronnierJul 23, 2008
Was ok i love abba and that is what save thi s movie otherwise i thin kit was lacking overall.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
6
AndreR.Jan 18, 2009
I enjoyed the music, but the movie itself was not that great. It seemed a bit silly. But, I supposed that the script had to be adapted to fit the music.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
5
gm101Jun 21, 2011
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I really wanted to like this movie, but I couldn't. The problem with this movie was that there were too many songs. Sure, there were three ABBA songs I loved listening to while watching, but musicals don't have to have a song every second of the movie. The greatest musicals ever (ranging from The Sound of Music to some Disney movies in the 90s) had songs, but left room for actual dialogue to move the plot forward. That is where Mamma Mia fails at, being one long music video instead.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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5
spielbrick90Oct 22, 2011
'ABBA' are a great band but I didn't really think that 'Mamma Mia' was very good. Colin Firth unfortunately didn't pull off his role. Julie Walters is one of the best actresses ever but she definitly shouldn't have done this film. Amanda'ABBA' are a great band but I didn't really think that 'Mamma Mia' was very good. Colin Firth unfortunately didn't pull off his role. Julie Walters is one of the best actresses ever but she definitly shouldn't have done this film. Amanda Seyfreid screaming along a pier is just wrong, AND MERYL STREEP IN DUNGAREES!!!! The story is rubbish aswell, but apart from that it was good.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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6
MetallicCriticDec 13, 2011
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. If you like ABBA then this will be one of your favorites. The musical numbers are fun through. It was hard not to dance or sing along to this(Not that I actually danced or sang along because I'm a guy). This featured a great cast including some great actors like Meryl Streep and Colin Firth. The plot itself was very horrible. It was actually laughable and not in a good way. If this is a comedy then where are the jokes? Either way, it stars Amanda Seyfried playing Sophie. She and her mom live on an island. She has no idea who her farther is so she invites the three men who could be her farther to her wedding. At the end all three of them decide to share her as a daughter. What kind of resolution was that? To add to the stupidity Sophie decides not to get married. Instead Sophie's mom and Sam get married after all the years. The only real reason to watch this is for the musical numbers.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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4
JmsbppJul 10, 2013
De un momento a otro sale Mamma mia reviviendo el genero del musical, un genero que no aparecia o vivia hace años y que se remonta en una pelicula, resalto cosas como los grandes actores, sin embargo hace falta un poco mas de cosas
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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6
PotterheadGleekDec 7, 2021
Yes, it really is a feel-good film, the cast is on point, they all match the personality of their characters, I think that the relationship between Donna and her friends overshadow the relationship of Sophie and Sky. Superb mixing of theYes, it really is a feel-good film, the cast is on point, they all match the personality of their characters, I think that the relationship between Donna and her friends overshadow the relationship of Sophie and Sky. Superb mixing of the songs with the script (I think the "Dancing Queen" scene is memorable and also "The Winner Takes It All"). The bonding between Meryl Streep and Amanda Seyfried really feels like a mother and daughter bond. The male actors really need to get singing lessons.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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6
JP32Jun 24, 2018
Like the popular Broadway play, Mamma Mia! is a sweet, summery tonic of wholesome good cheer. The kind of which that women and families will drink up, even if the nutritional content is low.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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6
ViniciusBritoAug 17, 2018
A girl named Sophie will marry very soon, but she never met her father and had no clue in who he is while she definely want to meet him and him to take her to the altar. So she take her mother personal diary to find out the men that she hadA girl named Sophie will marry very soon, but she never met her father and had no clue in who he is while she definely want to meet him and him to take her to the altar. So she take her mother personal diary to find out the men that she had relationships with, she got to know some men, and while she had no clue on who her father is, she dicide to invite all of the three, having hope that then she would get to finally know who her father really is. Directed by Phyllida Lloyd.
The plot of this movie is interesting, it takes a romantic familiar story afloat. The movie gives a happy atmosphere, wich combines perfectly with the movie. One very nice part of the story here is that they give some teachings that are very welcome, some familly moments with daughter and mother primarily discussed, that is very deep and good, wich we can take to any father son realationship as well, seeing the kid growing and getting in the routine, it had some really touching moments here. The story was very simple, it is much about a surprise and a mystery, but at the end of the day you aren't really caring about it that much, the story wich is about the fathers is not very interesting, the side plots that end up being some songs are way more interesting then that, even that if it had zero influence in the main story, i would prefer for the great songs to actually make the plot go on, not just as a aside moment. The movie have some easy solutions, somethings that i didn't got very interested, it had some boring moments. But in other hand it had some really nice moments, some moments with a good energy, a energy that could be passed for who is watching, wich is very great. The story itself have so many thins that have zero influence into anything, that are there just to be fun, wich is alright, some of these are fun and some aren't, but i like when a story flows, and when it doesn't, at least make a really nice thing to fill that, but in general it doesn't that much.
The most songs of the movie are very nice, the performance by the actors are all very well done. I loved how are different types of songs here, are songs that will just put you up, giving a good simle, there are songs that are sad and easily relatable with anyones life. The vocal by pretty much all of them was pretty damn good, some felt that they were a little bit with lack of will, but most of the time it was pretty good. The songs aren't very memorable, for me it wasn't songs that right after the movie ended i needed to listen it over and over, except for one, that was really great.
The acting/vocal in this movie was on point. Meryl Streep is outstanding here, she is interpretating a old mother, but she is completely stuborn and fun, she gave a spirit to that character that is so sincere, her interpretation talks to much, her smile can say so much, her expressions are so natural and organic, she is completely great here, without even mentioning the vocal, she singing is unbelievable, fantastic. Amanda Seyfried is another high point of the movie, she is good at passing emotions, and is totally trustable that she is really the daughter of Donna, also her singing was pretty damn good. Pierce Brosnan was good, in some singing moments, just maybe he wasn't feeling it, he maybe wasn't enjoying what was happening, and that was noticiable, but overall, in some funny and dramatic moments he worked out. Christine Baranski was good, but her performance in the song "Does your mother know" was great, the song is very funny and she delivered a sarcastic and in power character. Julie Walters also had a good job, and a nice song with Stellan Skarsgård. Colin Firth was ok, he didn't had much to do.
The cinematography of the movie is wasted in my opinion, because we had a big beautiful island to explore and i think that i couldn't feel the island that well, another thing that really bothered me, is that the movie have a yellow filter through the whole joint, what is the point of that, that yellow filter is just awful. The movie in other hand had some nice camera moviments, some positions that i enjoyed.
There are some cheeky moments here, but the songs are very good, the story does have some flaws, but it have some nice teachings.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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4
Toasty87Jul 11, 2020
Good soundtrack but that's it the script seems very unchecked and rushed though.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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5
omotestGumpApr 2, 2023
Mamma Mia! has some fun musical numbers and gags, and it's not painful for 108 minutes. It's just that compared to other great movies, the energetic musicals just go on and on and on and on and on, and it gets boring. The fun energy wasMamma Mia! has some fun musical numbers and gags, and it's not painful for 108 minutes. It's just that compared to other great movies, the energetic musicals just go on and on and on and on and on, and it gets boring. The fun energy was overwhelming, but if you think about it, all the movie has is ABBA songs (fun musical numbers) and characters (sometimes gags) that get you going. Then I'll buy the CD...of ABBA.

The original is a stage production, but it is rare that when I see a remake I also see the original version. I didn't go to see the stage version this time either.
Here are a few things that are often said about adaptations: 1) they are just plain stupid, 2) no matter how good they are, they can never surpass the original, 3) they are completely different from the original, etc. There are exceptions, but in general, they are all different from the original.
There are some exceptions, but most of them are true. That's what I mean.

The main reason I found this movie uninteresting was that I was bored by all the singing. A good musical has a good story, but this film relies too much on singing. I did not find the film interesting.
The humorous acting is one of the highlights, but it is not enough to save the film. There were not many funny scenes because the songs were the main focus. Even the charming parts of the film are not great charms due to the film's biggest drawback: a thin and somewhat boring storyline.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that the songs in this film are unappealing. It may not be an exaggeration to say that the songs contribute the most to the enjoyment of the film. I'm just saying that the reliance on the songs makes the film too thin. I don't go to the cinema to listen to ABBA songs, I go to the cinema to see an interesting movie.

If you like this kind of movies, it may be a good movie, but if you don't, it will be hard to accept it, even with humorous performances and songs. However, there are some moments that make the film appealing. At first I thought the humorous performances and fun energy would make it a good movie. When I finished the movie, I was not impressed by that.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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