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"Mamma Mia!": Why does this trailer make me want to see a movie based on a musical I didn't like?

I haven't seen enough gay chatter about the original stage version of Mamma Mia! to know if this is something to confess in hushed tones or not, but when I finally got to seeing the hit musical I didn't really care for it.

To some degree, my problem was a matter of expectations set too high: I was hoping for a show that would have me looking at songs I've listened to for decades in a new light, as Moulin Rouge did. Instead, it turned out to be ABBA-porn with a plot mostly focused on getting from one familiar song to the next. I wouldn't say I hated Mamma Mia!, but if I'm at a dinner party and the topic of stage musicals come up Mamma Mia! isn't one I'm eager to discuss.

And yet, when I watch the trailer for the Mamma Mia! movie, I can't wait to see it. I've even started plotting arguments that'll convince my partner to see it with me.


I think I can point to four reasons this trailer works:

1. The music is still ABBA

I may have been disappointed in how the songs were presented on stage, but in the right dosage, the energy and verve of an ABBA hit could make "I Married Ameera: The Epic Cinematic Trilogy" look exciting. I remember feeling underwhelmed throughout the first act of Mamma Mia! but then "Voulez Vous" sent me into the intermission in the bubbliest mood. The exuberance of most ABBA's hits is just hard to resist, especially when combined quick cuts of people merrily dancing.

2. Two words: Meryl. Streep.

I can't say the comedic skills of Meryl Streep can make the worst movie watchable (Streep's hilarious performance in She-Devil easily proves that she can't save a doomed effort) but you certainly know that she'll give us a fully realized character. Here she comes off as a character whose life goes beyond coming up with excuses to break out into an ABBA hit. The plot of Mamma Mia! is pretty silly (Brian once hilariously summarized it as Lace: The Musical!), but if anyone can convince audiences to overlook those faults, it's a powerhouse actress like Streep.

3. And the rest.

Streep isn't the only performer that makes the Mamma Mia! movie an exciting prospect. After playing serious on Veronica Mars and Big Love, I'm looking forward to seeing Amanda Seyfried in a lighter role (her Sophie also seems to be a little more fully fleshed than the version I saw on stage, too). And then we also have hotties Pierce Brosnan and Colin Firth, with Firth playing Harry, the dad who turns out to be gay. Meanwhile, Christine Baranski can always make me laugh with the way she delivers a one-liner, even in the worst films.

4. History Boys' Dominic Cooper dancing shirtless on the beach

Need I say more?

Well, there's also this.

What do you think? Fans of the stage version and otherwise, anyone looking forward to this one?

  • LyleMasaki's blog
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  • snicks's picture

    "LACE: THE MUSICAL"

    That sounds like something Brian would say. :) "Which one of you Chiquititas is my mother"? I can't WAIT for this movie, although it will probably trigger my yearly week long ABBA obsession prematurely.
    heffleyp's picture

    Teen sex comedy

    In the tradition of the recent Sweeney Todd film, it doesn't make the product look like a musical and certainly doesn't say "based on the smash Broadway show."  In this case, they've decided to pass it off as a teen sex comedy starring Meryl Streep. Or maybe that's the movie they made.
    brian's picture

    Good point...

    It does bear more of a resemblance to Blame it on Rio than anything else ... with creepy incest overtones!

    That said, you had me at "teen sex comedy starring Meryl Streep." Why hasn't anyone thought of that?! 

    Brent Hartinger's picture

    Have you ever seen DEATH

    Have you ever seen DEATH BECOMES HER? The movie's just so-so, but Meryl is HILARIOUS. "Could you just not breath?" Read my books! Explore "Brent's Brain" at http://www.brenthartinger.com
    LyleMasaki's picture

    Death Becomes Her

    That's a great film, a good example of how Streep's comedy chops can make a so-so film seem pretty good.
    mike309's picture

    Meryl /With a little tid-bit of my own

    She should've been offered Mrs. Lovett in Sweeny Todd, but someone was sleeping with the director.  But I'm anxious to see how she'll do here.  She's never let me down before, so I expect a fun time at the cinema when this is released.

    Plus she loves the gays and most of us love her.

    p.s.- I'm almost positive her sister-in-law  is Mary Simon Streep who is on that awful Parents Television Council.  Mary Simon Streep is married to one Dana Streep and some Googling and deducing seem to lead to the conclusion that Dana Streep is Meryl's brother.  Go figure. 

     Don't trouble yourself Doctor -- I'm a celebrity, I'll write my own prescription.

    Fansprez's picture

    Count me in

    as one of the first people in line for this movie. I never got the chance to see the stage version, so when I heard it was being made into a movie, I squeed like a 13 year old girl at a Hannah Montana concert.

     

    And now, after seeing the trailer, I'm squeeing again and will probably be dusting off my Abba Gold cd now.

     

    Meryl and Christine and Abba = THE BEST MOVIE EVAR!

    par3182's picture

    I think you're forgetting someone...

    How could you mention "and the rest" and neglect Julie Walters??? She's almost enough to make me want to see this trainwreck...on DVD.

     

    (I love ABBA but the stage show made me want to hurt somebody)

    fermat's picture

    I'll be in line too

    I saw the stage version and loved it, and I'm looking forward to the movie.  I loved the moving set for the stage version, but the movie can offer a greater cinematic experience.  It'll be a fun kick off for the summer.

    "I'm not blunt. Everyone else is overly vague."

    Joseph's picture

    Count me in as well!

    I've never seen the stage show, but the movie looks like so much fun from the trailer and, yes, I'm a HUGE ABBA fan.

     

     

    Check out my blog: http://radicalsexy.blogspot.com/

    kcholt68's picture

    Agree, Lyle & Phil

    The stage show was horrid, but I am looking forward to the movie, mostly because of the cast. 

    And yet again they advertise a musical without making it look like a musical.  Why haven't they got past that by now?

    - Kirby, moviedearest.blogspot.com

    xander6981's picture

    Wow...

    I can't wait...if nothing else then ABBA and that cast! Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, Stellan Starsgaard, Christine Baranski, Amanda Seyfried, Dominic Cooper, Julie Walters...

    I'll be there opening day!


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