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Mamma Ya-Ya
A "predictably glossy screen adaptation of the Abba-scored musical" that uses bigscreen names like Meryl Streep and Pierce Brosnan for the leads and adds lush Greek exteriors" that are made to look "glitzy" and "over-polished," Mamma Mia! plays out more like an oversized Abba promotional vehicle than a fully dramatic piece," writes Variety's Jordan Mintzer.
His point is basically that the film will make lots of money off its huge female fan base, partly or largely because of the "fun" element that was recently praised by the Hollywood Reporter's Ray Bennett. But the direction by Phyllida Lloyd (who directed the stage musical) and the screenplay by Catherine Johnson is not, he strongly implies, up to the level of Baz Luhrman, Lars von Trier or Milos Forman.
"The singing-and-dancing work for the basic excitement and energy of a live performance, but an additional boost of cinematic prowess is needed to sustain a similar rhythm on film," he notes. "Johnson and theater-opera vet Lloyd" -- both in their first screen outing -- "can't seem to find the right tone or style for their globally celebrated material.
"Most of the chorus dance numbers -- especially 'Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!' and 'Voulez-vous' -- feel over-shot and over-cut, never allowing for the pleasure of a sustained, well-choreographed performance. Other, more intimate songs -- including the beach-set 'Lay All Your Love On Me' and the cliff-set 'The Winner Takes It All' -- feature a twirling Steadicam that does a better job of depicting the gorgeous coastline than the lip-synching cast.
"Thesping is all-around pro, although some stars, especially the bouncy and rejuvenated Meryl Streep, seem better suited for musical comedy than others, including Pierce Brosnan and Stellan Skarsgard.
"Despite the obvious time and energy devoted to smooth transitioning between studio and location scenes (both are shot realistically yet theatrically by d.p. Haris Zambarloukos), tech work often feels more rushed than mastered. Poor dubbing in some of the outdoor sequences tends to take away from the filmmakers' insistence that we're actually there."
Posted by Jeffrey Wells on July 8, 2008 at 10:20 AM
comment #1
BurmaShave
says ...
We have to judge it againt Von Trier and Forman? In all serious replace all those words with male-centric ones and you could be talking about the dozens of action/adventure films we give a pass to every weekend. Why is this the villain?
Posted by BurmaShave
at July 8, 2008 11:05 AM
comment #2
LexG
says ...
UNIVERSAL COMEDY FILM STOCK ALERT!!!!
All the ads are in that powder-blue "bistro" sheen that they overuse for all their comedies -- think DUPREE, SARAH MARSHALL, CHARLIE WILSON. The "soft blues with beige skin tones" look is becoming as much a cliche as the "septic tank green" look that was big for edgy movies circa 2001-2002.
This thing just looks so... so... embarrassing. Like, I'd be embarrassed just sitting there watching it. Can't critics take a pass and just skip something like this? It's not like, say, Wells has a deadline and HAS to go see this thing. Why would any hetero man willingly subject himself to something so dorky, unironic, cheesy and camp?
Posted by LexG
at July 8, 2008 11:14 AM
comment #3
T. S. Idiot
says ...
Sex and the City has proven there is an audience for this kind of movie. I was attacked viciously here a few weeks back for suggesting SATC had legs, yet it's still in the top ten after six weeks and is fifth overall for the year. If MM cracks $100 million, more chick flix will follow. Like Wells, I have to see it--though out of connubial obligation.
Posted by T. S. Idiot
at July 8, 2008 11:26 AM
comment #4
gruver1
says ...
Wells to Burma Shave: Forman, Von Trier and Luhrman made three first-rate musicals -- Hair, Dancer in the Dark and Moulin Rouge. Why is it wrong or unfair to ask that Mamma Mia distinguish itself in some sort of similar high-grade way? Not ape the style, mood or tone of these films, but do as well by its own aesthetic as they did by theirs? What's so unfair about that? What are you, a Universal stockholder? A fan of the Broadway show? I don't give a pass to male-centric mediocrities at all. Crap is crap is crap.
Posted by gruver1
at July 8, 2008 11:30 AM
comment #5
actionman
says ...
yeah, if it looks like shit, and it smells like shit, well, it must be...
Posted by actionman
at July 8, 2008 12:20 PM
comment #6
Edward
says ...
Here, here Jeffrey, I concur.
Posted by Edward
at July 8, 2008 12:30 PM
comment #7
DavidF
says ...
I think the difference is the source material, Jeff.
If you get a good director with good material you can get something good...Jewison made two great, distinctive musicals with Fiddler and JC Superstar. Would either of those get made today? I dunno.
But Mamma Mia isn't a challenging work. I'm not dissing it (I haven't seen it) but it's clearly meant to be pop treacle with glamour shots of the Greek isles.
One day someone will figure out how to make a film out of the Les Miz musical and blow the roof off but a li'l rom-com based around Abba songs isn't going to take any chances. Comparing it Moulin Rouge seems to just miss where it's coming from and where it's going: middle of the road all the way.
Posted by DavidF
at July 8, 2008 12:44 PM
comment #8
iamwhoiam
says ...
Sometimes this board is stunningly chauvinist. Fanboys paying to see green monsters is cool, but female fan base? Oh, that's a serious no-no. Well, nothing wrong with female fan base and there's definitely nothing wrong with fun element. Mama Mia is a stupid story, but when you see it, it's irresistable fun, you dance against your will. Sometimes, that's enough to make people feel good for couple of hourse.
Beside, i'll go see anything with Meryl Streep.
Posted by iamwhoiam
at July 8, 2008 12:50 PM
comment #9
Zimmergirl
says ...
"Sometimes this board is stunningly chauvinist. "
Lol.
SOMETIMES??
Posted by Zimmergirl
at July 8, 2008 12:59 PM
comment #10
p.Vice
says ...
Crap is crap is crap, yet Hair, Dancer in the Dark, and Moulin Rouge are the standard by which we're suddenly judging screen musicals? Bob Fosse is rolling in his grave.
Posted by p.Vice
at July 8, 2008 1:00 PM
comment #11
BurmaShave
says ...
gruver I dont think you're a misogynist but I think sometimes you make it hard not to wonder. This is about the 5tb post you've devoted to this movie being especially loathsome, and before that it was SEX AND THE CITY. I know you shit on WANTED to, I wasn't referring specifically to you in regards to giving things a pass.
And I do actually own GE stock, so close enough haha.
Posted by BurmaShave
at July 8, 2008 1:11 PM
comment #12
LexG
says ...
SEYFRIED is hot but officially has her LEXG LICENCE TO OWN revoked for appearing in this.
I'm sure she will be disappointed.
Posted by LexG
at July 8, 2008 1:19 PM
comment #13
lbeale
says ...
As someone who has actually seen the stage show (had to cover it for a Canadian paper I was freelancing for), I can say the story is idiotic, the music irresistible pop crap. At the end, everyone, male and female, is up and dancing in the aisles. Which says to me the film version will NOT have the male avoidance factor "Sex and the City" did. I think opening it against "The Dark Knight" is brilliant counter-programming, and it will make oodles of money. Plus, I can't imagine anyone getting all excised over this obvious piece of summer eye candy.
Posted by lbeale
at July 8, 2008 2:08 PM
comment #14
Rod32303
says ...
How about we SEE THE MOVIE before giving it the "crap is crap is crap" label? Me remembers you thinking the same thing about RENT (remember?) and all the dissing of Chris Columbus directing it...then you were pleasantly blown away. It may still be shat, but it would be cool if that word came from SEEING IT rather than reading these other reviews.
Posted by Rod32303
at July 8, 2008 2:54 PM
comment #15
Josh Massey
says ...
Oh, eckk. The mere mention of Rent just made me puke on my shirt.
Rent - eckk, great, did it again - is one of the worst films of the last 10 years in any genre.
Posted by Josh Massey
at July 8, 2008 3:03 PM
comment #16
gruver1
says ...
Wells to Josh Massey: I liked, admired and respected Rent. A lot. It won me over. In no small part because it allowed me to understand the lyrics.
Posted by gruver1
at July 8, 2008 3:19 PM
comment #17
bmcintire
says ...
Shockingly, David Poland didn't even like it (regardless of some of its merits).
And yes, please place RENT up there as a terrrible film, musical or not, right alongside THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA. I have yet to see HIARSPRAY, but this round-robin of comparisons makes me want to continue my avoidance of it. MAMMA-MIA looks to suffer the same fate upon reflection.
Posted by bmcintire
at July 8, 2008 4:54 PM
comment #18
Edward
says ...
I've got nothing against the so called chick-flick genre, I just hope any film I see is made well. I actually enjoyed Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants and Devil Wears Prada. I just have trouble with anything to do with ABBA.
Posted by Edward
at July 8, 2008 4:58 PM
comment #19
Rod32303
says ...
ABBA rocks the motherfucker. Download a song called "The Visitor" and see if I ain't right.
Jaded, hatin' bitches as usual.
Posted by Rod32303
at July 8, 2008 5:19 PM
comment #20
Edward
says ...
ABBA rocks the mf? Ah...ok. To each their own.
Posted by Edward
at July 9, 2008 9:27 AM
comment #21
Rod32303
says ...
Tellin you, Edward, come over to the Dark Side - Frida and Agnetha work it out continuously...be warned.
Posted by Rod32303
at July 9, 2008 10:05 AM
comment #22
Terry McCarty
says ...
bmcintire wrote:
I have yet to see HIARSPRAY, but this round-robin of comparisons makes me want to continue my avoidance of it.
Worth renting on DVD; suffers from Adam Shankman's bland, edge-avoiding direction, but is a capable-enough adaptation of the stage musical.
Posted by Terry McCarty
at July 9, 2008 1:28 PM
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