The Spirit of Life. Review on Mama Mia Movie

I’m sure all of my friends here would be familiar with the group ABBA who were very popular during the 70s and the 80s. For people in

my age group who have heard them during their growing up and teenage years they were nothing short of iconic. They epitomized the spirit of the 80s. The days when the young generation was trying to break free from the shackles of tradition and the dominance of their parents.  When the west was aped like never before and every single fashion every move was copied instantly.

Those were the days when India had not yet hit such a high growth path as it has now, when salaries and earnings were miniscule compared to today’s levels. When groups such as ABBA were like a distant star only to be seen and heard in audio cassettes played on simple record players or gramophones. They were almost like GODS and GODESSES in those days. Each and every song they sang brought up so many feelings in our hearts and lives, of a bright future, of the uncertainties that lay ahead, of going out and seeing the big beautiful world, of someday finding true love, of earning riches, of being successful and famous. Oh, those were the days! Just to list out some of the most popular songs

1. Money, money money (It’s a rich man’s world) – As true today as it was then. This and the material girl song by Madonna have probably conveyed the meaning and essence of what a material world we live in through all the ages. Really life would be just a struggle without this one single commodity!

2.       Gimme GimmeGimme (a man after midnight) - Ah the wild side, that each one of us has somewhere deep down inside. It brought out the true spirit of the party and enjoyment. Of having no encumbrances or commitments. Of fun and frolic. Just pure teenage bachelor fun.

3.       The winner takes it all – Probably one of the few somewhat somber and sad songs sung by this group. Yes the winner does take it all, and if you happen to land up on the wrong side of a game it does hurt. Now weather the game is of love or life, the case is the same. The winner takes it all...

4.       Take a Chance (on me) – And after all the partying and fun it is now time for some commitments in life. This song talks about the girl ready to commit and also wanting her man to ‘take a chance’ on her and commit to her. A very nice emotional yet fun song.

5.       Thank you for the music – What a hugely popular song this one was. Even if you are a teenager today, I’m sure you must at some stage or the other this number and enjoyed it. Really life is nothing without music, and as we thank GOD for life itself, it’s probably right to thank the creater for the music.

And then in the 90s and 2000s we almost forgot them. The group of course broke up as all of them do and apart from an occasional song playing on FM we have heard hardly anything of them. So friends you can imagine what a treat it was for me to go and watch a musical movie made totally based on the songs of ABBA.  Not only is it a treat for the ears, it’s also a treat for the eyes as well. With the beautiful and picturesque locales of Greece set as the background what else could it be?

The Plot

The movie is an adaptation from a stage play of 1999 of the same name. Sophie and her mother stay on a small island in Greece. Donna Sheridan owns and manages a Villa as a guest house and finances her daughter’s studies and their other expenses from its income. Now Sophie has turned 20 years of age and wants to marry her boyfriend who has proposed to her. So a wedding date is set, but there is just one little problem. Sophie doesn’t want to get married without the presence of her father, but her mother has never even told her who he was. And nightmare of nightmares even Donna is not sure of whom it could be! She was dating three men together around the time when she got pregnant, and any one of them could have been the father of the girl.

Sophie accidentally stumbles upon an old diary of her mothers in which the names and addresses of her three lovers are given. Then little Sophie sends out invitations to all the three prospective fathers to attend the wedding, without even informing her mother. And the three of them also come to attend. All hell then breaks loose when Donna finds out that all her three ex lovers are there on the island to attend her daughter’s wedding. A spew of pent up 20 year old emotions is let loose.

But will Sophie be able to find out who her real father is before the wedding. Will he agree to give her away? How are all the old emotions and issues settled, and how Sophie handles all the delicate situations that emerge from such a scenario. Watch the movie to find out.

The Performances

Meryl Streep as the Donna Sheridan, the mother of Sophie has done a splendid performance for once. To be frank with you I have never been a fan of Meryl Strrep and the only reason I agreed to even go watch this movie was to enjoy the ABBA songs and to oblige my wife at the same time. But friends she has a done a great job here. Her role is full of life and as a single mother absolutely doting on her daughter, whom she has brought up after being thrown out of her house, is beautiful. I didn’t think her to be capable of showing such emotion and that too in the arena of comedy and parental love. Not only that she has also shown such terrific bonding with her two childhood friends that it’s amazing.  Watch it for her performance even if you do not have an interest in ABBA.

Amanda Sheffield as Sophie Sheridan has done the role of a young to be married girl, full of life and energy. This was her first performance that I saw and was impressed. She has truly lived some of the songs that she sang. Even the serious portrayal of her relationship with her mother is well handled. I think she has the potential to mature into a very good actress.

Pierce Brosnan, One of my favorite actors has played the role of Sam, one of Sophie’s possible dads. He is his usual sauve and romantic self. He is the only one who was actually in love with Donna but had to leave due to some misunderstanding. So is he her real dad?

Colin Firth and Stellan Skarsgård are Sophis other possiable Dads.

Conclusion

On the whole it is an amazing movie, a great musical seen after a long time full of fun and the feel good factor. The locales of Greece are magnificent, the performances encouraging and the music par excellence. Especially if you are an old-timer with some earlier liking for ABBA songs, you just cannot afford to miss this one.