i DO like "fun" movies and "lighten up, everyone" movies. This summer I saw and enjoyed get smart, ironman, indy jones, and sex/city. Mamma Mia just looks noisy and contrived, and like it's trying to cash in on the latest incarnation of 'sisterhood is powerful' (that is, women's fun fun fun friendships) -- tho i do want to know where the title comes from, since it's an italian stereotype saying, and they're in greece -?

I'm the target demographic (52 y/o woman) and the trailers for this made me want to puke. I was insulted, really, like they were just dishing up every menopause-empowerment cliche they could dredge up and throwing it onto the screen, expecting us all to salivate. My apologies to those of you who liked it after all -- but i mean the whole thing is so insultingly improbable on many levels. (For one thing, do women my age have to pretend to be, look, act young and hyperactive in order to be accepted?) But then I don't like Abba either.

If you make your way to any traditional pub in the west of Ireland, in the months when the tourists have all gone home, you'll have the men, mostly old men - cow manure on their brogans and tweed caps firmly in place - standing up to sing their songs in Irish and in English. They don't have strong voices, they don't do "American Idol-esque" power chords...their voices are sometimes reedy, often breathy, and sometimes they break on the high notes...but their songs are lovely. Because they're from the heart.

Mr. Brosnan did a fine job. His character was an architect, not a professional tenor, and I found his singing to be perfectly in keeping with the pitch of his acting.

And all of you who hate the movie, and especially those who HAVEN'T EVEN SEEN IT? Jesus, people, lighten up. It's light, it's frothy, it's fun. I laughed, I sang along with my friends, I had a fine time.

I always go to MS movies because I went to college with her,and I have to see who's holding up better. She's doing pretty well, I thought. Anyway, I didn't tell my partner about the bad reviews. I wondered if he would want to leave right way, as soon as the squealing started. But no, we stayed. The theater was jam packed, all people about ABBA's age. The audience really got into it. The women next to me were talkng along with the dialogue, and very touched by the story. I thought it was about 1 part creepy to 2 parts fun. But my partner loved it and wants to see it again. My guess is Stephanie was repulsed by the indignities of undignified age, but it's a hit in my town, so she's wrong again!

Maybe we've all come to expect far too much from movies. I personally don't venture out to a theater all too often anymore, because I don't care for what movies have come to (mostly computer generated special effects and not too much else). There have been some "independent" movies for which I am very grateful; those seem to be less and further in between as of late. In this particular case, come on - it's a silly movie, as it was designed to be. Has no one in the last decade read a review of the stage show? I saw it tonight because my wife wanted to see it. It was, well, silly. I was entertained. I didn't go in expecting Dr. Zhivago, therefore, I wasn't disappointed. Meryl Streep did a fantastic job, and probably enjoyed herself, too. There is so much to be grouchy about in this world. I don't think this movie qualifies, though. No one will make you waste your money on it if you don't approve. Too bad this can't be said of unjustifiable wars, no bid contracts, etc.

I really didn't like it.

I went because I love Meryl Streep, and yes, I love old ABBA songs, and though I boycotted the stage version, since the idea of other people singing ABBA songs seemed pointless, I trusted Meryl...

It's bad. It's acted as if it's a stage show- hammy, large gestures, no subtlety anywhere. The plot itself doesn't concern me; I wasn't expecting Eugene O'Neill, so the implausibility and humourous chronological inconsistencies didn't bother me. (Brosnan's character was into "flower power" when he was first dating Streep- wouldn't that make her daughter 40, not 20??)

Amanda Seyfried does the best of anyone, and I look forward to seeing her career grow. Mostly, though, my friend and I were astonished that the director didn't dub poor Pierce Brosnan's voice. It's so painfully bad! Like a drunk guy at closing time who starts singing the last song the DJ played before they turned off the music and turned up the lights. You don't go home with that guy, you laugh at him. Sadly, we laughed whenever Pierce sang.

All in all, there was some fun to be had, but not as much as I was hoping for.

I'm way late for this article, but I just have to post b/c I'm in a full panic that salon will take seriously the petulant and idiotic posters who think that somehow Stephanie didn't get this movie down pat.

I'm talking dead fucking on. Did you people see this thing, or are you just in a tiff b/c you want to like it when you go next weekend? I like ABBA too, folks, but this was insulting.

The contrived "sisterhood" crap--of both the younger and older trios of women in this movie--bring to mind the pablum that is Ya Ya. *shiver*

I'm embarrassed that salon readers are this lacking in taste.

To pick apart this effort of some great actresses and actors is ludicrous -- it is a phenomena and lets us all experience the positive ABBA soundtrack with an uplifting story of love lost and found and always there... such as mother and daughter and friendship! It is much more grounded in real life than any reviewer who grew up in the last 20 yrs would understand. It was loads of fun and will probably be as popular as Grease when all is said and done. I am grateful to Tom Hanks and Rita wilson for producing this film so that I could share it with all in my life. It was alot of fun! Lyn Starrs-Zorn