"Mamma Mia!" Rave: "Most Fun To Be Had" Basically Ever, Plus Premiere Pics

No matter how many blockbusters there are, Universal Pictures' screen version of the global hit stage musical "Mamma Mia!" is the most fun to be had at the movies this or any other recent summer.

Teenage boys may be glued to the latest action adventure, but the rest of the family will be having a rollicking good time and dancing in the aisles to Swedish pop group ABBA's irresistible songs. It's a delightful piece of filmmaking with a marvelous cast topped by Meryl Streep in one of her smartest and most entertaining performances ever.

After its world premiere in London on Monday, the film opens in the U.K. on July 4 and in North America on July 18. It will surely follow the stage show around the world in pleasing audiences and coining what one of the infectious songs celebrates: "Money, Money, Money."

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Scroll for premiere pictures.

Star Meryl Streep:

Pierce Brosnan -one of three male leads - and his wife;

Star Amanda Seyfried:

Exec producers Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson:

Male lead Colin Firth and wife:

Last male lead Stellan Skarsgard with a fan:

Comments

[starrianna]

As much as I like Meryl Streep, I am going to honestly bring an
Air Sickness Bag
to this one...
...just in case.

[RedDogBear]

Jeez what happened to Meryl Streep? I mean did she need money that bad? This is a bunch of f*ing Abba songs right?! Gag, barf, rech,...

[starrianna]

Do you fart when you go to the theatre?

Bring a flask?

[Opus007]

I never saw a Meryl Streep flick I didn't LOVE! So I'm in.

[strifeknot]

How low must one's standards be to think this middle-brow shite is the most fun ever to be had?

[nanoscare]

I'm pretty sure that the lower the brow, the more fun is to be had. High-brow entertainment? Lovey, call in the maid, I feel a sarcasm coming on.

[Prism]

I'd pay to watch Streep read the phone book. She elevates the quality everything she associates herself with. Fearless and disciplined in art, a generous and principled human being in life. A national treasure. Viva Meryl!

[RedDogBear]

I would rather see her read the phone book than be in this piece of crap.

[starrianna]

I'm sure she's extremely glamourous while in the bath, bringing new evocative meaning to taking a s**t.

She probably speaks eloquently in three different accents while she does this.

[ShutUpRob]

I don't know about anyone else, but the words "Mamma Mia!" always result in me humming "Bohemian Rhapsody."

[ENK727]

Back in the 90's I remember seeing some movie called "Muriel's Wedding" with ABBA songs in it. Is that the same movie as Mamma mia only re-written? If it is, then I've seen this b.s. already and don't need to see it again.

[Eric8869]

No this is a musical that has been running on Broadway for years. Nothing to do with Muriel.

[Gasparilla]

None of the Abba members spoke English well, but still produced some good lyrics. The best songs, as usual with many groups, are the lesser hits. Knowing Me Knowing You, and The Name of the Game.

[ENK727]

Not interested. zzzzzzzzzzzz

[Eric8869]

Yeah you'll be next door at the latest explosion and bullet ridden action nonsense.

More room for me - yay.

[strifeknot]

Well, that was a presumptuous thing to say. Maybe Eric just doesn't middle-brow tripe as this.

[OutragedMom]

It has been a hit Broadway and London musical for years.

[littlepuffycloud]

ABBA? Really? ABBA from the 70's? I've been resisting them all these years and see no reason to change now.

[tbrnotb]

Despised ABBA my entire life. Had no desire to see the play. When my niece lierally dragged me to the play (for the first time), it was an experience not to be believed! The most fun I've ever had at the theater.....and I've seen just about everything....

Don't miss the movie. And maybe the premise was stolen....but heck it happens all the time. They stole the premise and they made a little magic.

[cnick]

I also disliked Abba when they were hot, went to the play in London and couldn't believe how much I enjoyed it, the story created around the songs is engaging and the music works so well in this venue. Don't miss it, I've seen the play twice.

[ReelBusy]

Never saw the play but just viewed the trailer for the first time this weekend and looked into it ma bit more because.....

It looks like they stole the plot for the play/movie from a 1968 Gina Lollobrigida movie called "Buona Sera, Mrs. Campbell" about three former GIs who all believe they are the father of Gina's daughter. Also features Telly Savalas, Peter Lawford and Phil Silvers.
This plot is almost exactly the same except for the musical numbers.

SHAME ON THE PLAYWRIGHTS AND SCREENWRITERS FOR SUCH THIEVERY!
Get your own ideas guys!

[cnick]

The play was written by the two original male Abba members, they also wrote another play about Bangkok that was good but didn't make it. They are totally involved in this, it isn't a Hollywood creation.

[SouthJerseySteve]

I saw Mama Mia! in Las Vegas--FABULOUS! Can't wait for the movie. If the movie is as good as Hairspray, then we are all in for a real treat! I saw Hairspray in Las Vegas too. Even saw it with some of the original Broadway cast (Edna and Wilbur Turnblatt). That was a great show and a better movie (John Travolta was a scream).

[Eric8869]

Are you kidding - John Travolta couldn't hold a candle to Harvey Fierstein's performance. The girl in the movie was great but Travolta was seriously miscast. If they had to go with a name JOhn Goodman would have been funny. (remember him as Linda Tripp on SNL?)

[strifeknot]

"...ABBA's irresistible songs."

Oh, I find them quite resistible.

[vinny]

you are making me rollick

[PoliticalPolyanna]

Okay. We get it. You're far too high-brow for the masses. You have much more refined taste. Yada, yada, yada. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

[starrianna]

"Only the Devil himself can resist ABBA."

--Jesus H. Christ

[Eric8869]

I will be there the minute it opens! There aren't enough movie musicals!