The Film
When undertaking an adaptation of a theatrical production, it's absolutely essential that one takes into account the differences between the mediums. When the source material is a musical, the stakes are even higher. Movie musicals cannot be staged or filmed like the action is taking place on a stage in front of a live audience; it just doesn't work.
Someone obviously forgot to tell that to Phyllida Lloyd, director of both the original Broadway production of Mamma Mia! and the recent movie adaptation. Lloyd is a theater director, and no doubt a very good one, but her first effort for the screen is an absolute mess, robbing Mamma Mia! The Movie of the campy fun it ought to provide.
Mamma Mia! tells the story of a young bride (Amanda Seyfried, Mean Girls) who has narrowed down the identity of her father to three men (Pierce Brosnan, Stellan Skarsgård, and Colin Firth). She invites all three to her wedding without telling her mother Donna (Meryl Streep), the owner of a dilapidated inn on a remote Greek island.
Filled with the music of '70s pop superstars ABBA, the film is a romp of hidden motives and double entendre. ABBA's music has kind of a "love it or hate it" quality, but it's hard to question how perfectly appropriate it is for this silly comedy.
Unfortunately, much of the fun has been lost due to some of the most illogical shot choices and worst direction in a recent major motion picture. The song and dance arrangements have been changed from the theatrical production, but the staging still looks like something you'd see live, and thanks to Lloyd's claustrophobic directing style it's often hard to tell what's happening in a number of scenes. This seemingly minor annoyance escalates into persistent frustration making hard to enjoy the film as you realize the direction is not going to get any better.
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