Mamma Mia!

Four amazing actors sold themselves out to a naïve script, a talentless director and a colorblind Greek director of photography. Even the slugs in Microcosmos were filmed in a more dynamic, interesting and original fashion than the dance numbers in this movie, which is just cheap, TV-like entertainment for non-discerning audiences. It is an embarrassment for the first-league Hollywood musical genre. (24/08/2008)

It’s so naive and kitsch that it’s fun. Really, that the only interesting thing about it are ABBA’s songs is besides the point, because Mamma Mia! will work great for its target audience. (16/11/2008)

A condensate of ABBA, with lashings of sun-sparkling Metaxa in the form of a refreshing soda. For most people hell, for me a surprisingly bearable guilty pleasure (and shockingly unbearable choreography). Without Meryl, it would have been just half a movie, but so what. She’s here and she’s amazing. It’s just Brosnan who spoils it. As long as he’s sitting there grinning, everything is ok, but he really shouldn’t have opened that mouth of his. His singing sends chills down my spine. Chills of terror, not pleasure. I’m convinced that it’s intentionally over-kitsch ad absurdum and the filmmakers are obviously making fun of it. At least I sincerely hope so. And I’m not looking forward to the Czech dubbed version. I can hear it right now, The Winner Takes It All sung by Czech Golden Girl Vondráčková or other stars of Saturday night variety shows. P.S.: Stellan “I don’t own a T-shirt" Skarsgård’s bare chest is more than a heterosexual man is able to stand in a movie. Much more. (08/08/2008)

Young people love each other, older people love each other, everyone dances, the older ones even jump on the beds, and everyone sings Abba, Abba, and Abba again. And after the first ten minutes, a slightly contemptuous expression leaves me and is replaced by a smile. And he doesn't want to disappear for anything. There hasn't been a more positive movie in a long time, plus Amanda Seyfried is the sweetheart of the summer of 2008, and all three "fathers" are partially clowns and partially dads to admire. Plus Meryl's The Winner Takes It All is such a fantastic number that I couldn't find any flaws until the (slightly extended) end. When I see it again on the screen, maybe the magic will start to fade. At this moment, however, I hope not. (17/09/2008)

A well-known female film critic once wrote about this film that it is a crystalline kitsch, but so sweet and cute that it is simply impossible to be angry at it. This is where the poverty of film criticism manifests itself when almost all the reviews in newspapers and magazines are written by women, and gender bias inadvertently influences their reviews. I can only confirm that from my perspective, it is a kitsch unlike any other, but as a man, I wouldn't consider it cute. It can be considered a parody of itself, and even the songs of ABBA, which I grew up with, sound disgusting here and it's probably the worst use of musical motifs by a popular Swedish group that I can remember. While they usually enhance the atmosphere, such as in the case of the Australian film Muriel's Wedding, here they seem forced. Overall impression: 20%. (19/05/2011)

I’m not the target group, but I really didn’t expect fingernails on chalkboard. Brosnan is the only person to put on at least an ok performance (not his singing), the others just spend the time making faces. Streep really didn’t deserve this. A cruel, unsatisfying ending and incredibly dumb people. It reminds me of Czech movies. (19/05/2018)

Excellent for the effect, but at its core it’s a terribly naive movie with a script so silly that I have to admire the director's courage to dare to make a feature film with it. The dance choreographies are surprisingly bland and the cinematographer must have shot them slightly under the influence, but I still can't slag the film too much. The quartet of excellent actors do what they can, and together with a very pleasant atmosphere, a beautiful setting and, of course, the songs by the immortal ABBA, they manage to trump the non-existent story and somehow live up to the huge expectations that have accompanied this film since its release. Not great, but as an easygoing comedy for a relaxing summer evening it’s OK. 70% (09/08/2022)

It is a musical created with songs by the group ABBA, it is incredibly optimistic and playful, although not all of the songs are always cheerful. I just can't help but rate it high because this is simply a film that always brings me immense joy and I am excited about it. Additionally, some of the newer versions of the songs are also very good, although the original is the original. (25/10/2015)