I planned to watch a cheap Off Broadway show today, being handed a flyer by chance earlier in the week. But, was not able to buy it the day before, and twice (the second less than twenty minutes before the show started) on the day itself. And, was treated a tad bit rudely in the process. Word to the wise -- sometimes it isn't worth it. If you have bad service or are ill treated, and it won't mess you up too much, just leave. Sometimes, you are screwed either way, which is one of life's annoyances. Other times, it is simply not worth it.
Anyway, saw Mamma Mia! again, instead. Was tempted to actually watch it on the stage, but since the cheapest seats are over $60 (not really unreasonable, given the show's status), did not. Walked back to the subway and checked out the movie theaters there. Not really in the mood for anything showing (iffy about Swing Vote ... reviews aren't attractive), so as not to waste a trip, did see MM. Not a bad way to spend $12 (I caught a matinee in Westchester for $7.75, but it would have been something like $11.50 there too, regular price), and no wait -- arrived there at the "start" time, which means ten minutes of previews. Good thing, since it was on the top floor of five elevator banks.
Sometimes, you can watch a movie more than once, and enjoy it each time. I actually have a certain movie (DVD bought) that I watched loads of times, catching little tidbits each time. Not sure if there is much left to catch at this point, but it is such a comfortable little watch, that I surely will see it again at some point. MM is surely one of those for many people, and I'm talking the Broadway show. The movie is good too -- the charm is the music and energy. The women in this movie, including the Meryl Streep trio, surely did take their happy pills -- they hit the stress moments pretty well too. When the daughter says not knowing who her father is "crap" or something like that, her usual cheery demeanor makes it a bit striking. And, there is real feeling here, among the ABBA tunes.*
[Good to underline, actually, that the movie has some real feminist chops and more, even if the marriage theme might seem traditional. This includes the "follow your dreams even if against what people think you should do" philosophy of the whole thing. Chick flick/musicals -- the true revolutionary mechanism?!]
I didn't really catch too much more this time around, though focused a bit more on the Julie Waters (very good years back in Educating Rita, based on her stage role) character a bit, something of the weak link among the older friends. Her "Take a Chance on Me" number at the end didn't quite do it for me. In fact, there wasn't too much chemistry -- though it sorta worked -- between Streep and Brosnan. Also, we get a few hints that the Colin Firth character is gay (or bi), but it is low key enough that one can very well miss the point. I wonder if the stage version is more clear on this point. Anyways, another look also highlights things like that cute Greek extra (She is holding a ladder in the "Dancing Queen" number.) Oh, and Pierce Brosnan's singing is just not that bad.
The charm again lies with the music and the energy it brings. The first few songs in particular are really fun, many of the later ones more somber and less bouncy and energetic. Meryl Streep really has to bounce around in the theme "Mamma Mia," crawling on the roof at one point (again, give the daughter is twenty, these characters really should be in their forties, especially with a song referencing being seventeen and another with the guy studying**), and "Dancing Queen" also is very fun. Streep hopefully had a lot of fun with this role, the long hair and Greek isle environs and all. Her daughter, the newbie Amanda Seyfried also shines -- some eyes! Her hubbie to be has a good number too.
The theme that makes this a favorite for middle aged women, of course, is refound love, marriage of your daughter, and regaining your old sense of fun. [The ads for the stage musical referenced all those old Saturday nights.**] The first (including a few musical numbers, including during the credits) definitely. The second, pretty good too, with a good perf by the daughter. The weak link here probably is the love -- Pierce Brosnan does a decent job here, and all the guys are sure to draw some appreciate glances (Stellan Skarsgard has the least to do, but gets to show his butt; Firth is probably the most lovable). But, I wanted more meat there. Still, second time around, the Brosnan/Streep romance had enough as not to diminish things too much. And, Baranski shines in "Does Your Mother Know," her reply to come-ons by a young admirer.
Overall, it is a pretty fun, even if not perfect, summer flick.
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* BTW, Rita Wilson also had a hand in this adaption, her Greek roots showing as it did with My Big Fat Greek Wedding.
** Literalists will catch an anachronism. There is reference to "flower children," and the outfits and all suggest her past romances took place early 1970s, the time of "Hair." But, in "current day," there is not only a fax machine, but reference to the Internet. Technically, you can stretch things, and say that the late 1990s would work here ... but even that wouldn't quite work, since I think it would have been a bit early for her to be thinking about having a website. The reference puts a modern day spin to things, but is not really necessary.