Mama Mia DVD Review: Abba Crashes on Greek Island

I have just been subjected to what I believe is the worst screen musical I have ever witnessed.

Apparently, " Mama Mia!" the DVD, surpassed previous records for most Christmas sales of a DVD! The only conclusion I could draw from seeing this miscast bunch of over fifties on film was the certainty of filling Benni and Bjorn's bank account even further. This is mainly due to sons, grandsons, daughters, husbands etc purchasing the DVD as a last minute stocking filler for "her indoors."

The contrived way that each and every song is introduced to the story line is irritating to say the least. Some of the scenes are totally unbelievable (in particular the put down song by Christine Baranski on the rampant young bar tending stud) and for a small Greek Island it is incredible the sheer numbers living there! Plus it has a Church of its own with the strangest Greek Orthodox priest you will ever see. This is stretching poetic license too far I think. I don`t know if all the cast did their own singing but for sure Pierce Brosnam must have because he was so bad there could not possibly have been a musical stand in who could hold a tune so poorly.

It was embarrassing every time he sang. Still I think it should give Brosnan's family a good laugh from time to time when they drag out his old flops! Julie Walters is just not credible as a former member of a girl band. What a waste of a talented character actress! I have no doubt that the musical has a place on the stage with a live audience and the correct cast but as a screen musical I have to say it sucks. Meryl Streep was passable in her singing capacity though and I must say that Sophie (Amanda Seyfried) was easy on the eye and had a pleasant voice too.

Apart from the beautiful sunny Mediterranean backdrops this DVD belongs definitely in the can. Definitely not one to view over and over again or even once! However I'm sad to say that because of the success at the box office and the DVD sales there is a potential sequel here. The end marriage of Sophie and Sky did not take place as they left to travel the world. Donna's former lover marries her and stays on the island (we think) so will the follow up be Pierce and Meryl running a Hotel in the sunny Med, a sort of updated version of Fawlty Towers? The mind boggles and where will the Abba songs come from? Surely they have all been used?