Regardless of my opinion, or any negative reviews in the press, this film will be well attended and make a killing at the box office. Purely because of the bullet proof nature of the songs of ABBA, and the existing success of the stage show this film is based on. To a degree my review is somewhat superfluous. The target audience this film is aimed at will be going, come hell or high water. I'm also sure that those who are already are gritting their teeth and contracting their sphincters at the mere thought of this films existence, are also unlikely to alter their opinion, be it unfounded or not.

The production is efficient but not excessively exotic. The location work is not exceptional. Most of the film was shot ironically on the 007 stage at Pinewood. The cast acquit themselves as well as they can, considering the contrived dialogue that simply links each song tenuously. Meryl Streep approaches her songs as a method actor of here calibre does and delivers them as if they were Shakespearean dialogue (Remember Peter Sellers singing "A Hard Days Night" in the idiom of Laurence Olivier). Pierce Brosnan tries (and fails)to deliver his songs in an earnest fashion. Colin Firth is as graceful as Douglas Bader and Stellan Skarsgård (don't tell me he wasn't a last minute replacement)looks simply embarrassed.

Yet despite these flaws, the punters will love it. Fans will not be interested in analysing the way the film is constructed, the characterisation or performances. They just want to indulge themselves with some "feel good" (or is that "delude yourself") big screen karaoke. I doubt if you'll even get to hear the songs in some cinema's over the audience singing along. I just think that the studio could have spent a little bit more care and attention on the production. Stronger direction, better casting or at least better vocal coaches would have made this film marginally better. For me personally, if I want to listen to ABBA, I'll listen to a CD or MP3. It's infinitely better than listening to inferior cover versions.

"Mamma Mia" is ultimately destined to become an event or ritual for certain people. It will be obligatory to play the DVD if your having friends over and your part of a certain demographic. So again we return to whether its really relevant to offer any serious critique of the film. I found it fairly entertaining. The songs simply compensate for the fact that certain sequences and performances are bad. Julie waters shoulders a lot of the burden, being an extremely personable actress. It doesn't out stay its welcome with a running time of 109 minutes. This is the embodiment of cinematic Marmite. Make your choice accordingly. For those who are undecided, here's Meryl and Pierce singing together. You have been warned!

SOS. "Mamma Mia" OST. Performed by Meryl Streep & Pierce Brosnan.

XoD.