Hackney Gazette Mamma Mia! Certificate: PG Sometimes it is a good idea to leave your cynicism at the door and with jukebox musicals not being my thing I decided to be a super trooper and do just that with the new film version of Mamma Mia! If you're not familiar with the bonkers storyline - not being one of the 30 million people who have flocked to the theatre to see this musical based on the songs of Abba - it's about a young bride-to-be (played by newcomer Amanda Seyfried) chancing upon her mother's diary and finding out that her father, whose identity has never been revealed, could be one of three men that her indomitable mother (Meryl Streep) had amorous encounters with 20 years ago. On her quest to find the identity of her father to walk her down the aisle, and unbeknownst to her mother, she invites all three to her wedding on the beautiful Greek island where they live and scene of her mum's conquests all those years ago. Cue the potential fathers-of -bride. The trio includes Colin Firth, reprising his role of stuffy Englishman (yet again), Swedish heavyweight, Stellan Skarsgârd deftly playing the buffoon and Piece Brosnon - the best of the bunch - charming and witty and miraculously maintaining a Bond-style cool whilst belting out Abba numbers. All men share shamefully dire singing voices but it does not detract from this enchanting film that seems to revel in not taking itself too seriously. Streep on the other hand has a strong singing voice. She flings herself around with an exuberance that befits these karaoke-inspiring numbers and performs them with more emotional gravitas than Benny and Björn could have ever hoped for. Streep, in fact, makes Seyfried, though graced with similar blonde looks and sweet-singing voice, seem even blander than she is and you just hope she inherits a fraction of her screen mother's oomph as she gets older. Mother-of-the-bride's coterie of friends, in the shape of Julie Walters and Christine Baranksi give performances that nearly match the two-time Academy Award winner's relentless energy. In one of the film's highlights this talented triumvirate lead a chorus of Greek women, in all shape and sizes, in singing Dancing Queen - a celebration of womankind if ever there was one! In fact, in an age where misogyny seems to prevail and women's value lies in being young and beautiful Mamma Mia! is a timely and good-humoured reminder that women get even better with age. It also sees Streep's character enjoy a lifetime of promiscuity and single-mothertdom (and Abba) without being judged. Thank you for the music ladies!		Next article >