Mamma Mia! is one of those movies that I feel like everyone kind of skipped over. People saw it once or twice, and then didn't think much of it anymore. I am not that person. I love Mamma Mia! and it totally doesn't get the credit it deserves! I just need to remind everyone why this movie is so important.
1a) MERYL.
Meryl Streep is my hero and also should be your hero, too. She is a beautiful goddess who is incapable of doing any wrong. I believe Cam from Modern Family really said it best:
In MM, Meryl plays Donna, a single mother to Sophie, the movie's bride-to-be. And, in case you totally live under a rock, Sophie wants to invite her dad to the wedding. However, she doesn't know which of three men it is - so she invites all three.
1b) MERYL SINGS
I'm sorry, but I had to include this addendum because it makes the movie that much better. Meryl sings on a yacht (actual goals),
on a bed,
and while wearing ridiculous sleeves.
I feel like I led with my most compelling point, but I will go on.
2) The location.
The movie takes place on the beautiful (yet, sadly, fictional) island of Kalokairi in Greece. However, the movie was actually filmed in Greece on an island called Skopelos, which honestly looks like it's fake.
When the movie begins, we see Sophie in a boat on the water and it's so beautiful I wish I could be there now. Just watching the scenery in the movie is enough.
3) The music scenes.
MM's soundtrack is all songs by the classic band ABBA. Not only are these songs amazing, but they are so well incorporated into the plot. I won't go into every song, but I have to point out one of my favorites - "Dancing Queen." It begins with Meryl sliding down a banister,
and having fun with her friends like it's old times. Soon, they gather a following of all of the women in the town.
And, it ends with them all jumping into the sea because they're free to do whatever they want.
Amazing.
4) The friendships.
The movie really highlights how important it is for the girls to have girl friends. When Donna's two best friends come in, they are all three very different women who haven't seen each other in a few years. However, they fall right back into place like nothing has changed.
They even dress up in their old costumes for their band to show their love for Sophie.
Sophie and her friends also have a special camaraderie, and she isn't afraid to share the secret that she invited all of her possible dads. She trusts her best friends.
5) The message.
Although it kind of is a cheesy musical/movie, the message is still very important. Sophie feels like she's missing out because she didn't grow up with a father. But, in the end, she realizes that her mom was all that she needed. Donna sacrificed a lot to make sure that Sophie lived the best life possible. They laugh at old pictures,
crush the tearjerking mother-daughter duet,
and remember that they always had each other - and that was enough.
BONUS:
You get to watch these guys try to sing and dance.
