Mamma Mia! will be making it to a movie screen near you, thanks in part by Tom Hanks. The good folks over at yahoo.com give us this on the story:
LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) – Mamma Mia! — an adaptation of the popular ABBA stage musical — is coming to the big screen with a little help from Tom Hanks. Since opening in London in 1999, the show has grossed more than $1 billion with productions running around the globe.
Theater veteran Phyllida Lloyd is in negotiations to make her feature directing debut on the film, which Hanks’ Playtone production company will develop for Universal Pictures. ABBA members and songwriters Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus will serve as executive producers, along with Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson.
Here is the plot: The story follows a bride-to-be — raised on a Greek island by a formerly rebellious mom who never disclosed the identity of her father — who locates three men who might be her father and invites them to her wedding. The musical features 22 ABBA songs, including “Dancing Queen,” “Take a Chance on Me” and “The Winner Takes It All.”
Ok I will admit that I saw this play, with my mother, and…it wasn’t terrible. The music is fun, I enjoyed myself and I left smiling. So, if the play is any indication, this might actually do ok as a movie musical. I know, I know… I can hear the comment section insults already but seriously most of the people who are into musicals will probably like this one. There is nothing wrong with a person enjoying a fun, easy night of entertainment. So why not give them the ABBA songs musical to enjoy at the cinema.
There is something also to be said for movies that are more geared toward the baby boomer generation, as, an ABBA musical certainly is. Hanks supporting it makes sense, he is a smart boomer with a love of films on the more harmless and wholesome side. This movie is just that and for the younger people who are forced out to the theater because of some reason or other, like “Dad, I really just stopped in to do my laundry” might actually end up enjoying it.
It is true that this movie, like the theatrical production, will probably be hated by quite a few but I have a good feeling that the makers of this movie will still get to sing Money, money money.
While a different story, the Aussie film “Muriel’s Wedding” (1994) preceded the play (1999). Do you think there might be some small confusion between the two? Both stories not only revolve around Brides to Be, but also an abundance of ABBA.
(note: this is not a dismissal of either Abba, the film(s) or the play)