Wiggly Socks Movie Reviews

By Linda Winsh-Bolard

During preparations for her wedding, Sophie decides to also invite three men, who might be, each of them, the father she never knew. Sophie believes that she will recognize the right one immediately, and that her Mother Donna, who brought her up alone, would not be angry with her for the ploy.

Life rarely plays along with our hopes.

All three men accept the invitation. Uptight city worker Harry (Colin Firth), businessman Sam (Pierce Brosnan) and eternal slacker and boat owner Bill (Stellan Skarsgard) all come to a tiny Greek island, as picturesque and romantic as possible, where Donna runs a Bed &Breakfast, because they have never forgotten Donna- and never came back to her or for her.

Of course, there are other guests as well, among them two bosom friends of Donna, Christine Baranski and Julie Walters.

The screenplay is typical musical, light on the story situation comedy with plenty of singing and dancing.

The musical score serves here as a part of dialog. As hard as this is to pull off, it seems to work for Mamma Mia- despite the improbable image of Pierce Brosnan breaking into a song.
I don’t really remember Abba, nor am I a fan of pop music in general, but I have to admit that it sounds fast, fresh and funny. Of course, the texts are rather a far cry from “shake your booty”. Thanks for that.

Meryl Streep is clearly the star of this movie. In admirable physical and acting shape, an actress with great style, she pulls off the once free spirited girl, who is now overworked woman, nervous about a wedding she is not sure is the best for her daughter to go through with,whose life is upset by sudden visit from the past- three headed dragon, so to speak. Christine Baranski is as sexy as always, as obstinate and as independent. Julie Walters breaks out of her dowdy part quite nicely. All the males are suitably hunky, surprised and surprisingly willing to take on a responsibility they did not know it existed. Amanda Seyfield is hard working on her part of young, eager girl who believes that finding out her father will change her life. It is way too close to the usual looking for Prince Charming, and Amanda is dully reminded of that. Of course, there is a bridegroom as well, but it is not exactly a significant part.

It was pointed out that the hippie movement played out a long before the love affairs of Donna and her men could take place; should the end of the story take place more or less today. True. On the other hand, I know, have danced with (classical ballet), a lady of appropriate age, whose recollections of her own youth are remarkably similar, although taking place in Malibu. She does not consider herself a hippie, merely a free spirited woman. Perhaps youth is always the same...

It really is not a narration based film. It is more about feelings. Nostalgia of the young, and nostalgia of the lost youth, and the courage to go on, and the amazement that you can. For all that music serves very well. As does the ocean, sunset and dance numbers. It never occurred to me how hilarious might be a variation on pas de quarter danced by a bunch of men with swim flips on.

Poignant is the whole idea that songs once written by the young for the young, have actually gained meaning with time, and these days apply equally to the older generation.

It takes more courage at forty to go after your dreams than at twenty. By forty we have been burned by life, and have lost both, the naiveté and the irresponsibility, of youth. We have lived through things, and hardly any experience is new. All that is against us. But times have changed, it takes longer to grow up, because there is more to learn, we live longer, we also are active longer, and our perception of what is youth and young needs changing. It might be one of the few positive changes the „Me Generation“ will leave behind. There really is no reason why you should settle down to a routine waiting for death. So, go girl, get them!

The film is based on theater play written by the film‘s director and screenplay writer, Phyllida Lloyd and Catherine Johnson. According to Variety, the ladies were snubbed by members of former Abba, and the play could not find any takers. After it traveled, played for years and made both ladies very wealthy, the film version has star-studded cast and Abba attended the film’s opening in Sweden.