Region: 1
DVD Aspect Ratio: 2.40:1
Audio: Dolby Digital w/ sub-woofer channel
  Dolby Digital Stereo
Language: English, Spanish, French
Subtitles: English, Spanish, French
Weight factor: 3 item(s)

Plot Synopsis

Longing to discover the identity of her true father before she exchanges her wedding vows, the daughter of a once-rebellious single mother secretly invites a trio of paternal candidates to her upcoming wedding in this feature adaptation of the beloved stage musical. Independent-minded single mother Donna (Meryl Streep) has always done her best to raise her spirited daughter, Sophie (Amanda Seyfried), while simultaneously running a successful hotel on a small Greek island, but now the time has come for this hardworking mom to finally let go. In just a few days, Sophie will be married, and Donna will stand by bittersweetly as her little girl takes flight. Of course, Donna's lifelong friends Rosie (Julie Walters) and Tanya (Christine Baranski) will both be present at the wedding, but unbeknownst to the mother, Sophie has furtively invited three very special guests of her own. When Sophie walks down the aisle on that fateful day, she wants her father to hand her off. The only problem is that Donna has never revealed the true identity of Sophie's father, leaving the resourceful future bride to narrow the list down to three potential candidates. Now, as three key figures from Donna's past return to the picturesque Mediterranean shores they all walked 20 years prior, one beautiful bride will discover the secret of her past while one lonely mother finds out that it's never too late for a little romance. Phyllida Lloyd, director of both the original London sensation as well as the hit Broadway incarnation, makes her feature directorial debut with this big-screen version of the beloved musical featuring 22 classic ABBA hits. Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, Stellan Skarsgård, and Dominic Cooper co-star. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

Editorial Reviews:

Is there anything Meryl Streep can't do? It would be tempting to say "won't do," but that would imply her appearance in Mamma Mia! is somehow shameless. Hardly. Watching the perennial Oscar nominee bounce on a bed like a teenager, kick out her legs, roll around on the ground, and sing her heart out -- without a trace of hesitation -- is another redefining moment for one of Hollywood's most treasured actresses. We know she's a performer with guts, but it never hurts to be reminded. On the whole, Mamma Mia! joyously reminds us how musicals -- especially those set on lush Greek islands -- can transport an audience to delicious realms of pure escapism. The whole cast fully commits, from the logical choices (prancing diva Christine Baranski) to the surprises (stiff-by-design Colin Firth) to the fresh-faced newcomers (charismatic Amanda Seyfried). In their hands, these songs have the same gusto ABBA must have felt when first writing and performing them. In some cases, gusto alone may not be enough, and Mamma Mia! likely works better for those not comparing the performances to the soundtrack of the popular show. For one, Pierce Brosnan, another plucky outside-the-box choice, seems to have more singing responsibility than he can properly carry. And a small amount of the choreography is inferior, such as the inert staging of Streep's solo "The Winner Takes It All," in which Brosnan is left trying to figure out what to do with his hands. Some of this can be blamed on stage director Phyllida Lloyd's inexperience with this particular medium, but in her first feature film, she's far more deserving of credit than complaint. It's hard to imagine anyone not feeling the rush when an entire village of women comes together to sing "Dancing Queen," finishing with a group plunge into the Aegean. ~ Derek Armstrong, All Movie Guide