Chris Sullivan
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8:04min
Sophie Sheridan (Amanda Seyfried) lives on a Greek island with her hotelier mum Donna (Meryl Streep), and wants to invite her unknown father to her wedding. There are three candidates, so she invites them all before breaking into the Abba song Honey Honey. “The plot is loosely based on a 1968 film called Buona Sera, Mrs Campbell, and basically they've fused Abba's hit records into the story,” says Agnetha Falstart.
16:13min
The financially strapped Donna sings Money, Money, Money. “Streep sings this really, really well,” notes Björn Volvo-us. “When she recorded the vocal for The Winner Takes It All in one take the Abba co-founder Benny Andersson described her as a miracle.”
20:22min
Sophie's three possible dads turn up on the island: Sam Carmichael (Pierce Brosnan), Harry Bright (Colin Firth) and Bill Anderson (Stellan Skarsgård). “When Brosnan signed up for the film he had no idea what it was about,” says Benny Anderwear. “All he knew was that it was to be filmed in Greece and that Meryl Streep was starring.”
35:04min
To cheer up the disgruntled Donna her two excruciatingly loud middle-aged friends Rosie and Tanya (Julie Walters and Christine Baranski), known as the Dynamos, sing Dancing Queen, and act it out wearing phallic props and masks. “I know the film follows the traditions of an Ancient Greek comedy but these women are ridiculously over the top,” says Björn.
37:00min
Every woman in the village runs out of her house and joins in with the performance of Dancing Queen, hands in the air. “Shouldn't these women be at home doing the washing-up,” asks Björn. “Don't be so sexist!” barks Frida Longstokin.
37:20min
Dancing Queen becomes an even bigger production number. “This song was No 1 in the UK, Germany, Australia and the US in 1977, Björn says. “In total Abba have sold over 400 million records worldwide and still sell 4 million a year even though they split up 25 years ago.”
40:13min
Harry gets his old guitar and breaks into song. “I like that they've got all these non-singing actors singing, and Colin Firth has a beautiful voice,” says Agnetha.
63:13min
Sam sings SOS to Donna. “Pierce is so gorgeous,” remarks Frida. “But he's not very manly,” chides Benny “He doesn't even have a beard.”
90:36min
Brosnan sings When All is Said and Done. “This song was written when Benny and Anni-Frid were in the midst of divorce,” explains Björn.
90:51min
At the wedding reception Rosie comes on to Bill and tells him she is still free and available. “He looks petrified,” laughs Björn. “Wouldn't you be?” asks Benny.
91:20 min
Rosie jumps on the table and sings Take a Chance on Me. “I can't see my mum doing that,” says Benny. “My mum probably will when we put this on after Christmas lunch,” chuckles Agnetha.
94:13min
The film ends and the credits roll while Donna and her Dynamos sing Dancing Queen. “The cinema audience usually sing along here,” says Agnetha.
97:24min
After the credits Streep, Walters and Baranski sing Waterloo. “Waterloo won the Eurovision Song Contest and was their first international No 1. But it doesn't fit in with the plot so they've slipped it in at the end,” says Björn.
98:03min
Brosnan, Firth and Skarsgård come on stage dressed in glam rock-style catsuits with huge platform shoes. “I see that Pierce Brosnan dresses to the left,” says Björn.
THE VERDICT
Our panel enjoyed the film immensely and thought it good old-fashioned family entertainment. “I like the representation of the songs and the romanticism of the movie,” Agnetha says. “It's like karaoke on film and great for Christmas; I would recommend it to people of all ages,” says Frida.
Mamma Mia! is out to buy and rent on DVD and to buy on Blu-ray; Björn Again tour the UK over the next four months (www.bjornagain. com); Gimme Gimme Gimme A Really Great Workout is out to buy from Dec 26
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