_Mamma Mia!_ is an American-British romantic comedy musical directed by Phyllida Lloyd. The film draws inspiration from the original London stage production, also directed by Lloyd, and originated with Judy Craymer’s conviction that ABBA songs could work well in a theatrical setting, particularly after hearing _The Winner Takes It All_. Craymer collaborated with British playwright Catherine Johnson on the movie; Johnson, who wrote the script for the original musical, penned this film's screenplay. Alongside Gary Goetzman, Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson also served as executive producers. The cast includes Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, Stellan Skarsgård, Julie Walters, Dominic Cooper, Amanda Seyfried, and Christine Baranski. Set on the Greek island of Kalokairi, the story centers around Donna Sheridan (Streep), a hotel owner and independent businesswoman, and her 20-year-old daughter Sophie (Seyfried), who is about to marry Sky (Cooper). After discovering an old diary belonging to her mother, Sophie learns that three men—Sam Carmichael (Brosnan), Harry Bright (Firth), and Bill Anderson (Skarsgård)—could potentially be her father. She then decides to invite all three of them to the wedding. Sophie shares this information with her friends Ali (Rachel MacDowall) and Lisa (Ashley Lilley), who have agreed to be her bridesmaids. Donna has invited her old friends and bandmates Rosie (Walters) and Tanya (Baranski) to assist with the wedding preparations, unaware of Sophie’s plan. When Sam, Harry, and Bill arrive on the island, it triggers a mid-life crisis for Donna, prompting Rosie and Tanya to try and cheer her up. Meanwhile, Sophie develops connections with each of the three men, recognizing traits she shares with them. The situation becomes complicated when all three men offer to give Sophie away, leading her to faint at her bachelorette party. The following day, Sophie confronts Donna, who believes she wants to call off the wedding. Sophie openly expresses a desire to avoid repeating Donna’s past mistakes. Simultaneously, Sam pursues Donna, and they acknowledge their enduring feelings for each other but recognize that their lives are too busy for a relationship. Tanya finds herself courted by Sky's friend Pepper (Philip Michael), despite his age difference with her. Sophie then confides in Sky about her actions, prompting him to leave in anger and hurt. Sam advises Sophie that marriage isn’t always joyful. Sophie returns to her mother and asks Donna to help her get ready for the wedding; Donna happily agrees and they reconcile their relationship. Sophie learns that Donna was disowned by her own mother when she became pregnant and then requests that Donna give her away at the ceremony. As they prepare, Donna is confronted by Sam, who questions why she won't discuss their past. Donna admits that she still loves him despite his having broken her heart through an earlier engagement. Donna enters the chapel where the wedding begins. Realizing that she can’t conceal the presence of the three men, she introduces Sophie’s father, but then learns that Sophie invited all three of them. They collectively decide to act as a third father, and Sophie unexpectedly decides to call off the wedding. Sky departs with her, planning to sail around the world. Sam suggests that the wedding shouldn't be wasted, despite Donna’s objections about bigamy. After revealing his divorce, Sam proposes marriage, and Donna tentatively accepts. At the reception, Rosie falls for Bill, who initially rejects her advances but eventually reciprocates her feelings. The film concludes with Donna and Sam alongside Bill and Harry saying goodbye to Sophie and Sky as they sail away from Kalokairi. Donna, Tanya, and Rosie then perform _Dancing Queen_ during the end credits, followed by the rest of the cast singing _Waterloo_. The movie ends with Sophie singing _Thank You For the Music_ over the closing credits. Featuring numerous popular ABBA songs including _Honey, Honey_, _Dancing Queen_, and the title track _Mamma Mia_, the soundtrack contributed to ABBA’s resurgence in popularity. Despite some less-than-stellar vocal performances (particularly from Pierce Brosnan), the music is wonderful. The film contains references to other movies such as _Dirty Dancing_ and _Grease_. Meryl Streep's portrayal of Donna Sheridan showcases her versatility, especially during her rendition of "The Winner Takes It All." The scene featuring “S.O.S” is interesting; Brosnan’s singing is flat, but his body language suggests he’s enjoying himself. If you can overlook the less impressive vocals, this film offers an enjoyable experience and a great soundtrack. I recommend it. However, due to royalty issues and disagreements with UNICEF, UMG and Decca Records were unable to secure the rights for _Chiquitita_, which is why it's not included on the CD. If you haven’t seen this movie yet, what are you waiting for? Stream or buy it before July 20, when its sequel arrives in theaters! > It's very Greek! - Rosie

Source on TMDB