Here’s something I’ve been wanting to get off my chest for a while: I am a huge, unrepentant Mamma Mia! fan. Go ahead and mock me if you want, I can take it. Look, the filmmakers obviously knew they were shooting an monumentally absurd campfest, so judge it on its own terms. The ABBA songs are unimpeachable silly-pop masterpieces. The plot is paper-thin but very sweet. And yes, the choreography is careless, and Pierce Brosnan and Colin Firth have frankly awful singing voices. But somehow the cast’s what-the-hell enthusiasm, in spite of all their own obvious limitations, made the movie even more fun for me. It’s just like Christine Fenno said back in January, when the trailer got her psyched to see Meryl Streep in "a performance which, if not perfectly in tune, will probably be full of joy." Exactly! What kind of gnarled soul must one have not to crack a smile at the sight of a world-renowned Oscar winner belting out "Dancing Queen" in overalls?
Whew. That was liberating. Anyway, I mention all this because I could hardly believe my eyes when I spied this news story. (H/t, Annie Barrett!) Starting next Friday, Universal is rolling out Mamma Mia!: The Sing-Along Edition. They’ll be screening the whole movie again in select theaters with the lyrics flashing on the screen as subtitles, and encouraging people to dance and sing their hearts out. Could this be any more perfect? The best part of Mamma Mia! was that over-the-top amateurish energy — most of the lead "singers" might as well have been random audience members at a big multiplex jamboree. And while I didn’t realize it was even possible to ramp up that anything-goes camp factor any further, this should do the trick. If this means Mamma Mia! has a shot at becoming a Rocky Horror-style cult phenomenon through the decades, I will be beyond thrilled. So is it just me? Or is anyone else really, really hoping one of those "select theaters" is in your town?
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I think time is Mamma Mia!’s friend in this case – I was perplexed last year when just a couple months after its initial release, Hairspray received the sing-along treatment. Too early (but an awesome film nonetheless). I’ve been to Rocky Horror, as well as a Sound of Music sing-along – both were awesome, and both had time to cement themselves in film and pop culture history.
I would love for the sing-a-long to come to my town. I saw the stage show and everyone was singing along with all the songs, having the words to help along faulty memories would be awesome!
When I went to it, it was a “sing-along”–without benefit of the lyrics, and everyone just sang quietly to themselves. I would definitely go to this, if there’s any chance that it’ll be near me.
I actually thought Colin Firth did a good job with “Our Last Summer”.
I think I would be more interested if they asked “How soon can I claw my eyes out with a garden rake?”…
I was so excited by the news of a sing-along, but simultaneously crushed because neither my boyfriend or any of my friends have any interest in this. I’m tempted to take out a CraigsList ad – “wanted: females or gay men who enjoy Europop”
Great idea, I actually just saw this movie last night at a sold-out show (in a big city, on a Thursday night, weeks after it’s release) and the audience was just loving it. Plus they cheered and clapped at the end during the credits, which is not something I’m used to seeing.
There is just something about Abba…doesn’t matter who’s singing it, it makes me happy! (Although for the record, I thought Meryl Streep, Julie Walters and Christine Baranski did a fantastic job, and I enjoyed their singing very much)
OMG ~ THIS WOULD BE SO MUCH FUN!
I would totally go to a sing-along if they would take out the actors’ vocals and just provide the music for the audience’s singing.
Otherwise, forget it.
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@littlenicola: Not getting your point on timing. Both Mamma Mia! and Hairspray were stage shows with followings long before they were movies. I think that this could help solidify their places in pop culture history.
I thought Colin’s singing was WAY better than Pierce and Stellan!
i hope that the theater in my town will be one of the select , because i can’t wait to sing a long with the movie , this is the most funny and enjoyable movie that i’ve seen in so many time , and Meryl is so wonderful and unbelievable and all the cast it’s so great and yes i think it’s already a phenomenon
I would so just go to watch all the silly people do it (only b/c I don’t know that many ABBA songs, or my friends and I would BE the silly people)
can you reserve one for me too? i’ll totally join in. i may even have the dancing queen choreography memorized by now.
Um, I wouldn’t hold out hope that this will transform Mamma Mia into some sort of cult rallying point. They did the exact same thing with Hairspray last year.
Since I plan to sing along with the dvd from the day it’s released, I’ll probably save my money for that rather than seeing it again in the theater.
I have heard Colin Firth sing before, and I thought it was rather lovely.
I would LOVE a singalong edition to come to my town. Even though it won’t…
I’m in the Mamma Mia obsessed club having seen the stage show 30 times and the movie 7 (so far)! I sing along anyway so why not make it official!
This would be a blast to go to. Please let DC be one of the sing-a-long sites. I’ll rise up from my chemo to go!!!
OMG, Simon, I think this is the second thing in two months that we’ve agreed on! Crazy! If they’re doing that here, I’m in. I went to Sing-along Sound of Music and it was awesome.
TOTALLY! Call me – I’ll go with you!
I told my date that I could see this movie becomming a sing-along flick! And yes, everybody in the audience was singing along and clapping throughout the show!!
I predicted to my daughters that Mamma Mia! would be a cult style movie like Rocky Horror before it came out with dancing and singing in the aisles. We’ve already got up and danced at our theatre. Just let the fun happen!
Here in Austin, we are blessed to have sing-alongs on a variety of themes at the Alamo Drafthouse. Too much fun!
Simon – I got a screening pass today for a Mamma Mia sing-along tomorrow in West L.A.! We must a the test group – I am EXCITED!
Crystal I’m so jealous – I wonder if it will ever get to Ireland – I would just love it
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