Generally speaking, I’m a bit skeptical of musicals, with a few die-hard favorites, such as Grease, Annie, and (maybe) White Christmas. As with any song or set of songs, I have to *bond* with it before knowing and loving it fully, and musicals make it hard for me. Because they’re a bit, um, hokey. I mean that in the best possible way; part of the reason I love Grease so much is because of its hokiness. John Travolta’s hair alone in that movie is both hokey and lovable. But when watching a musical for the first time, that cheese can get in the way of true meaning, causing me to turn away.
In Mamma Mia!, there were a few songs and moments that didn’t do it for me. Granted, going into the movie, I knew just the bare-bones basics of the stories and only a handful of songs—the same ones that everyone on the planet knows—so maybe there was some background I just didn’t “get.” But in spite of a few misses, there were so many hits, rendering me an instant MM! fan. One song made me want to lock myself into a room and cry. And other songs just made me so happy, wanting to get up and run and sing and dance. To celebrate.
MM! reminded me that musicals, where characters break out into song in the midst of their daily lives, show life to be just plain fun. Simple. Light. In spite of all the complexities and heartache, we don’t have to be so serious all the time. It feels good to remember that every once in awhile. If only we could invite a composer and choreographer to come on over one day and set this bitch to a song and dance routine.
4 comments:
gotta say that i break into song and dance daily...if you hadn't already noticed... so musicals are VERY realistic to me... hehehehehe! so jealous you got to see this movie...sigh... one day i will go to a movie (probably the next harry potter) and not worry about a child in need of milk... sigh...
i concur. (how unlike me. just more evidence of what we've been talking about pen.(
and despite that- meryl and pierce do not in anyway belong in the same universe, ever at all, ever, making out... EVER... she did rock that monologue song on the cliff even if it did go on forever. though i reject that they made colin look downright homely in comparison to the hotness that is bronson and the cuteness that is skarsgard. and made him gay on top of that. wtf.
but meryl's friends were awesome. and it just reminded me that friends should do silly things like plan trips to greece and dance on the beach like they do in the movies. bcs that's what friends are for. and if we come away with anything along with our renewed love of abba it would be that- and certainly not the plot where the girl agrees to go away and not be married but behave married and live like they're married but bcs she's young, not be married...? which is the ridiculousness of the contemporary mentality. but back to abba and dancing around with boas. a hearty thumbs up and YES.
I tend to agree with ej - not abnormal for me to break into song and bust out some awkward dance moves.
music, laughing, singing, dancing, friends, jumping in the water, yes, please. Try doing those dance steps along with the song and NOT smiling. fun times. That's an important ingredient in all girl retreats, right? (dance routines and sing alongs)
I'll have to check out this movie.
Thanks, now I want to jump into a lake with my shoes on.
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