Like all romantic comedies, Mamma Mia! isn’t for everyone, and anyone turning on the 2008 movie musical is well aware of what they’re getting into. Overflowing with energy and happiness, the film is based on the jukebox musical from the late 1990s that’s remained quite a hit to this day. It can’t be argued that both the musical and the movie it inspired rely on the music by ABBA to make up for plot holes and weak character development. However, it’s easy to let this go and be taken along for the idyllic ride of the story.

The sequel, Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again fixed some of the visual and structural issues that plagued the original, but it doesn’t quite have the same warmth and spark that Mamma Mia! achieves because of these very flaws. With elements of magical realism and a plot straight out of a Shakespearian comedy, Mamma Mia! follows the story of the young Sophie, who, on the eve of her wedding, invites three of her mother’s past lovers to the nuptials to determine who her father is.

The Star-Studded Ensemble Cast Has As Much Fun Making Mamma Mia! As We Do Watching It

The Love & Humor Of Mamma Mia! Are Impossible To Rein In

From the first moments of the movie, we’re invited to suspend our disbelief, and are immediately disarmed by Amanda Seyfried at her most charming as the young Sophie. She’s only one part of the fabulous ensemble (made up of some of cinema’s biggest names) who willingly let themselves look ridiculous and dive headfirst into the world of the story. Seyfried and Meryl Streep are believable as mother and daughter, playing off each other well, and even sparking some emotion in us when they get ready for the wedding together.

As I get older and continue revisiting Mamma Mia!, it only gets more off-putting that Sophie is only 20 when she decides to get married. While everyone should do what’s right for them, it’s easy to empathize with Donna’s perspective and fear that her daughter is making a mistake. However, Mamma Mia! is well aware of how this wedding reads, never pretending that we won’t be far more invested in Donna being confronted by the three mysterious figures from her past.

Determined to be predictable at every turn, the audience can merely glance in the direction of the story and see that Streep’s Donna is meant to be with Pierce Brosnan’s Sam, even if he was the man who did her wrong. However, Mamma Mia! builds out its formulaic story by relying on the colorful characters of Donna’s friends, played by Christine Baranski and Julie Walters, as well as the gorgeous setting of the remote Greek island. If all of this sounds straight out of a fantasy, that’s because it is, but it’s hard to imagine Mamma Mia! any other way.

It’s hard to ignore that almost every frame of Mamma Mia! is delightfully over-exposed and near-blindingly white at times. However, this is a reminder that the movie was fully sH๏τ on location, which is a much-appreciated rarity these days. In terms of story, the deeper themes of Mamma Mia!, like Sophie’s quest for idenтιтy and belonging through the discovery of her father’s idenтιтy, are loosely touched upon at best. However, it’s not up to Mamma Mia! to impart wisdom on how to handle the appearance of a long-lost parent.

ABBA’s Timeless Songs Elevate This Classic Jukebox Musical

Even Musical-Haters Will Get Swept Away By Mamma Mia!

It would be easy to write off Mamma Mia! as yet another romantic comedy shunted into the category of guilty pleasure. However, it’s possible to acknowledge the obvious problems with the story and also fully enjoy every minute of it. The closest Mamma Mia! comes to emotional truth is when Donna and Sophie genuinely engage with their relationship as mother and daughter, and reflect on this closeness as both a strength and occasionally a weakness. This will strike a chord for any audience member, as the parent-child relationships are the heart of Mamma Mia!, not the romance.

Mamma Mia! is now available to stream on Netflix.