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Show Messy 'Mamma Ma!' has its goofy charms Christy Lemire THE ASSOCIATED PRESS songs are, of pure evil as music. Just try getting "Dancing Queen" out of your head, for example, once it's burrowed in g like one of those ear slugs from "Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan." "Waterloo," too, is especially pesky. "Mamma Mia" might, however, be the most tenacious tune in the 70s supergroup's canon. The insanely catchy hit inspired a hugely successful Broadway musical a decade ago and now is the basis for a big, breezy summer movie. "Mamma Mia!" is a massive exuberantmess, but it's fun ly goofy, sloppily crafted fun, that is, especially if you don't think too hard about any of it. Phyllida Lloyd, who directed the stage production, makes her filmmaking debut here, and her years of directing opera and theater don't seem to transfer well to the big screen. Some shots look totally fake, while shadows obscure the actors in other shots, and still others are lit so brightly that ABBA Review fro Mamma Mia! Director: Phyllida Lloyd Cast: Meryl Streep, Amanda Seyfried, Colin Firth, Pierce Brosnan Kid-Mend- Rating: PG-1- 3 1 hrs., 48 min. for some comments Location: Opens Friday at theaters everywhere it makes everything look like some movie. And the excessive use of zooms was probably unnecessary, unless Lloyd was aiming for a kitschy 1970s vibe a movie version of an ABBA video, perhaps (although the story is set in 1999). What allows "Mamma Mia!" to work on any level is the sheer radiance of Meryl Streep, who's clearly having a blast letting loose as the star of the show, erstwhile rock goddess Donna. Watching the woman who is considered the greatest actress of our time low-budg- made-for-PB- writhing around in overalls on top of a barn, or belting out numbers in a sparkly, spandex jumpsuit and platform boots can indeed be a hoot. Streep was a fan of the Broadway show, and her passion and enthusiasm explode on screen. She can indeed sing, a talent that's been on display in bits and pieces in previous movies, most recently Robert Altaian's "A Prairie Home Companion." (The Hollywood Foreign Press Association, which loves Streep, may as well go ahead and give her the Golden Globe for this performance now. Her showy rendition of MIGUEL VILLAGRANAssociated Press the ballad "The Winner Takes U.S. actresses Meryl Streep left and Amanda Seyfried right It All" ought to seal it for her.) Amanda Seyfried ("Mean attend a photocall for their new film, "Mamma Mia!" at the Girls," "Big Love") is also solid Adlon Hotel in Berlin on July 3. as Donna's daughter, Sophie, who is getting married on a Greek island and invites three bread and butter.) character is stuck with a conNot everyone fares so well: of Donna's former flames, trived subplot that comes out Pierce Brosnan and Stellan of nowhere. hoping to figure out which of Ah yes, the plot them is her father. Christine there is Skarsgard, as two of the poone of those wedged in among Baranski and Julie Walters, tential dads, should never be allowed to sing in public again, all the ABBA songs. (Catherine meanwhile, are splashy as Donna's best friends unless it's karaoke night and Johnson, writer of the "Mamand former backup singers, copious amounts of alcohol are ma Mia!" musical, also wrote the script. Fans of the show Tanya and Rosie. (Then again, involved. As Bachelor No. 3, Colin Firth has a touch more will be happy to see that it's a the brassy Baranski is a musifaithful translation.) cal theater veteran. This is her musical ability, but then his .yTBHMH"'1 mind-warpin- Running time: S scene-steale- rs 'Chimps' well tailored to the little ones ly Roger Moore Review CD Ham III (Andy Samberg) has the hots for Luna (Cheryl Hines). He barely tolerates the Titan (Patbuff, you're old enough to read Space Chimps rick Warburton, naturally), but review, then you aren't Director: Kirk Di Micco he does do what he's told. target audience for Meanwhile, on our afore"Space Chimps," a movie about Cast: Andy Sambert, Cheryl mentioned distant planet, the Patrick chimpanzees sent in search of Hines, Warburton, Stanley intelligent life elsewhere in the Tucci probe has fallen into the handlike appendages of Zartog universe. "Chimps," from the Running time: 1 hrs., 21 min. animation studio that gave us (voiced by Jeff Daniels, believe it or not), an outcast who then "Valiant," is more one of those Rating: G becomes a dictator. Will the cartoons parents at least won't Location: Opens Friday at theaters mind sitting through while chimps survive the trip and everywhere Little Miss (or Mister) undo the inadvertant evil that humans have done to these ungets his or her chuckles and found evidence of life at the cute talking primates. suspecting Teletubbies? And chuckle they will. With elsewhere in the universe. Let's "Chimps" borrows from send astronauts! Wait, through many a sci-f- i film, from "Star adorable critters, icky monWars" and "2001" to "Red a wormhole? They might not sters and oodles of potential Planet" and especially "The toy accessories (to say nothing survive. Let's try it on chimps first! of a video game ), this Right Stuff." The script has some clever bits about survivmovie is aimed at that sweet Hence, the remnants of the heart chimpanzee space training ing a trip through "The Valley spot in every for monkeys and movies about program are given the job. And of Very Bad Things," which to drum up publicity, the grand- include "The Dark Cloud of Id." them. And the script manages the occasional wisecrack or in- son of the original space chimp, That's where you face fears of side joke for movie lovers, just Ham, is added to the crew. He's inadequacy that are all inside been living out his days in a cirto keep the grownups awake. your head. The apes fire off insults about evolution ("You're cus act, letting himself be fired A space agency probe has out of a cannon. missing a link!") and other slipped through a wormhole THE zm ORLANDO SENTINEL If famous primates ("Easy on the fur, Furious George!"). Almost every line out of Warburton's mouth is a pun " "We'll just have to chimp-rovise!- to a cuddly little alien who just begs to be added to your child's nightstand. The animation's decent (save for the humans, plastic and stereotypical). And Blue Man Group bopped up some of the "Let's chimp this ride!" Kristin Chenoweth lends her voice music. chirpy Broadway-belter'- s LITTLE WMEN tie-in- CARE tr 801.226.8600 May 30 July 24 -- THEATER SOREM 225 West 400 North www.HaleTheater.tom 17 |