Why dont critics get the point of these kind of movies....they are there for a certain mood a certain time....the quality of the singing is not the point...the film is pure joy...
Yo, dis guy talks with a weird accent o sthn lyk that, wheres he from? Dont know nobody talking quite lyk that, its lyk a boston accent, or somwere lyk dat. Anyone no? wtffff
For the first couple of minutes of this review I was really confused because I thought the main character was called 'Muriel Strepsil' when I was sure it was Donna.
Then I realised that's his name for Meryl Streep and had to pause the video cause I was laughing so hard. I love it when he casually drops in his nicknames for actors!
I love Kermode's comparison of Meryl Streep doing 'The Winner Takes It All' to Peter Sellers' recitation of 'A Hard Day's Night' in the style of Laurence Olivier as Richard III!
If Streep, Walters and Christine Baranski had been bellowing the songs in a pub in Headingley I would have walked out.
I think Mayo's dry humour is rightly placed during Kermode's reviews. It allows his review's to flow and puts even more emphasis on Kermode to argue his point and get his views across.
mamma mia was a terrible film. the plot (what is of it) is basically designed around the songs (badly) and it just doesn't flow. not to mention that pierce brosnan can't sing and most of the cast can't act. utterly awfull.
kermode , for all that i like about the man and his film reviewing abilities, 'wells up' at far too many, often shite, films. there is simply no need, i dont care who or what you are, to cry during Mamma mia.
"Movies aren't stupid. They fill us with romance and hatred and revenge fantasies. Before Lethal Weapon 2, I never thought there could be a bomb in my toilet. But now I check every time." Homer Simpson
Oh my GOD an Anglo who can pronounce Max von Sydow! I think I'm in love! (He still pronounced Stellan Skarsgård as if it were Skarsgard, though. Oh well.)
@WhodHaveThunkIt I felt his voice was straying very dangerously close towards Alan Partridge territory towards the end: "Voulez-Vous? Let's hear a clip!" 0:48
Kermode is like good wine - he gets better as he ages. He's been my preferred film critic for many years and I rarely disagree with him. That's not an arse-lick, it is a genuine statement that I think the guy has a mega brain and keen perception.
If Meryl gives u a blow job do u get Streep throat?
whatever blah3! the movie and the stage play were smash hits and u can never earn whatever the casts made in your lifetime - so just chill out and get out of your closet gay and have fun watching the movie again and again until your nose and ear bleeds.
This comment has received too many negative votesshow
The movie can not be rated like other movies for it is a quasi farce type of musical. The reviewers from the radio show didn't even mention the two young lovers who were about to get married, who actually sang beautifully. And they couldn't even remember other movies Stellan Skarsgard was in - did you forget "Good Will Hunting." Heck they did not even pronounce Meryl Streep's name correctly. Meryl has in fact sung in about 6 movies, 3 of which were big parts. Guys research more first.
Well you guys - don't know..... much ado about nothing. Colin Firth not only played the guitar, but Meryl Streep sang live in the movie, when the others lip synced the songs based on their recording from the studio. Meryl sang "Winner Takes It All" with wind and waves and a big gale, and yet sang over it - loud enough everytime. She also did some of her own stunts. And she sang while climbing ladders 2 stories tall and out of breath, but she did it - and she's 60. Kudos to her.
By all rights this movie should not have done well. Weak story, some bad singing, etc. etc. But once you suspend what you know is good, you find yourself oddly liking it. I actually think Pierce's versions of the ABBA songs are some of the better songs in the movie, which proves my point above.
"Muriel Strepsil" is a nickname Kermode has given Meryl Streep. I've read that he also has other nicknames for various actors (ex. Orloondo Bland for Orlando Bloom) Cheers, A.L. (Attn: Kermode and Mayo...please correct me if I'm wrong!)
Whatever faults the movie has, it somehow manages to be entertaining. It has a feel-good factor, that's probably the button it's touching for those who like it.
You did make a point. A great vocalist cant do much with a bad song, but even an idiot can make a great song sound ok. The Rainbow Connection was song by someone pretending to be a frog. I would have been suicidal if I were Benny Anderson watching the movie for the first time. But he was a producer. Its not like he could sur himself for defamation of character. To the cast - stick to acting. Merrly sang well in Prarie Home Companion though.
It was horrific. They should have asked Olivia Newton John and Tracy Ulman who actually sing like ABBA. Colin Firth did pretty well with his accoustic guitar songs though the other guys sounded like Bea Arthur.
jason200833, I would suggest you step away from your computer, pick up a book (in your case, a dictionary) and then come back when you have a better grasp of the English language. It's hard to take someone seriously when they struggle to spell 'fucking idiot'
I wasted a good 2 hours of my life watching this. I have a greatest hits CD and i could have just listened to it and watched paint dry. It would have taken less time and would have had better versions of the songs.
This comment has received too many negative votesshow
Does this guy has any good reviews???
And I think this guy needs to take things less serious I loved the movie and I have to agree the singing isn't great but I just loved it because of the cast and the songs and the film just gave me a great laugh so...
This comment has received too many negative votesshow
not related to this but why did Kermode call Borat an anti-American film? So any criticism or piss-taking of Yanks is now anti-American? I didnt realise Kermode was a fan of Joe McCarthy & Dick Cheney.
So just because you don't like Borat you must be a neocon? All Borat does is go after all the soft American targets like racist hicks and frat boys. What's so clever about that? Now I loved Da Ali G Show but Borat takes all the wit and danger out of the series and relies solely on lowest-common denominator gags. It's just Sacha Baron Cohen sneering at anyone who isn't as brilliant as he is.
kermode's problem with it is that its somehow anti-yank. Why is it then that when cohen was doing the same thing in the UK with his tv show (targeting a lot of different groups), nobody accused him of being anti-brit? it's just kermode trying to find fault with anything thats popular in the mainstream cinema.
Spoken like someone who rarely listens to Mark Kermode. If that's true then why did he rave about Star Trek? He understands the need for popcorn movies in society, he just happens to have high standards. What's wrong with that?
Is this man mad? what film did he see? i saw it and it was rubbbish. In a musical the base rule .. Base rule... The people who are in it have to be able to sing period!
Gotta say I normally agree with Mark Kermode, and this review is hilarious... but Mamma Mia was one of the only films I couldn't watch all the way through.
Roland Emmerich disaster films are probably the ultimate in proving the validity of this theory. So badly written, so badly acted, so badly directed, so adhering to cliche, riddled with holes from the plot gun, endings cheesier than cheese itself, deliberately marketed at the slobs who watch the Superbowl and teenagers who don't know any better. Yet, never less than pure entertainment gold.
I had a similar reaction to Southland Tales. Absolutely horrendous film, but as soon as Justin Timberlake starts lip-synching to The Killers, it becomes brilliant in just how horrid it is.
You're right doosher. Boffo box office does not equal great movie. (How else would you explain Dark Knight?) But Kermode is right: Mamma Mia! is a thrill ride. For those who willing to take the plunge it was feel good karaoke, an antidote to 2008. He captured what I felt about the movie perfectly. I cringed until about halfway in then suddenly found myself swept up in the spirit of the thing. And yeah, bv the end I shed a few tears and barely restrained myself from singing out loud.
This comment has received too many negative votesshow
Uh what ? Dark knight is widely considered a great film, it got fantastic reviews and tons of accolades including 8 Oscar noms. Now you may not have liked it but that doesn't change the fact that it will be remembered as a great film.
Muriel Strepsil is just one of his alternative names for actors. I'm not sure where it comes from, I know a Strepsil is a lozenge so I'm not sure if it's anything to do with that.
Other names are Huge Action (Hugh Jackman), Orloondo Bland, Ikea Knightly, Nicole Kindling, etc.
Meryl's "The Winner Takes It All" turned it around for me as well. Although I didn't really 'dislike' it that much at the beginning; Colin Firth kept that from happening, hahahaha!
Wow-big ego,Mark-make "muriel strepcil"cough gtt out of a gifted talent like Streep.The film is between 1/2-1 billion USD in revenue thus far-gee,Mark, maybe your opinions are too brill? Abba,Streep,Walters and Baranski are ideal. Even Björn was taken by Streep's voice,trained under Estelle Liebling, coach for Beverly Sills--who so rarely did karaoke. The men are perfect too-real men, not twinkie-toed dancers, nor perfect singers-real men.We'll think of you as they cry on their way to the bank.
I'm sorry but what the hell are you talking about? It seems to me that you're criticising the review, but his opinion is that the film is so bad it turns out to be good so in a bizarre way he's positive about it. Maybe I've misunderstood your comment though.
Also just because a film makes money doesn't mean it's any good just that there's plenty of people willing to part with their cash much too easily.
Always though Meryl Streep was overrated and this movie proves she is no movie star. A star anchors every scene they are in and the only scene she might anchor is 'The Winner Takes It All' is destroyed by camera movements that have nothing to do with what's happening.The fact that he likes this at the end of the review. The film made me angry because it could have been a lot better and a pleasant piece of fluff as opposed to a piece of s....
The worst movie ever made. Appalling direction- keep wanting to move the camera into a better position- camera work makes Greece look ugly- 3 female stars look like drag queens- confirms Meryl Streep is not a movie star-cannot anchor a scene The great movie stars can . she looks terrible in the movie- story line is weak and the camaraderie of 3 women seems phony-lots of laughing over nothing. With weak story line why not have real singers rather then so-so name actors. A major disaster
This comment has received too many negative votesshow
Currently the 44th most popular movie on the planet (out of millions), its made close to 600 million dollars. So a lot of people don't agree with your pretentious ugly hate speech.
hahaha... YEAH MARK - DON'T ARGUE WITH THEM NUMBERS! YOU CAN'T ARGUE WITH THEM STATS!! It must be a great film in every way because all of those people went to see it.
How dare you have an opinion Mark! You ugly opinion man! You should be arrested and hanged!
exactly there are some out there like me who love abba not in a postmodern ironic way but in appreciation of their musical genius, it doesnt mean we have to like the shit stage show stuff which has very little to do with abba
thank god.after seeing this guy review some movies i like with what i can only imagine is a vice grip on his balls,i was expecting him to love this terrible movie.tho i am prejudice in this regard,i haven't even seen this,and don't plan too.i just don't understand musicals.
Herd mentality can indeed be wrong. I paid less than USD2 to watch "Signs" (Mel Gibson) here in our country, and i STILL wanted my money back after watching it.
This is an absolutely hysterical review -- he is so surprised and embarrassed that he had a good time at this film. I liked it less than he did, but I think the effect on him is just so funny. He is so aghast at his own response. Priceless.
No, no. You have to distinguish a musical from a parody. This was supposed to be a musical.
Your positive reaction to this wreck of a film (was it a film?) is based on your personal nostalgia. I still have nausea from watching that abomination.
yes. as it was never intended to be 2001 a space oddysey or something...light films have there place and deep films have there place. the escapism of mamma mia was actually well executed and well directed, and i say that as someone with experience.
i wasnt meaning "2001" was bad. i havent seen it. i was meaning light films have their place and complex films have theirs, and they shouldnt be put into competition with one another.
But light films need style and talent to bring them off and this one had none of that. It looked like it was shot by someone on vacation with no idea of what to do with the camera. The 'humour' was stilied and amateurish and the film looked ugly and Meryl Streep was photographed poorly When clsoe ups should have been used the camera would be far back -no style at all to the thing. Director worse then Ed Wood-he had no budget This woman had huge budget and film looks cheap cheap cheap
ok, i take your point on the technical aspects of the film. and yes it wasnt a very cenematic film, but i didnt think there was anything wrong with the camera placement. on the artistic front, there was nothing wrong with the acting or the writing, all the artistic intentions were met and paid off. "it was what it was" and what it INTENDED to be...and some people need to remember art is INTENTION and not what the audience WISHES was up on screen, ie you can't judge what isnt there.
For everyone who is a Kermode fan and hasn't seen the vid on my page please click on my name and watch and enjoy!
This is from when he came to my uni and gave a "Kermodian" talk at its finest to a room of salivating film students, eager for no holds barred Kermode opinions on the good, the bad and the ugly of all things filmmaking.
Excellent work again from the Good Doctor - he isn't purely a negative critic but equally he doesn't laud what isn't worthy - which is surely his role.
Always informative and certainly the man I most trust when picking a film to see...
Ok hands up I could not sit through the full 12 mins....I have to admit I like Kermode esp his Danny Dyer impressions,....
Juicys78 3 days ago
Why dont critics get the point of these kind of movies....they are there for a certain mood a certain time....the quality of the singing is not the point...the film is pure joy...
Juicys78 1 week ago
@Juicys78 But he did get it, he said that the songs made it work.
lehnrik 1 week ago
this is hilarious......although he still likes Twilight and i'm forgiving him for that
jaiminroger1978 3 weeks ago
Kermode is great! :))) Mark's fan from Zagreb, Croatia
Maksimir74 3 months ago
As a Swede, I had a great time watching this review xD
biggles1111 4 months ago 3
Christ, I've been laughing nonstop for about ten minutes since listening to the Pierce Brosnan story starting at 4:20. It's starting to hurt.
sabalos 4 months ago 5
I love Mayo's defeated "yes..." at 08:57.
socnet89 5 months ago
Yo, dis guy talks with a weird accent o sthn lyk that, wheres he from? Dont know nobody talking quite lyk that, its lyk a boston accent, or somwere lyk dat. Anyone no? wtffff
nixsogutstudios 6 months ago
1. Kermode should only review bad movies since his rants are so hilarious.
2. Mayo's only function seems to be annoying Kermode. How do I get that job?
3. Imagine a Mamma Mia 2... no, don't.
3Steps1962 7 months ago
diddily dong bom bom bom biddily bob
MyUsername156 7 months ago 3
Say what you want about Mamma Mia!, it's has twice the coherence of Across the Universe
RichardKleiner 8 months ago
@RichardKleiner
I didn't find Across the Universe to be incoherent.
help4343 3 months ago
For the first couple of minutes of this review I was really confused because I thought the main character was called 'Muriel Strepsil' when I was sure it was Donna.
Then I realised that's his name for Meryl Streep and had to pause the video cause I was laughing so hard. I love it when he casually drops in his nicknames for actors!
butterflymuppet 9 months ago 3
"It was just hit after hit after hit"
"Well it's the greatest hits..."
:D
KingOfTheShrews 10 months ago 9
I still haven't seen Mamma Mia but Kermode is THE film critic!
hkgreaves80 10 months ago 5
I love Kermode's comparison of Meryl Streep doing 'The Winner Takes It All' to Peter Sellers' recitation of 'A Hard Day's Night' in the style of Laurence Olivier as Richard III!
If Streep, Walters and Christine Baranski had been bellowing the songs in a pub in Headingley I would have walked out.
MsBkirk 10 months ago
08:55
I think Kermode means Copernican, not Cartesian, since that was an astronomy reference. ^_^
KajiCarson 11 months ago
I think Mayo's dry humour is rightly placed during Kermode's reviews. It allows his review's to flow and puts even more emphasis on Kermode to argue his point and get his views across.
zKa0sz 1 year ago
Mark Kermode dancing to Dancing Queen...hot.
Jentany 1 year ago 5
10:20 I love how his Swedish accent actually sounds French... :D
rayway82 1 year ago
I would've gone to any movie if Kermode and Mayo were going^^
DenDhur 1 year ago
@DenDhur
Not Mayo.
I. Would. Kill. Him.
PurushaDesa 1 year ago
@PurushaDesa oooh Icy, well then just watch out for his BIG FLAPPING HANDS!!!
DenDhur 1 year ago
@PurushaDesa The Doctors of course, since he's probably going to defend his mate;P
DenDhur 1 year ago
@DenDhur
LOL. He can rant me to death. Maybe it works like Harry Potter's spells.
"Pond of Wood!" "AAGGHH!"
"Death of Western Civilisation!" "UUGGHH!"
"Floccinaucinihilipilification!" "OH GOD!"
PurushaDesa 1 year ago
mamma mia was a terrible film. the plot (what is of it) is basically designed around the songs (badly) and it just doesn't flow. not to mention that pierce brosnan can't sing and most of the cast can't act. utterly awfull.
ec123456789able 1 year ago
My name is Mike from LA Although there busizz4me.info
abriendaabira 1 year ago
kermode , for all that i like about the man and his film reviewing abilities, 'wells up' at far too many, often shite, films. there is simply no need, i dont care who or what you are, to cry during Mamma mia.
GoinDownToJunkieTown 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
Mama Mia: Worst piece of shit ever.
InfiniteWhizBang 1 year ago
I have a Kermode man crush
Gallifrey1991 1 year ago 6
simon mayo is such an annoyiong twat.
AlbanZap 1 year ago
"Movies aren't stupid. They fill us with romance and hatred and revenge fantasies. Before Lethal Weapon 2, I never thought there could be a bomb in my toilet. But now I check every time." Homer Simpson
allaboutdmagic 1 year ago 7
SHUT UP MAYO
allecctori 1 year ago
Kermode is quality.
TheArchMonk 1 year ago 2
@kermodeandmayo "all-singing, all-dancing" is right. LOL
zionravescene 1 year ago
Max von Sydow ( Si doh) it aint fuckin hard to pronounce
dermot51 1 year ago
@dermot51 it's not pronounced si doh
jonasHM 1 year ago
Oh my GOD an Anglo who can pronounce Max von Sydow! I think I'm in love! (He still pronounced Stellan Skarsgård as if it were Skarsgard, though. Oh well.)
kattahj 1 year ago 4
I've just been made aware by Mr. Kermode that I do like ABBA in a post-modern ironic way. Something I didn't know myself. He is brilliant.
tairanotomomori 1 year ago
This guy is hysterical - "You have Pierce Brosnan, who cannot sing a note, bless him, Colin Firth who cannot dance a step" - so true!
ashleyw34m 1 year ago
But this movie is'nt supposed to be realistic or naturalistic, it's supposed to be like a cake!
lehnrik 1 year ago
@lehnrik THE CAKE IS A LIE
paynexkillerAOTF 1 year ago
@lehnrik
Made of marzipan. Which makes me sick.
TheConciseStatement 1 year ago
@lehnrik it's certainly a pretty cake. Cooked by the book.
zionravescene 1 year ago
This film was the cinematic equivalant of bad community theatre. That's maybe redundant.
I cried as well... from laughter!
forloveoffilm 1 year ago
Hes my cousin :)
liss4alex 1 year ago
@liss4alex Does he talk about The Exorcist much?
TheDensley7 1 year ago
"Ooo look another hit," haha! Mayo is underrated!
markoos88 1 year ago 6
I do love that intro and plot summary
WhodHaveThunkIt 1 year ago
@WhodHaveThunkIt I felt his voice was straying very dangerously close towards Alan Partridge territory towards the end: "Voulez-Vous? Let's hear a clip!" 0:48
zionravescene 1 year ago 4
I LOVE this review - it makes me smile so much. Thank you Mr Kermode!
potus170142 1 year ago 7
Kermode is like good wine - he gets better as he ages. He's been my preferred film critic for many years and I rarely disagree with him. That's not an arse-lick, it is a genuine statement that I think the guy has a mega brain and keen perception.
If Meryl gives u a blow job do u get Streep throat?
Streeptococcus = BJ off Meryl
Brooksider100 1 year ago
whatever blah3! the movie and the stage play were smash hits and u can never earn whatever the casts made in your lifetime - so just chill out and get out of your closet gay and have fun watching the movie again and again until your nose and ear bleeds.
mdmct 1 year ago
Simon Mayo looks like Mark E Smith from the Fall in this clip!! Kermode and him are a cracking double act on the radio.
thomasvanner 1 year ago
Sometimes I feel the reviews are more entertaining than the movie.
zionravescene 1 year ago 6
You are so naive it hurts
livingthruchemistry 2 years ago
harsh on most movies and then becomes gay for Mama Mia. Figures.
Seeing 60 years old ladies singing about love was pretty disgusting. Streep's mid-life crisis is getting annoying.
skinwalkerxxx 2 years ago
Yeah, come to think of it, they really are very big hands. Maybe it's a medical condition?
partyhat3 2 years ago
my god Kermode has got fucking big hands.
dannylavelle 2 years ago 19
@dannylavelle I can feel the breeze just watching.
BradRapstars 1 year ago
Masterbatus Kermodicus is the correct medical name
Brooksider100 1 year ago
@dannylavelle dont forget the adjective 'flappy'
gillri 7 months ago
@dannylavelle He is the king of big flappy hands.
Alexmo555 3 weeks ago
@dannylavelle you know what they say about big hands? hahaha big guy. BIG COCK!
iEnteredTheVoid 2 weeks ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
The movie can not be rated like other movies for it is a quasi farce type of musical. The reviewers from the radio show didn't even mention the two young lovers who were about to get married, who actually sang beautifully. And they couldn't even remember other movies Stellan Skarsgard was in - did you forget "Good Will Hunting." Heck they did not even pronounce Meryl Streep's name correctly. Meryl has in fact sung in about 6 movies, 3 of which were big parts. Guys research more first.
babsinva 2 years ago
@babsinva it's a running joke on their radio show - they call her Muriel Strepsil.
helen937 1 year ago
Well you guys - don't know..... much ado about nothing. Colin Firth not only played the guitar, but Meryl Streep sang live in the movie, when the others lip synced the songs based on their recording from the studio. Meryl sang "Winner Takes It All" with wind and waves and a big gale, and yet sang over it - loud enough everytime. She also did some of her own stunts. And she sang while climbing ladders 2 stories tall and out of breath, but she did it - and she's 60. Kudos to her.
babsinva 2 years ago
I didn't even see it, thanks to Mr. Kermode :).
Regenmacher175 2 years ago 3
Mama Mia SUUUCKED ASSSSSS!!!!!!!!
klassetompa 2 years ago
This has been flagged as spam show
What a fucking knob
Thisnameistaken11 2 years ago
Kermode is awesome.
OUTTAIDEAS88 2 years ago 83
meryl streep is so beautiful!!!
MultiFashionShow 2 years ago
This has been flagged as spam show
Simon Mayo is a bit annoying really
emp756 2 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
He's an old sod.
thejobloshow 2 years ago
By all rights this movie should not have done well. Weak story, some bad singing, etc. etc. But once you suspend what you know is good, you find yourself oddly liking it. I actually think Pierce's versions of the ABBA songs are some of the better songs in the movie, which proves my point above.
nightmoves44 2 years ago 3
ABBA!!
sanchez501 2 years ago 3
Why does he keep calling here Muriel Strepp?
bjursten 2 years ago
"Muriel Strepsil" is a nickname Kermode has given Meryl Streep. I've read that he also has other nicknames for various actors (ex. Orloondo Bland for Orlando Bloom) Cheers, A.L. (Attn: Kermode and Mayo...please correct me if I'm wrong!)
ALSmithey 2 years ago 8
Thanks
bjursten 2 years ago
Whatever faults the movie has, it somehow manages to be entertaining. It has a feel-good factor, that's probably the button it's touching for those who like it.
allyaster 2 years ago
You did make a point. A great vocalist cant do much with a bad song, but even an idiot can make a great song sound ok. The Rainbow Connection was song by someone pretending to be a frog. I would have been suicidal if I were Benny Anderson watching the movie for the first time. But he was a producer. Its not like he could sur himself for defamation of character. To the cast - stick to acting. Merrly sang well in Prarie Home Companion though.
BaronVonLichtenstein 2 years ago
It was horrific. They should have asked Olivia Newton John and Tracy Ulman who actually sing like ABBA. Colin Firth did pretty well with his accoustic guitar songs though the other guys sounded like Bea Arthur.
BaronVonLichtenstein 2 years ago
I remember hearing this the first time around and I was in stitches! I love his film reviews he is the best!
tkambhoney2007 2 years ago 4
This has been flagged as spam show
this guy is a fucken idot and dosent know a dam thing about movies and he needs ti go the fuk away and drop off the end of
the earth
jason200833 2 years ago
Right, that's why he's a film critic. By the way, who on Earth says "fuk away"?
The59LesPaulGuy 2 years ago 3
He makes more money than you, and he's absolutely right. If you watched this, and enjoyed it as a serious piece of film, you are a moron.
crazyrabbits 2 years ago
jason200833, I would suggest you step away from your computer, pick up a book (in your case, a dictionary) and then come back when you have a better grasp of the English language. It's hard to take someone seriously when they struggle to spell 'fucking idiot'
bambieyedbeauty 2 years ago
Well, I must say (don't kill me) that I hated Mamma Mia.
Lame jokes, Meryl Streep at her worst, and horrible script (nothing but squealing).
Number1AnimationFan 2 years ago
That's what musicals are like, it's about the music not the story. And the overacting etc. is just part of that...
vancitycanary 2 years ago
Comment removed
g0you 2 years ago
I wasted a good 2 hours of my life watching this. I have a greatest hits CD and i could have just listened to it and watched paint dry. It would have taken less time and would have had better versions of the songs.
steaddyeddy1 2 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
Does this guy has any good reviews???
And I think this guy needs to take things less serious I loved the movie and I have to agree the singing isn't great but I just loved it because of the cast and the songs and the film just gave me a great laugh so...
butterfly7171 2 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
not related to this but why did Kermode call Borat an anti-American film? So any criticism or piss-taking of Yanks is now anti-American? I didnt realise Kermode was a fan of Joe McCarthy & Dick Cheney.
ivangrozny27 2 years ago
So just because you don't like Borat you must be a neocon? All Borat does is go after all the soft American targets like racist hicks and frat boys. What's so clever about that? Now I loved Da Ali G Show but Borat takes all the wit and danger out of the series and relies solely on lowest-common denominator gags. It's just Sacha Baron Cohen sneering at anyone who isn't as brilliant as he is.
TulseLuper 2 years ago
kermode's problem with it is that its somehow anti-yank. Why is it then that when cohen was doing the same thing in the UK with his tv show (targeting a lot of different groups), nobody accused him of being anti-brit? it's just kermode trying to find fault with anything thats popular in the mainstream cinema.
ivangrozny27 2 years ago
Spoken like someone who rarely listens to Mark Kermode. If that's true then why did he rave about Star Trek? He understands the need for popcorn movies in society, he just happens to have high standards. What's wrong with that?
TulseLuper 2 years ago 8
Is this man mad? what film did he see? i saw it and it was rubbbish. In a musical the base rule .. Base rule... The people who are in it have to be able to sing period!
melbop 2 years ago 2
Gotta say I normally agree with Mark Kermode, and this review is hilarious... but Mamma Mia was one of the only films I couldn't watch all the way through.
alicaurusrex 2 years ago
Every song of theirs was a hit, and every hit is a smack.
Buy your ABBA's Greatest Smacks for $9.99! Featuring songs like: Smacking Queen...!
:D
cyberWarriorZ 2 years ago
Mark Kermode needs to replace Jonathan Ross on Film 2009. It would be a much, much better show.
dananddanfilms 2 years ago 121
@dananddanfilms best idea ever!
muscularmatt 1 year ago
@dananddanfilms what channel is it on
masterofgnargnar 1 year ago
@dananddanfilms TOTALLY AGREE!!! I would even think of watching it again if he did it. I wondered if he was even offered the job
terrycharnley 1 year ago
@dananddanfilms totally, ross just doesnt deserve to be presenting that show anymore, he has no film reviewing reputation left
GoinDownToJunkieTown 1 year ago
@dananddanfilms Absolutely! Kermode, for those who haven't heard it, does Transformers is suberb
AderesDevorah 1 year ago
@dananddanfilms amen brother
morrossey 8 months ago
@dananddanfilms rossy is gone now lol
TURBODORK2 6 months ago
Roland Emmerich disaster films are probably the ultimate in proving the validity of this theory. So badly written, so badly acted, so badly directed, so adhering to cliche, riddled with holes from the plot gun, endings cheesier than cheese itself, deliberately marketed at the slobs who watch the Superbowl and teenagers who don't know any better. Yet, never less than pure entertainment gold.
kisbie 2 years ago
I had a similar reaction to Southland Tales. Absolutely horrendous film, but as soon as Justin Timberlake starts lip-synching to The Killers, it becomes brilliant in just how horrid it is.
TulseLuper 2 years ago
I never really liked abba and this movie did not help at all
czechegg 2 years ago
You're right doosher. Boffo box office does not equal great movie. (How else would you explain Dark Knight?) But Kermode is right: Mamma Mia! is a thrill ride. For those who willing to take the plunge it was feel good karaoke, an antidote to 2008. He captured what I felt about the movie perfectly. I cringed until about halfway in then suddenly found myself swept up in the spirit of the thing. And yeah, bv the end I shed a few tears and barely restrained myself from singing out loud.
nskid 2 years ago
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Uh what ? Dark knight is widely considered a great film, it got fantastic reviews and tons of accolades including 8 Oscar noms. Now you may not have liked it but that doesn't change the fact that it will be remembered as a great film.
ColonalJessup 2 years ago
it will be remembered as a succesful film
fastville 2 years ago 2
Why does he keep calling her Murel Strep?
benskelly 2 years ago
Muriel Strepsil is just one of his alternative names for actors. I'm not sure where it comes from, I know a Strepsil is a lozenge so I'm not sure if it's anything to do with that.
Other names are Huge Action (Hugh Jackman), Orloondo Bland, Ikea Knightly, Nicole Kindling, etc.
doosher 2 years ago 5
Meryl's "The Winner Takes It All" turned it around for me as well. Although I didn't really 'dislike' it that much at the beginning; Colin Firth kept that from happening, hahahaha!
myopicBeauty 2 years ago
I love the jab he takes at Sienna Miller at 9:54
RockBottomRiser21 3 years ago
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Wow-big ego,Mark-make "muriel strepcil"cough gtt out of a gifted talent like Streep.The film is between 1/2-1 billion USD in revenue thus far-gee,Mark, maybe your opinions are too brill? Abba,Streep,Walters and Baranski are ideal. Even Björn was taken by Streep's voice,trained under Estelle Liebling, coach for Beverly Sills--who so rarely did karaoke. The men are perfect too-real men, not twinkie-toed dancers, nor perfect singers-real men.We'll think of you as they cry on their way to the bank.
bear1989s 3 years ago
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Mama Mia is a simple film for simple minds.
Time to face the facts - all men are assholes. :)
Fuzileer 2 years ago
I'm sorry but what the hell are you talking about? It seems to me that you're criticising the review, but his opinion is that the film is so bad it turns out to be good so in a bizarre way he's positive about it. Maybe I've misunderstood your comment though.
Also just because a film makes money doesn't mean it's any good just that there's plenty of people willing to part with their cash much too easily.
doosher 2 years ago 4
Always though Meryl Streep was overrated and this movie proves she is no movie star. A star anchors every scene they are in and the only scene she might anchor is 'The Winner Takes It All' is destroyed by camera movements that have nothing to do with what's happening.The fact that he likes this at the end of the review. The film made me angry because it could have been a lot better and a pleasant piece of fluff as opposed to a piece of s....
kcorbi 3 years ago
The worst movie ever made. Appalling direction- keep wanting to move the camera into a better position- camera work makes Greece look ugly- 3 female stars look like drag queens- confirms Meryl Streep is not a movie star-cannot anchor a scene The great movie stars can . she looks terrible in the movie- story line is weak and the camaraderie of 3 women seems phony-lots of laughing over nothing. With weak story line why not have real singers rather then so-so name actors. A major disaster
kcorbi 3 years ago
guff
smithhedgehog 3 years ago
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Currently the 44th most popular movie on the planet (out of millions), its made close to 600 million dollars. So a lot of people don't agree with your pretentious ugly hate speech.
lamtsite 2 years ago
hahaha... YEAH MARK - DON'T ARGUE WITH THEM NUMBERS! YOU CAN'T ARGUE WITH THEM STATS!! It must be a great film in every way because all of those people went to see it.
How dare you have an opinion Mark! You ugly opinion man! You should be arrested and hanged!
gdounreay 2 years ago 5
Popular does not always equal good. Remember, Meet the Spartans topped the box office one week.
RambledEggs 2 years ago 7
I have never laughed so much in all my life!! oh my god, i woke up my whole household laughing at this!!
snookums520 3 years ago
i agree it is a miracle of cinema although it features so much screaming (eg the clip) for me to have truly enjoyed it
frazerftw 3 years ago
ok pierce brosnan wasnt that bad. hes not a professional singer..give him a break.
ilive4thursdays 3 years ago 4
this film was totally cray. watched it over christmas and i was shocked that a film of such poor qaulity and substance did so well.
insignia0 3 years ago
Simon is completely lost half way through the rant. Genious as usual.
RobohX360 3 years ago
you nee to see/meet more geniuses.
smithhedgehog 3 years ago
exactly there are some out there like me who love abba not in a postmodern ironic way but in appreciation of their musical genius, it doesnt mean we have to like the shit stage show stuff which has very little to do with abba
Hexachloraphine 3 years ago 2
I love Mark Kermode - most of the time he's far more entertaining than the films he reviews :)
ineendubh 3 years ago 9
thank god.after seeing this guy review some movies i like with what i can only imagine is a vice grip on his balls,i was expecting him to love this terrible movie.tho i am prejudice in this regard,i haven't even seen this,and don't plan too.i just don't understand musicals.
slantedeskimo 3 years ago
Did you even watch the whole of this review? The whole genius of this review is that he goes from hating it to suddenly and inexplicably loving it.
dancupid 3 years ago 3
Loved Mamma Mia to death! God, do some of these old farts ever get it! Get a life already!
WaryRox 3 years ago
It clears they have more knowledge about films than you.
ChicCanadian 3 years ago
Really ChicCanadian, 32 million people and $571,000,000. around the war can't be wrong.
You viagra baits just don't get it! Leave the movie alone. It made us happy so stop envying us our estogen!
WaryRox 3 years ago
Many people CAN be wrong. The only reason this movie did well was Abba. If it was any other band it would have done quite poorly. I'm a girl, BTW.
ChicCanadian 3 years ago 2
Absolutely.
Herd mentality can indeed be wrong. I paid less than USD2 to watch "Signs" (Mel Gibson) here in our country, and i STILL wanted my money back after watching it.
jbperez808 3 years ago
I love his over-the-top physical descriptions of what happens to him while he watches a movie.
MatthewLedZepfan 3 years ago 3
Seems like a lot of English people like Mamma Mia! Simon Cowell is also a huge fan of Abba.
MatthewLedZepfan 3 years ago
This is an absolutely hysterical review -- he is so surprised and embarrassed that he had a good time at this film. I liked it less than he did, but I think the effect on him is just so funny. He is so aghast at his own response. Priceless.
parkviewmo 3 years ago 2
Has Simon Mayo had a stroke or something? He looks fukin awful. Like Mark E Smith's twin brother.
SteveResin 3 years ago
No, no. You have to distinguish a musical from a parody. This was supposed to be a musical.
Your positive reaction to this wreck of a film (was it a film?) is based on your personal nostalgia. I still have nausea from watching that abomination.
ylaviv 3 years ago
This is so funny, i can watch it over and over again. His swedish is great i understand exactly what he´s saying;)
agirlfromsweden 3 years ago
I never get tired of watching this.
dodger9uk 3 years ago 3
7.12 hahahahahaha!!!
ollymcguirk 3 years ago 2
Mark Kermode's great
youknowituk 3 years ago 9
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Mark Cuntmode.
EditDoctor 3 years ago
OMFG, you're like soooooo hilarious. You should be on TV, have your own stand up tour and write for Private Eye. Genius.
doosher 3 years ago 7
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Where as you should just be killed.
EditDoctor 3 years ago
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hi everyone. whats doing on?
chck out my profile! HA
22022010586434 3 years ago
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i am not sure if i like this radio presenter - meryl is well respected and just needed to let her hair down in this film - give her a break!!!
Sally94mammamia 3 years ago
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Hey Mr Smithhedgehog Keep your foul and abusive language off this site or you will be blocked!
MartinandFreddie 3 years ago
bog off.
smithhedgehog 3 years ago
Why does he pronounce Meryl Streep so weirdly?
ChrissMari 3 years ago
It's a joke of sorts. Strepsil is a brand of throat lozenge things. He calls Orlando Bloom by the name 'Orloondo Bland' or something like that.
Mophesto13 3 years ago 2
At 10:28 what???
agirlfromsweden 3 years ago
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kermode+ cynical cunt with no undrstanding of film whatsoever
smithhedgehog 3 years ago
well i was right. mamma mia had its tongue in its cheek...how could he miss that.
smithhedgehog 3 years ago
So that makes this abomination of a film okay??
Quinnpie 3 years ago
yes. as it was never intended to be 2001 a space oddysey or something...light films have there place and deep films have there place. the escapism of mamma mia was actually well executed and well directed, and i say that as someone with experience.
smithhedgehog 3 years ago
That's right. It was bad, but still not as bad as "2001". More like 1982's "Pirate Movie".
jbperez808 3 years ago
i wasnt meaning "2001" was bad. i havent seen it. i was meaning light films have their place and complex films have theirs, and they shouldnt be put into competition with one another.
smithhedgehog 3 years ago
But light films need style and talent to bring them off and this one had none of that. It looked like it was shot by someone on vacation with no idea of what to do with the camera. The 'humour' was stilied and amateurish and the film looked ugly and Meryl Streep was photographed poorly When clsoe ups should have been used the camera would be far back -no style at all to the thing. Director worse then Ed Wood-he had no budget This woman had huge budget and film looks cheap cheap cheap
kcorbi 3 years ago
ok, i take your point on the technical aspects of the film. and yes it wasnt a very cenematic film, but i didnt think there was anything wrong with the camera placement. on the artistic front, there was nothing wrong with the acting or the writing, all the artistic intentions were met and paid off. "it was what it was" and what it INTENDED to be...and some people need to remember art is INTENTION and not what the audience WISHES was up on screen, ie you can't judge what isnt there.
smithhedgehog 3 years ago
In your opinion. Most people don't agree.
lamtsite 2 years ago
For everyone who is a Kermode fan and hasn't seen the vid on my page please click on my name and watch and enjoy!
This is from when he came to my uni and gave a "Kermodian" talk at its finest to a room of salivating film students, eager for no holds barred Kermode opinions on the good, the bad and the ugly of all things filmmaking.
Please commment and rate!
Enjoy!
Riccardo181985 3 years ago
Excellent work again from the Good Doctor - he isn't purely a negative critic but equally he doesn't laud what isn't worthy - which is surely his role.
Always informative and certainly the man I most trust when picking a film to see...
MLCrassus 3 years ago 7
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this is the worst review for mamma mia. i actually liked the movie.
whathappenswhenyoutu 3 years ago
Amanda Seyfried is stacked, are they for real?
LouFederer 3 years ago
Aren't that big, so presumably they are.
lamtsite 3 years ago
I saw it twice in one day, so bad it is indeed, good.
6000mphx 3 years ago