MAMMA MIA, I CAN’T STOP SMILING! S.O.S!
Earlier this week I was lucky enough to get to a pre-opening screening of “Mamma Mia”, and I’m still smiling! Not to mention humming all the infectious songs, “Dancing Queen” and “S.O.S” among them. - But what gave me the biggest smile and set my little heart to beating in joyful rhythm was the sight of three of the four female star parts embodied by fantastic actresses over size 2, over age 20 (over 45, to be exact), and with what looked like REAL faces!!! Meryl Streep has never been better, if you ask me. (Having lived in NY for over 25 years, I actually saw her in a musical before she was famous, so her wonderful singing was no surprise to me.) And by her side, intensifying the fun, are Julie Walters and Christine Baranski, both of whom were made for these parts. - Now the only young one among the female stars, Amanda Seyfried, is quite wonderful as well, but I’m sure she not only had a great time working with these terrific older actresses, but learned the equivalent of a Doctor’s degree just watching them, not to mention getting to act with them. And as if this weren’t enough to make my day, three equally gorgeous middle-aged men: Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth and Stellan Skarsgard! All of whom are the bees knees! - What fun to watch them perform…singing, dancing, laughing, crying….and quite obviously enjoying every minute of it. Enjoying every minute of working with fabulous actresses in their own age group!!! Not, which as we all know is usually the case, with girls who could be their daughters! (an ironic comment, as being fathers of one of the leads is a major plot point, tee hee) I am willing to bet that this film, starring three over 45 actresses and three over 45 actors will not only be one of the hits of the season, but will garner 4, if not 5, Academy Award nominations. Mamma Mia! Will this help ‘the biz’ finally start to open their myopic eyes and see that actresses and actors over 40 are not only fantastic, but money makers as well???? Let’s hope so. And p.s. - be sure you stay for all the credits, as there is a lovely improvisational bit during them that is almost as fun as the movie. Mamma Mia, what a treat!
Judith Mia-lova-it Drake, blogger for In the Trenches Productions, The First Entertainment Website Celebrating the Power of Women Over 40
