---
title: "Mamma Mia!: the reviews"
canonical: "https://film.one/film/mamma-mia/reviews"
title_page: "https://film.one/film/mamma-mia"
critics_score: 61
critics_reviews: 22
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Mamma Mia! (2008): what the critics said

Critics' score 61 from 22 reviews: 12 positive, 5 mixed, 5 negative.

Most critics find something to enjoy in the ABBA songs, enthusiastic cast and cheerful escapism, though approval is far from unanimous. Praise centres on Meryl Streep, whose energy and emotional weight help a thin story hold together. Supporters enjoy the camp humour and the sight of actors committing themselves to the musical numbers without much concern for dignity. Even some less persuaded reviews credit the songs and performances with keeping the film entertaining.

The spread is wide, with direction, editing and singing dividing opinion most sharply. What admirers accept as unpolished fun strikes detractors as clumsy staging, frantic cutting and forced cheer. Radio Times treats the weak vocals as a tolerable part of the cast’s wholehearted approach; Slant Magazine finds the direction and editing inept, with production numbers that fail to connect songs and story. The central disagreement is how much enthusiasm can excuse.

## The Hollywood Reporter — Ray Bennett

Fi1m's normalised score 88/100 (inferred from the text). 28 June 2008. 

The critic calls it a delightful piece of filmmaking and the most fun to be had at the movies that summer, praising the marvelous cast and especially Meryl Streep's smart and entertaining performance.

[Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/mamma-mia-review-movie-2008-original-125568/)

## Radio Times — Stella Papamichael

Rating 4/5. 

The big-screen adaptation takes the stage hit's winning formula up another notch as a shiny, happy romantic comedy. The fun lies in watching straight actors like Streep, Brosnan and company throw caution to the wind with infectious gusto despite weak vocals.

[Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-1cf7tc/mamma-mia/)

## Time Out — Dave Calhoun

Rating 4/5. 9 July 2008. 

The film succeeds by taking the material seriously with strong design, locations, casting and choreography while avoiding gloss, cynicism and irony. It balances the fantasy of the musical numbers with down-to-earth character presentation, resulting in a campy, enjoyable summer movie like a pantomime.

[Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/mamma-mia)

## Evening Standard

Fi1m's normalised score 78/100 (inferred from the text). 10 April 2012. 

The critic finds the film initially awkward and cringeworthy due to Lloyd's direction struggling with blending drama, songs, and scenery, with Streep appearing uncomfortable. It ultimately becomes a triumph as a camp, ironic musical celebrating human fallibility and pleasure, with an infectious mood that makes one want to dance.

[Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/mamma-mia-it-makes-you-want-to-dance-7407704.html)

## Total Film

Fi1m's normalised score 78/100 (inferred from the text). 11 July 2008. 

The review highlights the solid-gold ABBA songbook, the cast's infectious gusto, and clever staging elements like live singing and a Greek chorus as making for a terrifically entertaining experience. It notes the film's appeal may not be universal but encourages giving it a chance for the music and heart provided by Streep.

[Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/mamma-mia-review/)

## Empire — Angie Errigo

Fi1m's normalised score 77/100 (inferred from the text). 3 July 2008. 

The critic praises the ABBA songs and energetic performances, especially Meryl Streep and her co-stars, for creating charming, camp fun full of sunshine and toe-tappers. The main complaint is uneven direction mixing realism and theatricality, with some awkward shots and a lack of cinematic polish.

[Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/mamma-mia-review/)

## IndieWire — Anne Thompson

Fi1m's normalised score 77/100 (inferred from the text). 8 July 2008. 

The review frames the film as an escapist musical suited to dark times, highlighting its feel-good energy and appeal as light entertainment.

[Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/news/general/mamma-mia-review-escapist-musical-for-dark-times-186851/)

## RogerEbert.com — Roger Ebert

Fi1m's normalised score 74/100 (inferred from the text). 17 July 2008. 

The film is aimed at fans of the stage musical and ABBA songs rather than skeptics; it features strong performances from Meryl Streep and the cast but stretches thin at times.

[Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/mamma-mia-2008)

## The New York Times — A.O. Scott

Fi1m's normalised score 69/100 (inferred from the text). 18 July 2008. 

The movie is a spirited but shoddy adaptation full of clumsy technique and silly energy that can be enjoyed as a frivolous treat despite its flaws; Meryl Streep gives a deliberately over-the-top performance that is upstaged by Christine Baranski.

[Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/18/movies/18mamm.html)

## The AV Club — Scott Tobias

Rating C. 17 July 2008. 

The film is described as a relentless happy-making machine that force-feeds bliss, with clumsy staging and shoehorned songs, though Meryl Streep's rendition of 'The Winner Takes It All' is singled out as a showstopper.

[Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/mamma-mia-1798204597)

## Variety — Jordan Mintzer

Fi1m's normalised score 51/100 (inferred from the text). 5 July 2008. 

The glossy screen version sticks closely to the stage original with little new to offer beyond big names and Greek locations; dance numbers feel over-shot and over-cut while the tone struggles between theatrical and cinematic.

[Read the review](https://variety.com/2008/film/awards/mamma-mia-4-1200508599/)

## Los Angeles Times — Kenneth Turan

Fi1m's normalised score 50/100 (inferred from the text). 18 July 2008. 

The filmmakers overloaded the simple stage show with excess production numbers and bad jokes, turning a refreshing musical into something exhausting; Meryl Streep acquits herself well but the overall result feels misguided.

[Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2008-jul-18-et-mamma18-story.html)

## The Times — Wendy Ide

Fi1m's normalised score 50/100 (inferred from the text). 12 July 2008. 

The critic describes it as a giddy, goofy singalong with the atmosphere of a boisterous hen night, though ultimately a decidedly average film whose story becomes glaringly obvious without the songs. She singles out the top-heavy casting and witless exuberance.

[Read the review](https://www.thetimes.com/culture/theatre-dance/article/mamma-mia-9nk3jlfhj5m)

## The New Yorker — Anthony Lane

Fi1m's normalised score 39/100 (inferred from the text). 21 July 2008. 

The film is an onslaught of forced cheer and amateurish singing that embarrasses the cast, especially Pierce Brosnan; Phyllida Lloyd piles on songs but mishandles the camera work compared to classic musicals.

[Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2008/07/28/euro-visions)

## Screen Daily

Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 30 June 2008. 

The film is merely a passably entertaining frippery rather than the expected sunny feelgood event. It veers inconsistently between tones and is exhausting to watch, though the ABBA songs keep it afloat and Streep brings some emotional heft.

[Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/mamma-mia-the-movie/4039643.article)

## The Guardian — Peter Bradshaw

Fi1m's normalised score 20/100 (inferred from the text). 10 July 2008. 

The critic finds the film a soulless, calculated panto with an irrelevant story that shoehorns in Abba songs without earning their good feeling or perspective on the music. He singles out the characters bursting into songs like Stepford cyborgs as a key complaint.

[Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2008/jul/10/film.reviews)

## Slant Magazine — Dan Callahan

Rating 0/4. 13 July 2008. 

The critic calls the film a full-scale disaster in every way, citing cinematic ineptitude in directing and editing, frantic cutting, and poorly staged production numbers that fail to integrate the songs into the narrative.

[Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/mamma-mia/)

## The Ringer — Rob Harvilla

Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 21 July 2018. 

The review of the sequel praises the original 2008 film's exuberant, infectious musical numbers and joyful sing-along energy that overtakes any quibbles. It highlights the songs themselves, especially the timing and impact of numbers like “Dancing Queen,” as the core strength sustaining the escapist appeal.

[Read the review](https://www.theringer.com/2018/07/21/movies/mamma-mia-here-we-go-again-is-a-cinematic-joybomb-sustained-by-the-songs)

## Eye for Film — Chris

Fi1m's normalised score 79/100 (inferred from the text). 2 July 2008. 

The critic recommends the film to anyone not allergic to ABBA, praising it as a colourful, joyous roller-coaster of emotion and party spirit. Meryl Streep is singled out for adding class and nuance to the adaptation with her gusto and self-aware performance.

[Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/mamma-mia-film-review-by-chris)

## Collider — Samantha Graves

Fi1m's normalised score 78/100 (inferred from the text). 7 May 2024. 

The piece defends Pierce Brosnan's singing in the film as not as bad as its reputation and argues it fits the unpolished, fun vibe of the musical numbers. It singles out the natural, go-with-the-flow feel of the performances and the overall cheerful escapism as strengths.

[Read the review](https://collider.com/mamma-mia-pierce-brosnan-singing/)

## Digital Spy — Alex Fletcher

Fi1m's normalised score 78/100 (inferred from the text). 7 July 2008. 

The film is a riotous camp comedy destined for cult classic status, delivering unadulterated trashy fun through its cast's enthusiastic performances of ABBA hits despite a thin plot.

[Read the review](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a108295/mamma-mia-review/)

## The Skinny — Paul Greenwood

Rating ★★. 10 July 2008. 

The film fails due to uninspired writing, bland direction, and a wafer-thin story shoehorned around ABBA songs, turning what worked on stage into a crushing disappointment on film despite game performances from the cast.

[Read the review](https://www.theskinny.co.uk/film/new-releases/mamma-mia-film_review)

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/mamma-mia.md