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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2009
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 MOVIE REVIEW 
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Take a Chance on Mamma Mia!

Golden oldies save cheesy musical adaptation from being a stinker

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(Newser) – Mamma Mia! doesn't quite pull off the leap from stage to screen, but ABBA fans will find it worth taking a chance on, critics say. The "jukebox musical that strings together 19 ABBA hits on a narrative thread flimsier than dental floss" had Carrie Rickey of the Philadelphia Inquirer  "smiling and wincing—often at the same time."

Golden oldies Meryl Streep and Pierce Brosnan belt out the golden oldies, clearly "having a great time making the movie," Bill Goodykoontz writes for the Arizona Republic, "and that happiness is contagious." It's those songs that ultimately save this kitsch-fest, writes Owen Glieberman in Entertainment Weekly, who advises on how to watch it: "Just stop rolling your eyes and listen."

U.S. actress Meryl Streep arrives for the world premiere of her latest movie 'Mamma Mia', at a cinema in central London's Leicester Square, Monday, June 30, 2008.
U.S. actress Meryl Streep arrives for the world premiere of her latest movie 'Mamma Mia', at a cinema in central London's Leicester Square, Monday, June 30, 2008.   (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)
Star Meryl Streep gets a hug from original Abba members at the premier of 'Mamma Mia!'
Star Meryl Streep gets a hug from original Abba members at the premier of 'Mamma Mia!'   (Getty Images)
In this image released by Universal Pictures, from left, Julie Walters, Meryl Streep and Christine Baranski are shown in a scene from
In this image released by Universal Pictures, from left, Julie Walters, Meryl Streep and Christine Baranski are shown in a scene from "Mamma Mia!"   (AP Photo/Universal Pictures, Peter Mountain)
Member of Abba Benny Andersson attends the American premiere of
Member of Abba Benny Andersson attends the American premiere of "Mamma Mia" at the Ziegfeld Theater on Thursday, July 16, 2008 in New York.   (AP Photo/Evan Agostini)
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