Surely anyone can see the totally wonderful cast were solely there to have & provide fun & laughter. Nothing deeper! How brave, how exciting- how wonderful to see people not afraid to not be cool! The critic embarresingly misses the point.
Great celebration of womanhood, & sexy middle ages Love it

Julia Fine, Southampton,

I saw it twice. I found the scenery enticing on a rainy August in England and as a 40 something mother it made me want to jump up and down on the bed a la Meryl Streep.
However, what i didn't like was Julie Walters. She was just so , well.....Julie Walters. Mrs Wesley - Overall goes to Melanomos

Dom, Chester, England

I totally agree with this crit.
I've been an ABBA fan since a baby & also trained in musical theatre.

I was quite disappointed with this movie.

I have seen the stage musical several times and although a bland storyline the buzz of a live show made it enjoyable.

This version dies a death!

Hannah, Newcastle,

Why can't any critics seem to take this movie for what it is? It is light-hearted, amusing, and a little thing called FUN!!! Just go with it and enjoy. Meryl Streep is amazing (what else can be expected of this legend) and the rest are good too! Definitely my fave feel-good film for a long time!!

Laura, Bathgate, Scotland

"One of the great myths of popular culture is that Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, the group’s writing team, were great masters of the pop song. They weren’t. "

Nonsense on stilts!!!

Toby , Swindon, Wiltshire

so anyone reading this who hasn't seen the film please just go and see it anyway . . i can guaruntee it'll make you want just get up and sing and dance

best movie ever :)
take that critics
xx

vanessa, great sutton, cheshire

Went with my wife & an open mind. I've never ever left a play, film or even football match early. This I had to. Utter rubbish. Shallow story (of what i saw) trying to be enhanced with class A actors and classic abba to make it sell. It didn't work at all!!Save your money & get an abba cd instead!

Richard, Louth, Lincs

Well, I can see why some of the critics don't like it, but the cast obviously enjoyed it and tried very hard! If you want a fun, family-orientated, innocent movie, which you can sing along to (not necessarily in the cinema!) then this is perfect, especially on a rainy afternoon. Relax and enjoy it!!

Hannah Pusey, 14, , Liss, Hampshire,, England

Cosmo Landesman used a lot of titles of Abba songs to express his displeaure of the movie! 'When All Is Said and Done, the infallible Abba industry, with its Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! mentality, has finally met its Waterloo!' 'Mamma Mia!' mightn't have substance; but fun; substantial for me!

Michael Sullivan, Toronto, Canada

Brilliant movie! Would happily sit through it again. A real laugh scene after scene and what an atmosphere in the cinema! Everyone clapping and singing when not doubled-over with laughter. Light-hearted greatly entertaining. Not for the boring, bored, dull as ditch-water types!

ed, Leicester, UK

What an appalling film! I sat cringing while others around me laughed uproariously (why? - there was nothing remotely funny). I cannot believe such well-known stars would willingly perform in such a third rate - I hesitate to call it a musical - show.

Beth Mechus, Canterbury, UK

A lost opportunity. The stage show is so brilliant but this was a tame shadow. The dancing and singing were not a patch on the theatre. Too much dialogue, not enough Abba. And why leave out the best song/scene from the show - Under Attack? What a shame, it could have been so good.

Chris Warren, Perth WA, Australia

Actually, people DO cover Abba songs - Erasure got to number one with an EP of four Abba covers in 1992, in case you'd forgotten - all done electronic-style, and all damn good.

Callum, London,

Last night went to a packed cinema to watch mamma mia,.Never seen an atmosphere in a cinema like it,they laughed/smiled their way through it and at the end even a round of applause for a movie.You could be critical of the singing but for me it was the best laugh in ages but im just a sad old git or?

gary stein, inverurie, scotland

OMG, did this man watch the same movie as me???? I pity him for being so jaded. It was brilliant!!

Sue, Woking, UK

"This is not ageism or sexism, for middle-aged men who headbang to Bohemian Rhapsody are no better."
So why isn't it ageism?

Chris, Leeds,

I think Cosmos is a very harsh critic who needs to lighten up! Obviously he is not an Abba fan, but neither am I! It's just a feelgood movie set in beautiful scenery and so what if some of them can't sing all that well, but does it really matter? The majority of us will enjoy it!

julie, worcester, UK

I watched the film in Glasgow and the whole cinema was singing and clapping.
This could end up being a cult movie - especially when 'critics' keep trashing it
Great entertainment! Stop looking for the deeper meaning

Anne Hinshaw, Glasgow, Scotland

I thought this was an excellent movie - it's hardly going to be a think piece is it now, afterall it is a light hearted musical full of abba songs. I enjoyed it!!

kai rigby, wolves, uk

I like the way that everyone is criticising the author. Surely he is just doing his job, being a critic and all. If you liked it great, he didn't have to.

EB, Poole, UK,

I am aware that the film is meant to be a bit of tongue-in-cheek fun, but to be honest I felt no connection to the characters and they left me completely cold. The songs were good, but I fail to see the "emotion" in their performances. Quite quite bland; the stage version was much more entertaining!

Margot, Fife,

It is amusing that those who comment feel justified in giving their point of view while vilifying the writer for giving his. So and to add some balance, Mr Landesman is, IN MY OPINION, correct, no-one covers Abba songs because they are sickly sweet, unintelligent and just plain awful.

Marc, Paris, France

I saw this film in an room with less than 100 peeps. But the atmosphere was raptous. We laughed, clapped and sung. To write a review that may deters people from considering the film is really mean & pompous. In this incredibly bleak world, spending two hours with this film is an absolutely joy

Erik, London, UK

I saw the movie a couple of days ago and the audience reaction was fantastic. As near a theatre atmosphere as I have experienced in a cinema. However, as usual a critic tries to take things far too seriously and completely misses the point.

Steve, Worthing, UK

I went along to Mamma Mia with a girlfriend and it was very uplifting and enjoyable, people walked out singing and with smiles on there faces as did we! I recomend this movie to anyone needing a little pick me up, as you come away feeling really happy. Everyone knows the words to ABBA songs !

Gail, Perth, Australia

Is Mr Landesman Chairman of the "Straight Men's Sneering Association" if not... he ought to be!
One of the funniest films I have ever seen, I too left the cinema smiling; superb production...!!

christine Tate, Preston,

Critics have become so subsumed by the "critical" aspect of their job title that they have forgotten how to enjoy, simply enjoy.
I saw MM last night and it is a glorious romp. Tell Cosmo to take a look ant the faces of the audience as they leave-that's all the critical review you will ever need.

Mike Smither, Milton Keynes,

This movie was everything we thought it would be...pure entertainment! My 14 year old daughter and myself couldn't get enough. What a feel good movie! Everyone in the theater with us was laughing , cheering and singing. We plan on seeing it again and can't wait to purchase it on dvd.

Dawn, Plano, USA

Absolutely terrible film, poorly acted/sung. Song's did not fit in with what was happening in the film. (think they just wanted as many ABBA songs as poss). P Brosnan was so bad a singer, they turned up the music to drown him out!!. Two hours of my life i'll never get back. don't waste your time

simon, chelmsford,

This movie was pure tongue- in-cheek. Everyone I know who has seen seems to have gotten that point or is your reviewer too high- brow to notice that? This movie did not pretend otherwise, a pure feel good movie albiet poking the borax at Abba, and middle age men and women. We loved it!!

Kerry, Wellington, New Zealand

I went to see this film tonight in Santry, Dublin with my teenage
daughter and it was the best film we have ever seen. It
was such a feel good movie. The audience in Omni
cinema danced in the aisles at the end of the movie. We
are going again tomorrow night. Meryl Streep is just
fantastic.

Lorraine, Santry, Dublin

Mamma Mia brought back the sunny uncomplicated days of the 70's when we knew how to have fun and the music was memorable. I particularly liked the way everyone interpreted their songs in such an emotional way. A great film I'm going to see again!

Pippa, London, UK

Fantastic - the cinema was packed and laughing. Definitely in the feelgood category. I wouldn't trust someone with a name like Cosmo - clearly not on the same planet! Everyone round me clearly loved it.

Emma, York,

Im not a lover of musicals that go to the big screen but I must say I really enjoyed this film. This film does have a real feelgood factor and its the first time that I have been to a cinema and seen so many happy people and heard so many positive comments. Was excellent and Ill be seeing it again.

Justin, Peterborough, UK

What else do you expect from film critics? They are never really fully in tune with the overeall cinema going audience. I went to see it and thought it was different, funny, uplifting and really entertaining.I wish though that colin firth had a bigger role as his talents seemed wasted. Go see it!

karen oliver, wrexham, uk

I think Cosmo has totally missed the point.

This is a kitsch, bollywood style, tongue-in-cheek film.

I thought Meryl Streep was brilliant.

Mamma Mia is a great feelgood movie - not to be taken too seriously by over zealous critics!

Sara Gate, London, UK

One brilliant, uplifting, moving, hilarious film. Why can't there be more like that?

Lisa, Coulsdon, UK

I thought this film was great - just what we need, a good and happy feeling. We laughed and sang throughout, as did the rest of the audience. Julie Walters was outstanding. It was great to see people smiling coming out tof the cinema.

Veronica Hill, Penarth, United KIngdom

Sometimes it is good to have fun and Mama Mia! is fun and a feel good experience. How refreshing to have familiar songs presented in a new format and in beautiful settings. I wonder why the critics are so serious and then answer with my thoughts that they moan too much! Relax guys and enjoy, we did!

cathryn, wakefield, uk

im so bored of movie critics, generally they get it wrong because they are so up themselves and want everything to have an inner depth. Most of the time, people will go see a fim because it is something they enjoy. Mamma mia is a feel good movie and i would recommend it to everyone

lesley, Glasgow, Scotland

Personally, I find this review unfair and totally inaccurate. Meryl Streep sang perfectly well from what I heard, and being significantly younger than the critic, I feel that perhaps I may have heard slightly better! Mamma Mia was a very enjoyable film indeed- as you may see from the above!

Molly, Exeter, England

Film was hilarious! Top marks to Julie Walters, the star of the show! Still prefer the stage show though and would have been better if previous singers from the musical had been cast rather than the big names. Really big laugh in our cinema when "James Bond" sang SOS! Priceless! Great fun night out!

Patricia, Carrickfergus,

Absolutely loved it...still on a high after watching the movie on Saturday

Sarah, london,

I was not really looking forward to seeing the movie, after working in a cinema and being blasted with the trailers for over a month but my opinion completely changed once I watched the movie. Not being an ABBA fan didnt stop me enjoying this feel-good, funny and enjoyable film experience!

Ruth, Glasgow,

It's a feelgood blast! The songs have ingeniously constructed melodies, often brilliantly set off by the lyrics. Cosmo is wrong - the Abba sound is mere icing on the cake. As a professional classical musician with an objective interest in good pop music, I consider the Abba songs the best of all.

Patrick, London,

After reading various slating reviews of this film, my daughter dragged me begrudgingly to see Mamma Mia kicking and screaming. Yes, its cheesy, but its also hilarious and often moving - ABBAs rendition of Winner takes it all wouldn't have had the auditorium in tears like Streep did. I loved it!!!

Helen, Hertfordshire, UK

I started off hating this movie. I was really pompously snobby about it - then the audience got lively and started laughing every time an abba song was shoe-horned in and I think everyone ended up having a smashing time. To enjoy teh movie, you have to get over yourself first and then relax

Hannah, Hove, East Sussex

Oh stop whinging some of you! It was just a great fun movie. Stunning location, the music were fantastic, the cast looked as if they were having the time of their lives. Even my husband enjoyed it- and Meryl Streep when she sang 'Winner takes it All' -well! -spine tingling!! Just lighten up folks.

Valerie M Jenner, Norwich, England

without doubt the best film i have ever seen. Ok maybe not the best in terms of singing ability, but i have just left the cinema and am the happiest i have ever been. will be going to watch for a second time.

rob, leeds, uk

I saw it in Muswell Hill and the only laughs this dog's dinner of a film got was whenever Pierce Brosnan started singing! People were guffawing at how bad he was

Then the whole audience were quiet for the rest and many left early

Graham, London,

I have to agree, this critic definitely did not watch the same film I did. Great fun, feel-good movie packed with energy and lots of laughs. Definitely a must see!

Victoria Wells, London, United Kingdom

Did this critic watch the same film as everyone who has been to the Woolton Picturehouse where I work? Every night we have been full, with people singing along and dancing in the aisles. Does Cosmo know how to have fun? Our audiences are going out with huge smiles on their faces.

judy ball, liverpool, england

I watched the film last night and thought it was great, Julie Waters is great and very funny, i havent laughed so much at a film in a long time, the rest of the cinema audience also spent most of there viewing time in stitches. I would highly recommend this film for a girl chick flick night.

lynne east, sittingbourne, kent

Mamma Mia! is great fun and very entertaining. While film snobs may pick faults, others will see a hugely "just what we need" piece of escapism.

The scenery is spectacular, the complex songs are classics - very difficult to sing. If this review puts you off, ignore it and go and let your hair down!

Malc Smith, Stockport,

Clearly you're not an Abba fan. It was a great movie. Funny, dynamic, and the singing was pretty good (except maybe Brosnan) but he gave it his best. Maybe before you're time. Anyway, the audience numbers will say if its good or not. Do they define "good" or do critics?

kevin kissack, townsville, australia

I have to disagree that Benny and Bjorn weren't great masters of the pop song,they were the very best.The reason The Beatles songs are covered more is that there is scope to improve on the 60's production,Abba's production can't be bettered and I believe that's why producers leave them well alone.

Jeff Heiniger, Newcastle Upon Tyne, U.K.