For some people, Abba iare inexplicably one of the greatest pop bands of all time, each three-and-a-half minutes is a little nugget of sweet Pop of the highest order. Then there are those who think Abba is one of the most over-rated bands in history; their vomit inducing pop causing annoyance every time they are heard and the only good thing to come out of their existence is influencing of Steve Naives’ piano playing on Elvis Costello Classic ‘Oliver’s Army’.

For some people, going to watch a musical starring the “eyes and teeth” brigade singing over the top covers of whatever band’s songs interspersed with the usual story of boy meets girl, girl meets boy, everyone lives happily ever after and everyone goes home uplifted and full of joy is the sign of a truly great night. There are others who think sitting on a rusty spike brings more pleasure.

Mamama Mia the musical has been seen by over thirty-million people around the world so a film was inevitable. Starring Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan, Julie Walters and hey, it’s a film about love so let’s get Colin Firth involved in it too, always the sign of a top quality film, if rom-coms with bumbling Brits who are crap with women is your thing.

The Soundtrack is bereft of any creativity or actual point. This is a band that has sold almost 400 million records; do their fans really want to buy another CD? Not just that but a CD of self satisfied actors and actresses having fun? The covers on this album are so faithful to the originals that there is ABSOLUTELY NO POINT. Yep, Streep and Walters can carry a tune all well and good but there is still no point. One pearl of interest however is Brosnan’s inability to sing. His attempt has him sounding like an old tramp spitting sweet nothings in your ear as displayed on ‘S.O.S’ whilst Firths’ attempt on ‘Our Last Summer’ isn’t even singing, it’s talking a bit louder than usual.

All in all, the film and the soundtrack will be massive, it’s comfort food for the great British Public; you know where you stand with a good old Abba tune don’t you? Personally I think producing this gubbins is a massive waste of cardboard and plastic, such a waste in fact, I hear Prince Charles is thinking of upping his environmental campaign to prevent any further wanton waste in producing this bilge.

Chris Todd