'Mamma Mia!' provides lighthearted comedy

Whether you’re an ABBA fan or someone who simply enjoys light, feel-good movie- musicals, “Mamma Mia!” is worth checking out.

I saw “Mamma Mia!,” starring Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, Amanda Seyfried, Christine Baranski and Julie Walters, this weekend with a few friends, and based on the rows of people behind us that could be heard singing along, I’m pretty sure nearly everyone in the theater enjoyed the experience.

Having never seen the musical, which is based mostly on some of the popular ABBA songs of the 70s and early 80s, I went in with only a vague idea of the story line, and although it was fairly predictable, it was entertaining.

Set on a Greek island, the romantic comedy tells the story of a 20-year-old girl who’s soon to be married and searching for her father, who she’s never met. The movie is aesthetically appealing, the characters are funny, and the costumes are flashy and elaborate — especially at the end.

The singing is intentionally poor — to the extent that when Brosnan began his first solo song, one of my friends covered her ears and gasped in disbelief at the sound — but it’s all in good humor.

“Mamma Mia!” seems to appeal to a predominantly female audience, but anyone who appreciates musicals or lighthearted movies is sure to enjoy it.