Meryl Streep leads an all-star cast (including Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, and Amanda Seyfried) in lending her vocals on MAMMA MIA!, the soundtrack to the highly anticipated film adaptation of the beloved and enduring musical. The movie brings the timeless lyrics and melodies of iconic super group ABBA to the big screen, and the soundtrack includes eighteen fun tracks from the movie.

The same producers who brought the musical Mamma Mia! to the stage are bringing it to movie audiences, so fans shouldn’t worry about whether the film version soundtrack satisfies—it does. Granted, these actors aren’t known for their singing ability, but they may surprise you. Meryl Streep can indeed sing—and sing well—as shown on the heartfelt “Winner Takes it All.” Newcomer Amanda Seyfried (Mean Girls) is a revelation with her clear, colorful vocal range, and even the dashing Brosnan manages to carry a tune, albeit a little lackluster, but we’ll forgive his mediocrity because we know how good he looks while he’s singing the tunes on the big screen. The Broadway musical was a hit because of the great music and heart-warming, funny story. The same wonderful music carries onto the movie soundtrack, so fans get a little more of what they already love.

Reviewed by Jessica Dawson

Common Sense Note: Parents need to know that this movie soundtrack is adapted from the hit Broadway musical, which features the songs of ABBA that were in the play and on their albums. There’s some minor sexual innuendo and playful talk, but nothing remotely threatening. It’s all about the music, and it’s fun for the whole family.

Families can talk about the fact that such big actors are starring in this film adaptation of the hugely successful Broadway musical. Do you think it is fair to use such popular stars for the sake of generating audience revenue, or should studios also consider the theater actors who made the Broadway play so successful? Would you be more likely to see a movie if it features big-name celebrities?