CHARLESTON, W.Va. - Privacy is often considered an intrinsic value, but in "Mamma Mia!" - the much-awaited film version of the popular Broadway musical - confidentiality is not a term that demands much reverence.

Based on the music of the popular Swedish pop band ABBA, the film starts out following the life of Sophie (Amanda Seyfried, "Mean Girls"), a young woman who is about to marry the man of her dreams. Sophie is nearly certain that she will live happily ever after with her fiancé, Sky (Dominic Cooper, Broadway's "The History Boys").

The only blemish in her seamless plan is that she wishes for her father - whom she has never met - to walk her down the aisle.

Thus her complicated search for her father begins. Abetted by the text in her mother's diary, Sophie narrows her search to three (yes, three!) possible men and invites them all to the taverna that she and her mother manage. What then unfolds regarding Sophie's actual parentage is enough to give even Maury Povich a run for his money (though her situation is not as tasteless as his show).

The main event in the film is Sophie's wedding, but the majority of the focus lies on her mother, Donna. Played by Meryl Streep, Donna has spent the better part of 20 years attempting to raise a daughter and manage her own business at the same time, so when three men simply show up proclaiming that their individual love for her has yet to be quelled, she is more than a little surprised!

Unlike with many of her roles, Streep's acting in "Mamma Mia!" is slightly more upbeat and less complex than other films in which she has starred (i.e. "The Devil Wears Prada").

Directed by British theater director Phyllida Lloyd, "Mamma Mia!" is definitely a movie geared more toward females even though action star and former James Bond Pierce Brosnan does make an appearance as one of Sophie's potential fathers.

The film takes place amid an absolutely beautiful setting on a Greek island, and the scene in which Sophie gets married (set inside a quaint little church atop a jagged rock formation overlooking the ocean) is enough to make even the halfhearted romantic remarkably envious.

The melodic class of "Mamma Mia!" is nothing less than fantastic. Though a few of the songs are presented in somewhat quick succession, the musical and vocal quality are splendid.

Older viewers are apt to recognize popular songs like "Our Last Summer" and "Money, Money, Money" while younger audiences would surely identify "Dancing Queen." More than 20 songs are presented in the film, but possibly the best scene involving music is when Streep delivers an incontrovertibly dynamic vocal performance of "The Winner Takes It All."

But perhaps the best thing about "Mamma Mia!" is that it constantly keeps the audience speculating.

Just when you think the identity of Sophie's father is obvious, something happens to make you second-guess yourself. As soon as you think Sophie's future is perfectly premeditated, something else occurs to erase that mindset, and just when you think that Donna will continue living her insipid life on her rundown villa, her world is transfigured completely.

"Mamma Mia!" is right up there with "Fiddler on the Roof" and "The Sound of Music" in terms of cinematic and musical genius. It is such a wonderful film that no amount of exaltation in a newspaper article could possibly do it sufficient justice. It's simply a wonderful film, so "Take a Chance" and check it out today!

Based on the music of the popular Swedish pop band ABBA, the film starts out following the life of Sophie (Amanda Seyfried, "Mean Girls"), a young woman who is about to marry the man of her dreams. Sophie is nearly certain that she will live happily ever after with her fiancé, Sky (Dominic Cooper, Broadway's "The History Boys").

The only blemish in her seamless plan is that she wishes for her father - whom she has never met - to walk her down the aisle.

Thus her complicated search for her father begins. Abetted by the text in her mother's diary, Sophie narrows her search to three (yes, three!) possible men and invites them all to the taverna that she and her mother manage. What then unfolds regarding Sophie's actual parentage is enough to give even Maury Povich a run for his money (though her situation is not as tasteless as his show).

The main event in the film is Sophie's wedding, but the majority of the focus lies on her mother, Donna. Played by Meryl Streep, Donna has spent the better part of 20 years attempting to raise a daughter and manage her own business at the same time, so when three men simply show up proclaiming that their individual love for her has yet to be quelled, she is more than a little surprised!

Unlike with many of her roles, Streep's acting in "Mamma Mia!" is slightly more upbeat and less complex than other films in which she has starred (i.e. "The Devil Wears Prada").

Directed by British theater director Phyllida Lloyd, "Mamma Mia!" is definitely a movie geared more toward females even though action star and former James Bond Pierce Brosnan does make an appearance as one of Sophie's potential fathers.

The film takes place amid an absolutely beautiful setting on a Greek island, and the scene in which Sophie gets married (set inside a quaint little church atop a jagged rock formation overlooking the ocean) is enough to make even the halfhearted romantic remarkably envious.

The melodic class of "Mamma Mia!" is nothing less than fantastic. Though a few of the songs are presented in somewhat quick succession, the musical and vocal quality are splendid.

Older viewers are apt to recognize popular songs like "Our Last Summer" and "Money, Money, Money" while younger audiences would surely identify "Dancing Queen." More than 20 songs are presented in the film, but possibly the best scene involving music is when Streep delivers an incontrovertibly dynamic vocal performance of "The Winner Takes It All."

But perhaps the best thing about "Mamma Mia!" is that it constantly keeps the audience speculating.

Just when you think the identity of Sophie's father is obvious, something happens to make you second-guess yourself. As soon as you think Sophie's future is perfectly premeditated, something else occurs to erase that mindset, and just when you think that Donna will continue living her insipid life on her rundown villa, her world is transfigured completely.

"Mamma Mia!" is right up there with "Fiddler on the Roof" and "The Sound of Music" in terms of cinematic and musical genius. It is such a wonderful film that no amount of exaltation in a newspaper article could possibly do it sufficient justice. It's simply a wonderful film, so "Take a Chance" and check it out today!