The ever so-beloved West End musical Mamma Mia! has finally been taken from the stage to the silver screen.

The international premiere of the film was held at the Odeon Leicester Square in central London, 30 June 2008.

The film is a musical based on the legendary Swedish pop band ABBA鈥檚 songs and it is the film adaptation of the musical of the same name.

Mamma Mia! uses the music of ABBA to tell the story of Sophie Sheridan, a 21-year-old American bride-to-be, trying to find out the identity of her real father so that he can give her away at the wedding.

Since the premiere of the musical in London in 1999, over 30 million people have seen Mamma Mia! around the world and the theatre production has grossed $2bn (15bn yuan) in earnings.

Although the title of the musical is taken from ABBA鈥檚 1975 chart-topper Mamma Mia, neither the musical鈥檚 nor the film鈥檚 plot has anything to do with the story of the group itself.

The band ABBA was the winner of the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest and following that success their songs topped the charts worldwide until the early 1980s. The name ABBA is an acronym formed from the first letters of the group member鈥檚 first names.

After a week of exclusive showing in the Leicester Square Odeon, one of London鈥檚 most famous cinemas, the film will be on in all cinemas across the country from 10 July.

Some people say maybe it is the mature A-list cast that makes the film work so well. Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth and Stellan Skarsgard star as the three potential dads with the Oscar winner Meryl Streep starring as the mum of the bride-to-be.

A film critic said the film is truly wonderful. It is sharp, hilarious and very beautifully shot.

If you are a fan of ABBA, a fan of the musical, or simply just a fan of Pierce Brosnan, then the film Mamma Mia锛乮s a must.

• musical [´mju:zikəl]   a.音乐的；悦耳的   (初中英语单词)
• screen [skri:n]   n.银幕 vt.遮蔽   (初中英语单词)
• international [,intə´næʃənəl]   a.国际的，世界的   (初中英语单词)
• wedding [´wediŋ]   n.婚礼，结婚   (初中英语单词)
• contest [kən´test, ´kɔntest]   v.争辩 n.争夺；竞赛   (初中英语单词)
• pierce [piəs]   v.刺穿；突破；洞察   (初中英语单词)
• critic [´kritik]   n.批评家；吹毛求疵者   (初中英语单词)
• exclusive [ik´sklu:siv]   a.独有的；集中的   (高中英语单词)
• mature [mə´tjuə]   a.成熟的 v.(使)成熟   (高中英语单词)
• potential [pə´tenʃəl]   n.&a.潜在的；可能的   (高中英语单词)
• swedish [´swi:diʃ]   a.瑞典人 n.瑞典语   (英语四级单词)
• adaptation [ædæp´teiʃən]   n.适应；改写(本)   (英语四级单词)
• trying [´traiiŋ]   a.难堪的；费劲的   (英语四级单词)
• winner [´winə]   n.胜利者，得奖者   (英语四级单词)
• beautifully [´bju:tifəli]   ad.美丽地；优美地   (英语四级单词)
• identity [ai´dentiti]   n.身份；同一性；一致   (英语六级单词)
• earnings [´ə:niŋz]   n.收益；报酬；获得   (英语六级单词)