Mamma Mia! (2008) - 11 questions

Question: So did they really get married to play 'happy families'? Because when Sophie says 'I don't know which is my dad and I don't care, Sky let's not get married' it sounds a bit like they are playing 'happy families'.

Answer: Meryl Streep and Pierce Brosnan got married because they loved each other and had done for many years. The daughter changed her mind about getting married because she realised what really mattered to her and that seeing the world while they were young and free wasn't such a bad idea after all, that she didn't need to get married and hang around for her mother's sake.

Question: Donna is a very musical person because he has Sam's bagpipes and Harry's guitar. But why wouldn't the men just keep the instruments themselves?

Answer: As it was never specifically discussed in the movie, nobody really knows. However, I would imagine it was because she wanted something to remember them by. Or they wanted to give those items to her so she would remember them. Or maybe they wanted to think of her having these prized possessions of theirs.

Question: Why is Rosie carrying what looks like a big stick at the beginning of the movie and again on the little raft? Also, what do they say right before they announce Super Trooper?

Answer: Do not know about the big stick, but before "Super Trooper" they say, "Ladies and no gentlemen! Presenting for one night and one night only-" then Rosie interrupts by saying, "Because we haven't got the breath for another!" Donna then carries on with, "The world's first girl-power band...Donna and the Dynamos!"

Question: Who is her father?? I know they all want a 1/3 but who is her real father?

Answer: If you checked the trivia section, you would have your answer, but here it goes...."While neither the stage show nor the film reveals who Sophie's real father is, there is an official answer. According to Catherine Johnson and Phyllida Lloyd, Sophie's real father is Bill. Bill's character was Australian in the original stage production, but in the film he became a Swede instead, and he's played by Swedish actor Stellan Skarsgård."

Question: What is the chant / song that is sung by Sophie, Ali and Lisa about 3 mins in to the film?

Answer: It goes: "We're Sophie, Ali, Lisa, we're the greatest, bestest mates. I'm tough! I'm tall! I'm tiny! And we're gonna rock this place!

Question: I am wanting to know what tune, song or piece of music is playing when Sophie is walking down the aisle? I am assuming it is an ABBA song, is that correct? Thanks for any help you can give.

Answer: This is a version of the ABBA-song "Knowing me, knowing you".

Question: What exactly is a goathouse and why are there two goats tied up outside it?

Answer: A goathouse is a house for goats! Seriously though, Horses have stables, pigs have stys, goats have 'houses'.

Question: I'm submitting this as a question because it's not an obvious mistake, if it is even one. When Harry and Tanya are in the paddle boat, Harry asks Tanya what the father of the bride would normally do. Tanya responds by saying "Pay." Harry then jumps into the water and swims ashore. After "Does Your Mother Know" is performed, Harry presents Donna with a check to help with the wedding costs. Where did Harry get the check? All of his luggage is on Bill's boat. Did a reasonable enough time pass that allowed Harry to go to the boat, write the check and come back ashore by the time this scene begins?

Answer: Either that, or he had brought some stuff, like a wallet with a checkbook, with him off the boat.

Question: One thing that keeps bugging me every time I see this movie is why Sophie and Sky don't get married. Sophie says to Sky in the chapel that "You never wanted this." What he didn't want was a huge expensive wedding, not no wedding at all. But all of the money is spent, everyone is there, including the priest. So why not just go through with it?

Answer: A wedding is important to people. If he didn't want the big expensive wedding then he probably woulden't want to get married.

Question: When is the movie supposed to have taken place? There is reference to Donna having dated and presumeably conceived in the 1960s. That would place Sophie's wedding, at age 20, no later than 1990. But isn't that a little early for Sky to be putting the Villa Donna on the internet?

Answer: If by reference to the 60s, you mean the hippie clothes, that doesn't neccesarily mean it happened that long ago. I know people who dress that way today! It is safe to assume that the movie is set in the late 1990s, as that's when the musical it's based upon was created. That would also make it seem right that the internet is a new, exciting thing to them.

Question: How old is Donna supposed to be? I know Meryl Streep is 59 but Donna couldn't be that old, could she? Not if Sophie is 20 and it is indicated that Donna was a young mother, as she got thrown out by her parents when she got pregnant.

Answer: I looked it up, and not only is it not specified for the movie, but it's not specified for the stage show either. I think it's safe to assume she's meant to be in her early-to-mid forties, though.