ABBA: The Movie

1 9 7 7 (Sweden/Australia)

Unashamed and supremely slick commercial for the group, maintaining a gentle air of self-parody while at the same time being a celebration of all the various apparatuses which make a merchandising phenomenon like ABBA possible.

The narrative, without which the film would mostly consist of footage of the band on stage, follows ABBA through an Australian tour pursued by a hapless Sydney DJ (Robert Hughes). If the idea is spread a little thin, it's occasionally handled with a humor and panache worthy of Dick Lester's Beatles' movies or ABBA's own Phil Spector/Brian Wilson-inspired studio craftsmanship.

In front of the camera, ABBA deliver their songs with big, bright smiles and plenty of gusto as a string of relentlessly screaming audiences whoop it up. ABBA fans should be especially happy with the film's musical content because it includes both familiar hits like Dancing Queen and lesser-known fan favorites like Eagle. 

In short, ABBA: The Movie is a slick, fast-paced treat for the group's fans and a fine way for novices and ABBA-virgins to experience this internationally-popular group at the height of their fame.