ABBA: The Movie (1977)
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 humour
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
favourites 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.
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