Mamma Mia!

But three unexpected visitors disrupt the idyllic, song-laden scene — Sophie, having learned she has three possible dads, invites candidates Sam (Pierce Brosnan), Bill (Stellan Skarsgard) and Harry (Colin Firth, as boring as ever) to the wedding.

What follows is a high-spirited mixture of popular songs, comedy and mild emotional traumas, performed with the larger-than-life exuberance of a pantomime. Streep clearly gives her all and then some, Julie Walters overacts, and Baranski delights with a powerhouse performance. Brosnan’s acting has the right light touch but his singing goes places no human voice should go.

The original show’s creators, producer Judy Craymer, screenwriter Catherine Johnson and debuting director Phyllida Lloyd know exactly what they are doing — happily recreating the essence of the song-stuffed stage show.