Please don't spend money on this.

This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

The movie is wonderful and true, an act of love in all its contradictions and complexity

The tone of this movie is interesting -- the stakes are both dramatic and high, but it's balanced with a lot of fun, tongue and cheek dialogue.

First, let me say that there's Abba-solutely nothing wrong with an Abba concert performance movie - I am all in favour of same. Unfortunately, Abba - The Movie ain't it.I saw this movie years ago on a grainy VHS tape in 4:3 format. The current cinema presentation, in widescreen opening out to Panavision, in a crisp remastered digital print, is beautiful to look at. The music is as great as it has always been, and Abba work hard to deliver a good, if slightly cheesy, live show, which they clearly all enjoy. And, on that basis, what a wonderful movie this is.But I had completely forgotten the linking "plot" involving the reporter trying to get an interview. Not only is this misconceived, woefully unfunny, profoundly irritating and just plain awful in every conceivable way (and a good number which aren't conceivable), it's like one of those dogs which lies in doorways and halls - every time you turn round, there the damn thing is, getting in the way, and probably breaking wind at the same time. And it wouldn't be so bad if they'd come up with a linking "plot" which actually involved Abba, but no - all you have this this vastly unsympathetic bloke wandering about with a tape recorder, being hassled by his boss and being thrown out by Lou from Neighbours as a comedy relief medallion man minder.This movie is like the most beautiful woman in the world having a humongous wart for a nose.At least I could fast forward the reporter bits on the VHS tape.

Forget the story...enjoy the music and the FabFour!!! After almost thirty years I was able to see this movie again on DVD. What kind of music would we be listening today, if there was no ABBA in the past?? I really don't want to imagine!! Hearing Agnetha and Frida singing together is like listening to a choir of thousand angels. Who else of all those singers we know is able to do so?? All I can say is, thank you ABBA for the music. Looking back there has been no other band being able to fill in the vacancy you left after separation. For those who are missing some of their other hits: watch ABBA in concert DVD, filmed during their World Tour in Wembley Arena in 1979. ABBA FOREVER!!

ABBA: The Movie was a big success around the world but barely made a ripple in the U.S. It was 12 years before I saw it. It is about a deejay named Ashley who follows ABBA around on their Australian tour in hopes of getting an interview. They lead him to Sydney, Perth, Adelaide and Melbourne. Along the way, he tapes comments from fans. Mixed in with the plot are scenes from the concerts. Frida struts boldly in hot pants, prowling the stage like a female Elvis. Agnetha teases the crowd with her bottom during "Money Money Money." The group provides a cross section of what had been done up to that time: "Waterloo," "The Name of the Game" and "Ring Ring." The ladies make a real entrance for "Dancing Queen," ABBA's only number 1 record in the U.S. ABBA is a feminist group. The women are the stars. The men maintain a low profile. Benny Andersson later told of how The Movie started out as just their desire to have a personal record of their time in Australia and grew until it became a feature length film. The Movie was directed by Lasse Hallstrom, the same guy who directed ABBA's videos. They finish with their signature tune, "Thank You for the Music." I am an ABBA fan and wrote a book about the Fab Four from Sweden.

ABBA: THE MOVIE (2 outta 5 stars) If you like Abba at all (and who can't like Abba... come onnnnnnn) you might find this "documentary" of minor interest... but your viewing pleasure will undoubtedly increase with your level of devoted fanaticism. Not really a documentary, not quite a concert film and not really a fictionalized story... this takes place from the point of view of a naive country music DJ whose station decides to branch out into "pop". His first mission: to get an audio interview with the biggest and most famous band in the world. So, armed with only a tape recorder, he follows the band as they go on tour through Australia trying unsuccessfully to arrange a meeting. He does wind up interviewing a lot of "fans"... which he asks the same lame-o questions over and over... and gets some of the lamest, most bland responses ever. You see, these aren't "real" interview subjects... they are bad Australian non-professional actors who speak their answers like they are reciting an assignment in school that they didn't study for. It doesn't help that the actor playing the DJ isn't very convincing either (can a professional radio personality really be that clueless, even if he is from a country station?) Well, there are some Abba songs every now and then to boost your interest... some concert footage and video clips (one amusing clip has the DJ fantasizing about Agnetha and Anni-Frid "serenading" him). Scenes of the band responding to other interviewers' questions are no better than the other staged responses... but at least they have the excuse that English is not their native language. The movie serves as kind of an interesting "time capsule" of the time... but I think it would have been a lot better as a real documentary... with real questions and responses. As it stands, this movie (directed by Lasse Hallestrom of all people) is nothing but a 2 hour Abba commercial.