'Muriel's Wedding' | Critics' Picks | The New York Times

[@harlendevraak1202]

This movie single-handedly resurrected Abba's music. My dad had a handful of their vinyls already in the attic and this movie made me dust them off and really enjoy and relish them. Later, I bought my own Abba vinyls. But Abba was just cherry in the icing of this phenomenal movie.

[@JOTennisVid]

I adore this movie it's one of my all time faves.

[@arconeagain]

What he doesn't realise is that Australia's response to ABBA is what kick started their international success. Like a South Africa to Rodriguez. And this is not a film about ABBA, there is so much more than that going on. It is one of the best films I have ever seen, one of my all time favourites.

[@tomgcooktown5019]

I remember where I was the first time I heard ABBA In the 70s .. LOVE INSTANTLY .. & Muriel's Wedding became the icing on the cake in '94 .. Muriel did some very bad things .. But I loved her every moment .. I saw what she had been through .. I felt it to my core .. & she learned .. & grew up to be responsible .. ABBA .. & Muriel's Wedding .. If I lost all my memories but one .. I'd hope that one would be this movie .. TgT

[@jameswalker68]

Same. And it’s so quintessentially Australian. I think anyone who grew up in Australia in that era (myself included) would be able to identify with some aspect of the film

[@yomatejalseeya4765]

This is one of my favourite films ever!

[@djtenzen]

Just watched this film last night for the first time. This movie made me bawl. It has so much heart and emotion and I just- Wow. It really is unique, I didn’t know where it would go next. And such a relatable story, the journey of trying to find yourself while running away from yourself. Truly, I’ve never seen a film like this one before. Absolutely love it.

[@navymiguelito]

What an excellent review, and I really enjoyed his comparisons to Mama Mia. Muriel's Wedding still gets the top spot over Mama Mia. And you gotta love the Aussies and their love for ABBA!! Yessss!!!

[@matsyever2979]

Muriel´s wedding is a dramatic movie. Mamma mia is a silly comedy that shines thanks to the presence of Meryl Streep.

[@russelllindsay2702]

Mats Yever agree. Mamma Mia is just silly. Muriel’s Wedding is emotionally powerful. Interesting how he noticed ABBA is much the same. Overtly fun and energetic yet within it there is melancholy and moving themes.

[@DANIELFLORES-qd8ly]

I don't think ABBA as a cheesy group. I love their music.

[@jtaforJesus]

YESSSS!!! One of my ALL TIME FAVOURITE MOVIES! Tony Collette is awesome :)

[@justinpop]

This reviewer has no clue about Australian culture. In the 70's ABBA was bigger than the Beatles, we were literally obsessed, just like Muriel. 'Fernando' was number one on the Australian charts for three and a half months! There was a very successful Australian cover band called Bjorn Again which really revived interest in Australia back in 1988.

[@eddystronger]

Sooooooooooooo TRUE! ♥️

[@jameswalker68]

Very true! Remember on Countdown how they would play the number 1 song in Australia at the end of each show each week? Fernando was number 1 for so long, that they ended up playing different songs towards the end of its reign - and that had NEVER happened before or after that! ❤

[@onestitchatatime]

Great review of a great movie! I often turn to this one if I'm down and it never fails to cheer me up.

[@john15008]

"Cheesy Swedish pop music"?!?!?!?! Oh, brother! Given the magnitude of ABBA's talent on so many different levels, this reviewer's choice of adjectives is the only thing cheesy here.

[@nocomment2468]

I think he was speaking ironically. That on a surface level, the music could be called “cheesy Swedish pop”, and there are those who dismiss it as such, but that in reality it’s so much more than that

[@sandradouwen]

I love this movie and ABBA. My daughter is 22 and olso a big fan!

[@tracer7898]

I was one of many 'digging' Abba unashamedly in the 1970s

[@9001012]

Movie is so relevant even today ! Took my kids to see it before bullying came to be a given at schools today. . Have watched this movie over and over

[@hellofellas5661]

Muriel was the prettiest..

[@jainra]

...and the most terrible!

[@johnboy32064]

Toni Collette! Toni Collette! Toni Collette! LOVE HER!

[@jean-lucpradels5554]

Why does he say "Cheesey, campy pop music"? It's pop music. Many Americans, and obviously the NYT, don't get Abba's music. Doesn't make it cheesey. But this NYT reporter obviously likes the film. So that is a sort of redemption.

[@MegaGo68]

The way the camera lingers on Toni Collette at the end, for such a long time, and so lovingly, shows fully the transformation from ugly duckling to swan. Then you pass the sign, which reads, "You Can't Stop Progress," which is ironic, given the costs of her journey, A truly great film, so uplifting and so dark.

[@elnacho5131]

Muriel wanted to be awesome... and to her, awesomeness = ABBA. That's how pathetic and miserable she was. Let's face it, at the time this film first came out, anyone who admitted liking ABBA was considered a loser. But what's even more pathetic and miserable was her belief that the key to ever becoming awesome for her, was to get married. This is so ironic especially since at the opening scene, Muriel witnesses the marriage of one of her friends start to go pear shaped... then the marriage of her own parents become more and more tragic... and to an ABBA fan (though this was not explicitly mentioned in the film itself) even the marriages of Bjorn and Agnetha and that of Benny and Anna-Frid did not last. Muriel's Wedding is a very engaging (pun not intended) look at her journey of realization: (SPOILER ALERT!!!) that getting married is not the key to becoming awesome. In the end, looking forward to whatever the future holds for her and her paraplegic best friend, she finally realizes, that even if she is not married... she can dance, she can jive, she can have the time of her life... see that girl , watch that scene, digging the dancing queen... Muriel, not so terrible after all.

[@birdlover7875]

Thankyou so much... I've watched Muriel's Wedding more times than necessry to try and understand - as well as researching - the meaning behind the film and you sir/mam have finaly given me an answer... Thankyou... you're a legend

[@CaramelSunflowers]

Muriel is the director PJ Hogan's persona in a female form. He grew up with an abusive dad being told he was nothing and his real life sister did really commit a crime. It's gut wrenchingly painful because it's his childhood.

[@Charliecomet82]

This was a really good movie! If it had been made in Hollywood, it probably would have been just another chick flick!

[@danidejaneiro8378]

Yeah, woulda been total cheese. Pure cheddar.

[@blankface.señoritq]

it wouldn’t have felt the same if they were american

[@gwtwvivien]

Maybe it was an underrated film in USA but not in the rest of the world!!! This film was a box office hit everywhere.. Not in USA it seems. And ABBA music is great..despite what the critic says.

[@SeanNessman]

It's becoming acceptable to like Abba. BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO YOU CAN LIKE WHATEVER YOU LIKE.

[@kalevala29]

It was considered really uncool to say you liked ABBA back in the seventies. And even eighties. Of course a lot of people did you just didn't admit it lol

[@evanmartin240]

Lawrence C not In Australia my guy they were the biggest music group at that time

[@amyclarke41]

my dad loved this which suprised me and mama mia too ???pleased though 😁

[@scanspeak00]

So do I and I'm a middle-aged male. It's themes are universal.

[@monixdanica]

Muriel!!!!! Imádtam ezt a filmet!!

[@etherealtb6021]

This movie is still awesome & will always be a classic. I mean, this cast: Toni Collette and Rachel Griffiths early in their careers? BTW, the commentator isn't wrong, I really didn't like ABBA much before this movie, except for Dancing Queen. Muriel made me love them!

[@theresakspence4674]

Muriel's horrible father damaged the whole family. I think this critic missed that!

[@kathleendobens6648]

Best movie ever

[@morbidsearch]

Muriel's Wedding started the ABBA revival? I can't with this erasure of Erasure

[@JuanARivera-z9d]

The funniest muriel enjoying the island get away and the girls see her and scream

[@JuanARivera-z9d]

Muriel smiling

[@JuanARivera-z9d]

Gen x does

[@JuanARivera-z9d]

🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@JuanARivera-z9d]

Sing alongs

[@ashamazon2262]

Bridesmaids probably influenced by this

[@favorite83100]

Жуткий на самом деле фильм(

[@diane2188]

What a waste of time. Ooh Scott thinks the songs are deeper

[@prasad9002]

Actually they are. That's why it's still touching hearts 💓