2018-07-25

How can you resist? "Mamma Mia!"

① Colin Firth was once asked what he would like to hear from God upon arriving in heaven.
② "I personally^[1] thought you were very good in 'Mamma Mia!'" the actor replied.
③ The film adaptation of the jukebox musical, released in 2008, received scathing reviews from some critics, who^[2] complained of the cast's pedestrian singing and the film's thin plot.
④ But the combination of big-name stars and the irresistibly catchy songs of ABBA brought in the money, money, money^[3]: it reaped $615m worldwide, becoming the fifth-highest grossing musical film of all time^[4].
⑤ A decade later the cast have taken a chance on a new film, "Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again", which was released this week.
⑥ Both a prequel and a sequel, it finds room for hit songs such as "Waterloo" and "Fernando" while reprising favourites like "Super Trouper" and "Dancing Queen".
⑦ Mr Firth sings the latter with carefree abandon.
⑧ What would God make of that?

词与词组

resist vt. & vi. 使用武力阻止(某事)发生 ；不受(某事物的)损害[影响];
personally adv. 亲自地，就个人而言
jukebox n. 自动唱机
scathing adj. (言词、文章)严厉的;尖刻的,不留情的adv. 严厉地;尖刻地
review n. 评论；综述；复核；复习 v. 回顾；检验；复习
film adaptation: 改编的电影
jukebox musical 流行歌曲/点唱机音乐剧
receive scathing reviews 收到/获得尖锐严厉的评论
pedestrian n. 步行者
pedestrian singing 平庸的唱功
thin plot 单薄的剧情

big-name stars: 大牌明星

• big-name stores: 大牌商店
• big-name cosmetics: 大牌化妆品

irresistibly catchy songs: 朗朗上口无法抗拒的歌曲

• irresistibly adv. 不可抗拒地；极具诱惑力地
• catchy adj. (尤指曲调或歌曲) 动听易记的，朗朗上口的

reap vt. 收割；获得

gross vt. 总收入为，总共赚得，获得……毛利 n. 总收入
*top-grossing film: 票房冠军

• second highest grossing film: 票房排行第二的电影

the latter /ˈlatə/: 后者

• the former: 前者
  prequel n. 前传
  sequel n. 续集
  hit songs: 热门歌曲
  carefree abandon 毫无顾虑/放飞自我的狂热
  make of: 看待

补充

upon + n./v-ing: ……之际/时候
complain of: 控诉/指责 (一个具体问题)
complain about: 抱怨……
How can you resist? 你如何抗拒？
of all time: 有史以来
take a chance on sth.: 冒险尝试……

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1. 与下文的critics的言论形成对比 ↩

2. 非限制性定语从句 ↩

3. brought in the money，money，money 大赚特赚 ↩

4. 现在分词做状语表示范围 ↩