ABBA - The Last Video (2004)

Plenty to Like, Plenty to Dislike

It's complicated... I really like the directing, acting and writing but, there are issues with the way it's shot that I just can't deny. As much as I love the storytelling and the fantastic performance but, there are also certain scenes that didn't need to exist.

Funny, strange, confrontational and subversive, this is one of the most interesting experiences you'll have at the cinema this year.

The film may be flawed, but its message is not.

Just like the stars of the video, a quartet of 18" puppets in the likenesses of ABBA, this is SHORT. Clocking in at just 6 minutes, it's hardly worth a full DVD. But hey, every minute is a pleasure. The DVD is augmented by 4 full ABBA videos of the songs featured on the soundtrack: "Take a Chance", "Dancing Queen", "The Winner Takes It All" and "Waterloo". Also there is a 5 minute mini-documentary "The Making Of" which is a real treat to watch because it shows you how much love & effort went into the production. The Making Of documentary wraps up with a funny puppet impromptu sketch with the Benny & Bjorn puppets. The feature itself has an all star cast & production team of the highest caliber, notably the puppeteers from Jim Henson's crew (The Muppets). And yes, there is at least 1 appearance by each of the members of ABBA.Something else about the DVD which is totally awesome is a booklet that serves as a sort of roadmap. You see, almost the entire script was taken from ABBA lyrics. If you're a die-hard fan, you'll probably recognize the lyrics immediately, but if not, the booklet lists where each line was taken from, along with pictures of the corresponding scenes. It's like a trivia game in itself. Thus, this DVD, including bonus features & all, should provide ABBA fans with a solid hour of fun, not including repeat viewings which is a given.The actual 6-minute video is really funny, with hilarious performances from well known UK comedians playing the roles of extravagant record company bozos and their bulging sidekicks, amateur musicians in the waiting room, and a few star-spotting cameos in the recording studio including Cher.In the last 30 odd years since their final album "The Visitors" (their best in my opinion), the members of ABBA have been offered no less than 10 godzillian dollars to re-form for a farewell tour. But as Bjorn has quipped, amid a trend of old bands reuniting, ABBA distinguishes itself as being "the band that does not come back." If that is indeed the case and this is truly ABBA's Last Video, it's a fond & fitting farewell to a great bunch of musicians who made the world a slightly happier place. Don't miss the chance to experience this cute coda.

This is an absolutely charming and witty video as a tribute to ABBA commemorating the 30th anniversary of the group winning the 1974 Erovision Song competition that launched their international career. If you love ABBA this is a must see and even if you don't it's still a must see. This is the story of a man who shows up at a record executives office (British comedian Rik Mayall) in Stockholm in 1974 hoping to get an audition and record contract for the band he manages. The puppet creators of Jim Henson created the intricate puppet parodies of the members of ABBA. Skillfully operated and choreographed they are simply delightful. All four members of ABBA have non-speaking cameo roles. Björn appears at the 1:51 mark in the six minute video to give some papers to the receptionist. Frida appears in a window at the 2:34 mark and Agnetha appears in the window behind her at the 2:39 mark to watch the audition. Benny appears at the 3:08 mark listening to a couple (the man is played by the great Swedish film star Michael Nyquist) in the reception room before he makes a phone call. Entertainer Cher appears in a cameo role in the window at the 4:27 mark and even "Eddie" the mascot of the heavy metal band Iron Maiden shows up in the window at the 4:17 mark. As the puppets enter an elevator they meet the actual band ABBA as they are leaving the elevator. This scene uses an old clip of ABBA from the video "Eagle" in the film "ABBA: The Movie" and superimposes the puppets and their manager into the scene so it looks like they are together in the elevator with ABBA. A foursome of actors are filmed from behind leaving the elevator to add to the illusion. Lots of pieces of actual ABBA songs in the soundtrack which the puppets lips and movements masterfully match. The dialog by the actors are almost all lyrics from ABBA songs. It took a team of more than 50 people to put this together. I had not seen this until recently. I would give this a 10 out of 10.

The four ABBA puppets perform some of ABBA's greatest hits while trying to "charm" slimy record boss Rik Mayall in this adorable short video. Most of the dialog "real" people in the video speak uses lines from ABBA songs. The cameos by the former members of ABBA allow us an interesting contrast to their former selves. The DVD includes a "making of the video" section which gives a behind the scenes look at all the work and technical details needed to bring the puppets to life. There are also four original ABBA videos from the 1970s included on the DVD, complete with wacky outfits and very basic choreography. A real treat for ABBA fans, and even those of us who merely remember them as a constant presence on the radio during our younger days!

In 1974 Swedish super group ABBA won the Eurovision Song Contest with Waterloo, thus launching an international pop career as one of the biggest groups ever with over 365 million records sold. The Eurovision Song Contest wanted to celebrate ABBA's 30th anniversary with a performance by the group, but since the group declined all offers to reunite since 1982 they had to come up with another idea. This video is short, but funny and all four former ABBA members do appear in this video, although not together, but separately. Cher a very short *blink and you will miss it* cameo as well. The puppets in this video were created by the Jim Henson company, the people behind the Muppets.