Leah Rankin, a recent graduate, found herself in possession of 84 copies of the popular film “Mamma Mia” on DVD, all due to an amusing series of events where her family and friends kept gifting her the movie. It all began when Leah received two copies of the 2008 hit film from her grandma, who had forgotten she had already given her one. Her father, Ralph Rankin, further added to the collection by inadvertently purchasing a third copy as a gift. This sparked a playful joke within the family, leading Ralph to start actively seeking out more copies of the film. His quest resulted in him acquiring a staggering 71 copies of the original movie and its 2018 sequel, bringing the total count to 84.
Despite the unusual nature of the situation, Leah accepted the growing collection with good humour, describing it as “strange” but characteristic of her dad’s quirky antics. Ralph, a business owner from Bonnyrigg, Midlothian, Scotland, explained the origin of the DVD surplus, stating that Leah’s nana initially introduced her to the film. From then on, Ralph couldn’t resist the temptation to purchase every copy of “Mamma Mia” he encountered in charity shops and secondhand stores, much to the bemusement of the store owners. As the collection grew, Ralph’s determination to reach 500 copies intensified, with a goal of hitting 100 by Leah’s upcoming birthday in February.
Leah acknowledged the comedic aspect of her ever-expanding DVD collection, attributing her fondness for the film to the memories she shared with her mum and nana while watching it. Despite the incredulity from some of her friends and social media users, who stumbled upon Ralph’s TikTok post showcasing the collection, Leah found the gesture endearing and typical of her father’s character. As the news of Ralph’s collection spread online, ABBA enthusiasts began contributing their own copies to bolster the numbers, further fuelling Ralph’s enthusiasm for the joke.
Ralph expressed his determination to continue growing the collection beyond 100 copies, emphasising that his primary motivation was simply to maintain the ongoing jest. The involvement of the public in supporting the endeavour added an unexpected but heartwarming dimension to the story, prompting Ralph to envision the collection expanding to around 500 copies in the coming years. Although met with a mix of confusion and admiration, Ralph’s dedication to the humorous pursuit of accumulating “Mamma Mia” DVDs showcases a unique and lighthearted approach to gift-giving and familial jesting.
In an era dominated by digital streaming services, the tale of Leah and Ralph’s DVD saga serves as a charming reminder of the enduring appeal of physical media and the sentimental value attached to shared experiences with loved ones. The whimsical nature of the collection reflects the power of nostalgia and the joy derived from simple, yet meaningful gestures within a family dynamic. As the Rankin family continues to add to their collection of “Mamma Mia” DVDs, the story stands as a testament to the unbreakable bond between father and daughter, woven through laughter, shared memories, and a captivating film that has become a cherished emblem of their relationship.