One thing we can expect from Hollywood is to offer us a plethora of reboots, remakes and sequels, especially during the summer movie season. When "Mamma Mia!" was released back in 2008, it introduced us to these eclectic characters while being based on ABBA's songs. Now ten years later, TEN YEARS, Hollywood had to follow up that film with a sequel appropriately titled "Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again".
Discover Donna's (Lily James) young life, experiencing the fun she had with the three possible dads of Sophie (Amanda Seyfried). As we meet the dads, young Sam (Jeremy Irvine), young Bill (Josh Dylan) and young Harry (Hugh Skinner), we have an inside look to see how they met young Donna so as to know more as we've gotten to know them as older men in present day--Sam (Pierce Brosnan), Bill (Stellan Skargard) and Harry (Colin Firth). Sophie is now pregnant. Like Donna, she'll be a young mother, and realizes that she'll need to take risks like her mother (Meryl Streep) did.
Others to round out the cast are Christine Baranski as Tanya, Dominic Cooper as Sky, Cher as Ruby Sheridan, Julie Walters as Rosie, Andy Garcia as Fernando and Celia Imrie as Vice Chancellor.
This was helmed well by director Ol Parker ("Imagine Me & You" '05, "Now Is Good" '12). Unlike the director of this predecessor, Phyllida Lloyd, this filmmaker gave his actors a more realistic approach to their respective characterizations. Lloyd had a tendency to make his actors appear more like they were on a stage. Neither style is right or wrong, just different. Parker doesn't have a ton of directing experience, however given more work, he will be a director to contend with. It was also adequately written by Parker ("Loved Up" (TV movie) '95, "In Your Dreams" (TV movie) '96, "It Was an Accident" 2000, "Imagine Me & You" '05, "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel" '11, "Now Is Good" '12, "The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel" '15) plus TV, based on a story Richard Curtis, Parker and Catherine Johnson. It was originally conceived by Judy Craymer and is based on the original musical by Catherine Johnson which is based on the music by ABBA. Again, this was scripted by its director, Parker instead of Johnson, who wrote this film's predecessor. Certainly Johnson would have more insight with a screenplay writing the original musical, but Parker gave it a bit more substance. I believe that since Johnson introduced the characters to the moviegoing audience through its predecessor, Parker already had the path laid to enable himself to delve more into the characters and even add a few more. Certainly Parker's lion share of his experience lies with writing and with this, he'll continue to have more work pushed his way.
Certainly if you liked the original, you'll love this. In fact, I felt this was definitely better than the original. To me, the first film was too cheesy and stagy, not to mention Brosnan, Firth and Skarsgard cannot sing. But in this film, the brunt of the singing was left to those that actually sing. The main reason I even gave this film consideration of viewing was the fact that Cher was in it. Although her small role was a hoot, I only wish she was in more of it, and who doesn't like ABBA's music?
Out of 4 Stars: 3 Rated: PG-13 113mins.
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