Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again: "Your Mother Was The Bravest Person We Ever Met"

Director: Ol Parker
Writer:    Catherine Johnson
                Richard Curtis
                Ol Parker
Starring: Amanda Seyfried
                Lily James
                Christine Baranski
                Julie Walters
                Pierce Brosnan
                Colin Firth
                Stellan Skarsgard
                Dominic Cooper
                Andy Garcia
                Cher
                Meryl Streep 
Rating:    ****

Release Date: Out Now 

It has been almost 10 years to the day that the first Mamma Mia film hit big screens around the world and broke box office records, that would be hard to beat for many years. 10 years, in which the original has become a fan favourite and continues to delight people around the globe. Some may ask why it took 10 years for a sequel to be made, with the writers and producers explaining that it was all down to the story being perfect. Thankfully, the wait was worth it and this toe-tapping glitter-soaked movie musical may even be better than the first. 

Julie Walters, Amanda Seyfried
& Christine Baranski

It is five years since the first film took place and Sophie (Seyfried) is working with Sam (Brosnan), one of her dads, to refurbish her mothers hotel, which is due for a gran re-opening in a few days time. Holding a huge party to celebrate Sophie invites her other two dads (Firth & Skarsgard) and her aunts (Baranski & Walters) to come celebrate the brand new Bella Donna Hotel, named in her mother's honour. 

It is of course a straight forward and simple storyline, which is intertwined with flashbacks to how a young Donna (James) moved to the Greek island the hotel is on, how she met and mingled with Sophie's three dads and of course how Donna and the Dynamos came to be. These prequel scenes inject new life in to the film with Lily James lighting up the screen with her presence and impressive Meryl Streep impression. She captures the very essence of who Donna is and will become and has a beautiful voice as well. She is also joined by newcomers (to the big screen), Jessica Keenan Wynn and Alexa Davies as the younger version of Baranski and Walter's Tanya and Rosie respectively. The three younger stars have dynamic chemistry, with many of the comedic scenes coming from Tanya and Rosie themselves, both younger and older.

Jessica Keenan Wynn, Lily James
& Alexa Davies

This sentiment also goes for the three younger versions of Brosnan, Firth and Skarsgard, played by Jeremy Irvine, Hugh Skinner and Josh Dylan.  Each boy captures the essence of their older counterpart and embraces each moment they are given superbly.

However, the biggest draw is seeing the old cast return to dance and sing some classic ABBA songs on that gorgeous island and have the time of their lives. Nothing groundbreaking happens, but it is fun, makes you smile and laugh and it is clear the fun is being had by all. Plus, the new Mamma Mia has Cher, who of course makes the grandest entrance in the films final act, belts out Fernando and generally knocks it out of the park. It is glittery and fabulous and I loved it.

There is of course one cast member who was missing from most of the promotional material, but who is the heart of this film and the story, that being Meryl Streep's Donna. The bond between her and Sophie is woven throughout the film and whilst I won't spoil the story, the trailers have made it the worst kept secret in cinematic history. The heart and emotion that burst through the screen during Streep's cameo at the end of the film is poignant and moved me and many others to tears.

Amanda Seyfried & Meryl Streep

With it being Mamma Mia, there of course and abundance of ABBA songs crammed in throughout. Now with all the best songs appearing in the first film, you are right to think there can't be many ABBA songs left, because the film is filled with B-side songs that are far less known. While Mamma Mia, I Have a Dream, Dancing Queen, Waterloo and Super Trouper do make a reappearance, it doesn't feel odd that they are showing up again and actually feel fresh and relevant to what is happening. Also, I really enjoyed the newer songs that I was unfamiliar with; with Angel Eyes and When I Kissed the Teacher both being incredibly entertaining and My Love, My Life being an emotional knockout in the final moments. Just like the first film, if you don't like ABBA, then you wont enjoy this. However, if you liked the first film the you will love this one.

The storyline is at times weak and there are massive plot holes when you watch the first film and then this one. The writer's have clearly decided to ignore much of the original film in order to hep the sequels narrative, but somehow it didn't matter. The songs are shoe-horned in but still remain energetic and gleeful, some of the vocals are wobbly but somehow charming and the whole spectacle is exactly what this world needs right now. Harmless fun, wrapped up nicely in a glittery ABBA inspired bow!

Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again - Trailer