Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again
Starring: Lily James, Amanda Seyfried, Christine Baranski, Andy Garcia, Colin Firth
Directed by: Ol Parker
Rated: PG-13
Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again. As in, here we go again with a plot that could be easily solved with a DNA test. Here we go again with Pirece Brosnan's singing. Here we go again with the campy ABBA dance numbers. These were the cynical thoughts that filled my mind as I walked into a showing for the Mamma Mia sequel. I'm the first to admit that I'm not a big fan of the first movie. Although I adore most musicals, it never really worked for me. However, I walked out of Here We Go Again feeling completely joyful. It was so much fun!
In MMT (Mamma Mia time) it's been five years since we've seen the crew. Sophie (Amanda Seyfried) is preparing to re-open her mother's hotel with the help of a new manager, Fernando (Andy Garcia.) The trailers will lead you to believe Meryl Streep is in this movie a lot. She only makes a cameo appearance. Meryl's character, Donna has actually died since the events of the last film. I wouldn't consider that a spoiler because the audience finds out in the first 15 minutes. It would have been nice if the marketing was more open about that. Due to her death, the film flashes back to a young Donna (Lily James) graduating college and making her way to Greece. Along the way, she meets Harry, Bill, and Sam and we learn the backstory that sets up the first film. Through flashbacks sequences that mix in to present day moments, the film speaks to the strength of the mother-daughter bond.
Director Ol Parker does an impressive job of incorporating the past and present into the film. Donna's past flows quite well into the storyline of Sophie in the present day. Some sequences transition straight from Donna to Sophie and it feels like the same scene. It's a unique direction style and I appreciated the way it was handled. It's worth noting that Ol Parker wrote The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. This reminded me so much of that film between the ensemble cast, hotel-centric storyline, and overwhelmingly upbeat vibe. Clearly, Ol Parker is a man who loves hotels!
Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again sports a very impressive cast. From Cher and Andy Garcia, to Christine Baranski, Lily James, Colin Firth, Pierce Brosnan (thankfully he doesn't sing much this time), and Meryl Streep. Every actor plays their part and brings something special to the table.
There are MVP's though. First off is Lily James who I've never seen give a bad performance. She has such a charming presence that lifts every scene. You can tell she is having a blast, just like Donna. She truly becomes the character.
Cher's appearance may be quick, but did you think she'd be missing from the MVP list? No way. Her duet of Fernando with Andy Garcia (who is also an MVP and has still got it) puts them both on the list. Christine Baranski never ceases to entertain with witty lines and funny moments. I'd also like to point out the actress who plays a young Baranski, Jessica Keenan Wynn, managed to nail her mannerisms. And finally, Amanda Seyfried. She sings and harmonizes beautifully. There's a scene near the end of the film where everyone was crying mostly due to her acting with another member of the cast. She pulls a Les Mis on us. Thanks, Amanda.
One complaint I have about the film is the young leads for Bill and Harry aren't exactly up to par with the actors they're portraying. They could've cast anyone for these parts, but they picked guys who look nothing like Colin Firth and Pierce Brosnan. Josh Dylan was a good casting decision for Bill because he has a lot of charisma and actually looks like Stellan Skarsgard, but the others are questionable at best.
Of course, since this is a musical I have to talk about the music! There are several great musical numbers here, but my favorites were Dancing Queen, Super Trouper, My Love My Life, Fernando, and Mamma Mia. Each song is bursting with energy and memorable choreography.
This is not a monumental movie. It's not the visionary experience ofLa La Land. Nor does it contain the biting commentary of Chicago. It has its fair share of corny and cliché moments. Despite that, this is one of the most fun movies I've seen all year. If you love musicals, check out Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again
My Rating: 7/10