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Ten years ago, Mamma Mia!, the big-screen adaptation of the hit musical based on the music of Swedish pop group ABBA, had audiences singing and dancing in the aisles. Now, the sequel, Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again reunites with the characters for more singing and dancing and romantic conundrums.
Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again catches up with Sophie (Amanda Seyfried) as she prepares to reopen her mother’s hotel. She’s put her heart and soul into renovating the hotel and planning every detail of the grand opening party, but she desperately misses her late mother, Donna (Meryl Streep). And after a storm hits the island and Sophie’s carefully planned event is ruined, her family and friends join together to celebrate Donna’s memory—and to arrange the best, most unexpected party that they possibly can.
Actually, the film tells two parallel stories. While Sophie deals with her grief and the challenges of marriage as she tries to fulfill her mother’s dream, it also follows 20-something Donna (Lily James) as her free spirit takes her on a journey that leads to three romances, a home in Greece, and, eventually, her daughter. Because of that, there’s a lot going on here. It’s an incredibly busy film, with a massive ensemble cast—one part from the past and one from the present—and each character is involved in at least one storyline. Fortunately, though, the characters are lovable—from hilariously awkward Harry (played by Colin Firth and Hugh Skinner) to Donna’s loyal, outspoken friends. And the cast manages to keep audiences engaged through the twisting, tangled storylines.
Meanwhile, like the original, the sequel is musical and campy and absolutely theatrical. It’s bell bottoms and sequins and disco classics. Some of the songs may not be as familiar as those in the original film, but they tend to flow better—and, this time, the actors who can’t really sing (I’m looking at you, Pierce Brosnan) are given more fitting parts. And even if you’re not a big ABBA fan, it’s hard not to get caught up in the music.
Still, this isn’t all campy and playful. Donna’s death and Sophie’s marital problems give the film a melancholy undertone from the start—an undertone that eventually builds to an effectively manipulative, ugly-crying kind of drama toward the end. So be sure to pack plenty of tissues.
Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again is a crowd pleaser that’s filled with music and drama and romance—and overfilled with characters and storylines. If you loved the original, you’ll love singing and dancing—and shedding some tears—with the sequel.
Listen to the review on Reel Discovery:
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