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'Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again': Celebration of youth, friendship, love
"Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again" has the same vibe as its predecessor; it is colorful, whimsical and humorous, all the while sticking true to its rather serious plot.
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'Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again' has the same vibe as its predecessor; it is colorful, whimsical and humorous, all the while sticking true to its rather serious plot. (Universal PIctures/-)
F
ollowing the success of the ABBA musical film Mamma Mia! (2008), its second installment Mammia Mia! Here We Go Again sees the return of its main cast, with the additions of Lily James, Jeremy Irvine and Alexa Davies to name a few, acting as the younger versions of the characters.
The film is both a prequel and a sequel, and just like the first film, it made me break out into a sudden karaoke session. My emotions went hand in hand with the mood of each song.
Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again has the same vibe as its predecessor; it is colorful, whimsical and humorous, all the while sticking true to its rather serious plot.
Written and directed by OI Parker, the film is set in modern Greece where Sophie (played by Amanda Seyfried) is planning to relaunch her mother’s villa to honor her life. Her relationship with Sky (Dominic Cooper) is on the rocks and she is doubtful that she can survive without the guidance of her mother. Sophie’s emotional worries give her a new insight into how her mother must have felt at her age - fronting musical group Donna and the Dynamos, starting the villa on her own, meeting Sophie’s dads, and raising a daughter, all without the guidance of a mother. With the arrival of her mother’s friends Tanya (Christine Baranski) and Rosie (Julie Walters) in Greece, they contribute in helping her every step of the way.
While Sophie deals with her present day struggles, the film flashbacks to when Sophie’s mother Donna (Lily James) was graduating from university and traveling around Europe with the hopes of finding her future and the island of Kalokairi, Greece, the current home to Donna’s villa and the main setting of both Mamma Mia! films. Throughout her journey, she meets Sophie’s dads: a young Sam (Jeremy Irvine), Bill (Josh Dylan) and Harry (Hugh Skinner), who each teach Donna a little something about love and life, thus beginning the who-is-the-dad mystery of the first film.
The film itself doesn’t seem to be interested in explosive dramas, as disputes, grief and sadness hardly affect the plot. Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again is more of a celebration of life - Donna’s life in particular, with flashbacks showing the audience how the characters became who they are today.
Read also: 'Mamma Mia!' sing-along returns with star-studded sequel premiere
Mammia Mia! Here We Again also welcomes Cher, who plays Sophie’s estranged grandmother Ruby Sheridan. Cher's performance is so unique and refreshing it drove the audience to applause - myself included.
Another refreshing performance is delivered by Lily James, who perfectly embodies Donna’s carefree and strong personality. With her ability to act and sing ABBA’s songs, she truly presents Donna as a one-of-a-kind.
The screenplay, written by OI Parker along with Richard Curtis and Catherine Johnson, cleverly matches each emotion with each song, such as “Mamma Mia” during the peak of young Sophie’s heartbreak or “Dancing Queen” sung in a moment of happiness and laughter.
Though much of the dialogue never really matches the pathos of the songs, it is carefully balanced with the overall nostalgic emotion of the film.
Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again is worth the money. It is a jukebox musical for this generation, with a homage to ABBA sung by actors young and old age. It brings a warm feeling of nostalgia and maybe, just maybe, it may make you want to follow in Donna’s footsteps and live on a Greek island yourself. (anm/wng)
