MAMMA MIA! HERE WE GO AGAIN – Review

(L to R) Young Tanya (JESSICA KEENAN WYNN), Young Donna (LILY JAMES) and Young Rosie (ALEXA DAVIES) in “Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again.” Ten years after “Mamma Mia! The Movie,” you are invited to return to the magical Greek island of Kalokairi in an all-new original musical based on the songs of ABBA. Photo courtesy of Universal Studios.

The sequel MAMMA MIA! HERE WE GO AGAIN is explosion of late ’70s spandex and glitter set to the tune of ABBA hits, which is just what fans of the original MAMMA MIA! are looking for.

For fans of either the stage musical, its movie adaptation or even just ABBA songs, this sequel hits all the right marks. Set on a sun-drenched Greek island where nothing very bad happens, it is light, sentimental romantic comedy packed to the rafters with those absurd late ’70s-early ’80s fashions. It is also filled with song and dance production numbers, each one topping the one before and all set to ABBA songs. For those less enthused about the Swedish disco-pop band or lacking nostalgia for mid-to-late ’70s fashions of gold lame and flowery pink overalls, no need to bother. This one is strictly for the fans.

The original MAMMA MIA! stage musical uncovered a nostalgia for the bouncy pop hits of Swedish band ABBA. The Broadway hit musical was a romantic comedy centered on a wedding on an idyllic Greek island, where unbeknownst to her free-spirited single mom, the young bride has secretly invited her three possible dads. In the 2008 movie version, Meryl Streep played the mom Donna with Amanda Seyfried as daughter Sophie, and Pierce Brosnan, Stellan Skargard and Colin Firth as the potential dads, successful architect Sam, Swedish playboy Bill, and shy rich guy Harry. Doubtless the sequel will make the leap back to the stage, now that the original musical has done its farewell tour.

The sequel tells dual, alternating stories. The first continues from the first movie, about daughter Sophie (Seyfried) and her struggles as she prepares for the grand opening to re-launch the tarverna her late mom Donna ran as a newly-renovated fancy hotel. The other story is a sort of origin tale, a flashback to Donna,played by Lily James, as a young woman in the ’70s. The dual story was an inspired idea, tapping into fans’ love of the original while keeping things more interesting than either plot probably could on its own.

Apparently there is a great hunger among big name stars, particularly older ones, to appear in a light-hearted musical, as the sequel boasts an impressive cast. The original cast returns with Seyfried as Sophie, Brosnan as architect Sam, Colin Firth as shy rich guy Harry and Stellan Skarsgard as Scandinavian playboy Bill. Dominic Copper again plays Sophie’s husband Sky and Christine Baranski and Julie Walters are back as Donna’s friends Tanya and Rosie. Even Streep makes an appearance. New cast members include Lily James as the young Donna, but also Andy Garcia as the mysterious Fernando, Sophie’s hotel manager in the contemporary story, and Cher, appropriately, as Sophie’s glam rock star grandma.

The sequel’s writer/director Ol Parker directed THE BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL, which also has a young/old theme. The music is all ABBA and band members/composers Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus are executive producers.

Basically, its a mom movie, based on nostalgia for ABBA and for musicals generally, but have a sense of fun and the young that some others of that type lack. The cast is enthusiastic and there is a campy charm to the sequel, despite the risk of sparkly spandex overdose. It does have a hook for younger audiences with the parallel tale about young Donna, played perfectly by the appealing Lily James. The two-track story keeps the pace humming along and provides lots of room for humor, sweet sentiment, sunny scenery and musical numbers.

The ensemble musical numbers are among the film’s most enjoyable moments, sprinkled with high-energy dancing and acrobatics by the chorus. While the first one used up most of the Swedish band’s big hits, the sequel does feature the one the original missed, “Waterloo,” the band’s breakout hit. It is featured in the young Donna story, in a rather crazy production number set in a Paris cafe with waiters are dressed in Napoleonic uniforms. Fan favorite songs “Mamma Mia” and “Dancing Queen” get a second outing in new colorful production numbers.

Comedy, romance and sentiment are all part of the musical mix. As is often the case, Christine Baranski steals much of the comedy spotlight, delivering her lines and zingers with accuracy and style. The dads get less screen time in this one, although Stellan Skarsgard has a little fun with a dual role, but Andy Garcia gets a nice featured role as the romantic and mysterious Fernando, as well as being focus of a musical number using the song of that name. The wildly energetic, color-filled and splashy ensemble musical numbers are among the film’s best moments. There is more comedy than romance in the sequel but there are sad or dramatic moments too. There is one particularly sweet, touching scene between Streep and Seyfried that is a sure tear-jerker.

For those who loved the first movie or the stage musical, this sequel hits all the right notes, in all the sparkly, sky-blue and pink spandex fans could want.

RATING: 31/2 out of 5 stars