“Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again” Breathes New Life into a Seemingly Dead Idea
The first Mamma Mia movie came out in 2008. It took away people’s breaths with its use of famous songs from the hit pop band ABBA, colorful characters, and a star-studded cast which included Meryl Streep, Amanda Seyfried, Pierce Brosnan, and many more. Sure, it did have its flaws, like a few pacing issues and that the emotional scenes were a bit underwhelming. Nonetheless, it was a very engaging movie, and it had me surprised for most of it. The announcement of a second movie surprised me even more.
My adrenaline was rushing when the first trailer dropped. Yet, at the same time, it made me wonder: why a sequel? For one, they pretty much used up all of ABBA’s greatest hits. Second, the ending of the first movie felt like everything came full circle and that nothing else could come after it. It has been a month since the sequel Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again came out in theaters and many people have said that it is more breathtaking compared to the first movie, but what did I think of this movie?
I am glad to say that this movie surpassed my expectations. This second movie has two storylines: one involving Donna’s (Meryl Streep) younger years and meeting the three men who would become her lovers. The other set in present-day involves Sophie (Amanda Seyfried) dealing with her fiancé being away and the grand opening of her hotel.
The story flowed very well when switching from Sophie’s story to the flashback scenes of Donna. I noticed that the movie never seemed to lose its pacing even when they told two stories. The story flowed very well when switching from Sophie’s story to the flashback scenes of Donna. What surprised me, even more, was Lily James. When I found out Meryl Streep was not in the movie and replaced by Lily James (younger version), I was not sure how to feel about it. After all, Meryl Streep was one of the best actors from the first movie. So when I watched the film, I was surprised to find out that Lily James handled the role exceptionally well. She really felt like a younger version of Donna from the first movie. She was very musical, artistic, and lively with a little hint of sass. Her storyline was also handled very well even to the point it seemed more enjoyable than Sophie’s storyline at some points.
Now, let us talk about the other cast members. Just like in the first movie, Amanda Seyfried is exceptional. It was great seeing her act out on her own and handling herself as the manager of a hotel. I loved watching her interact with her aunts, Rosie and Tanya played by Christine Baranski and Julie Walters, respectively, and her three fathers: Bill, Harry, and Sam played by Stellan Skarsgard, Colin Firth, and Piers Brosnan. How can we forget the magnificent Cher? She gives this movie a different flavor whenever she shows up in scenes. She stands out.
In the end, Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again was a fun family movie everyone can enjoy. The soundtrack, the characters, and the story make up a very entertaining and compelling experience that will surely be remembered by fans of musicals. Even with the absence of the great Meryl Streep, the other actors got you covered. Even without her, the movie still retained its suave and charm and added on to it as it went on. Let’s not forget the tearjerker at the end as well. I would rate this movie a 3 out of 5 stars.
About the author: Tommy is a cartoonist for Counterpoint and a Grade 12 student in De La Salle Zobel — Vermosa under the STEM strand. He is also a Search-In member of Circle 140, has attended the Regional and Global rounds of the World Scholars Cup winning silver medals, and loves science. Aside from such, he enjoys viewing films and critiquing them.
