I enjoyed the first "Mamma Mia" (2008) a lot for the way it fit those vintage ABBA songs so neatly into the story of bride-to-be Sophie trying to figure out who her dad was among three men her mom Donna had relationships with 20 years ago. (My review of the first Mamma Mia film is posted HERE.) When I first heard about this prequel/sequel, I was skeptical yet still looked forward to see where they were going to take the story.
It is five years after Sophie's wedding to Sky. Sophie had spruced up Donna's villa and had turned it into a charming hotel. For the grand inauguration of Hotel Bella Donna, Sophie had invited her mother's best friends Tanya and Rosie, as well as her three dads Sam, Harry and Bill, over to the island for a reunion. As a tribute to her, scenes from Donna's carefree and passionate youth were interwoven into the present story.
Since most of ABBA's biggest hits were already used in the first film, many of the songs used in this sequel were not too familiar with me (so it was not easy to sing along). However, melodious ballads like "I Wonder (Departure)," "One of Us," "I've Been Waiting for You" and specially the sublime "My Love, My Life" made an impact even if I had only heard them for the first time. Of the famous ABBA songs not used in the first film, we now get to hear big hits like "Waterloo," "Knowing Me, Knowing You," "Fernando" and "Super Trooper" in this second film. Some songs were re-used, like the title song, "I Had a Dream" and "Dancing Queen". My personal favorite "The Name of the Game" was sung out in full.
The cast we knew from the first film played their characters as we knew them. It was hard to believe it had already been 10 years since we first knew them. Amanda Seyfried as Sophie still as fussy, worried and excited. Christine Baransky and Julie Walters were still a riot as the tandem of Tanya and Rosie. Pierce Brosnan was supportive dad Sam, with his gruff singing still as awkward-sounding as before. Colin Firth (as Harry) and Stellan Skarsgaard (as Bill) were still their funny selves.
A big reason why the flashbacks part of this film worked wonders was the pitch-perfect portrayal of Young Donna by Lily James. James was able to capture Donna's young blithe spirit, which would eventually evolve into the persona that Meryl Streep was in the first film. That joyous scene alone where the luminous James was frolicking among the orange trees doing cartwheels gave me goosebumps that this beautiful girl was indeed the Donna we knew, and there was no way we could judge her for what she has done.
Among the young actors playing the young dads as lads, Hugh Skinner (as Young Harry) and Josh Dylan as Young Bill were still very rough around the edges. Jeremy Irvine fared the best among the three in his portrayal as Young Sam. The girls Jessica Keenan Wynn and Alexa Davies both convinced us well that they will eventually mature into the Tanya and Rosie (respectively) that we know.
Much ado had been made about Cher's participation as Sophie's grandmother Ruby. Cher was basically just playing her glamorous self here. With her couture fashion, platinum wig and incredibly smooth facial skin, Ruby even looked younger than her long-estranged daughter Donna. It was great to see Cher back on the big screen. After her Best Actress for "Moonstruck" (1988), her movie appearances had been rarer. After "Tea With Moussolini" in 1999, she only had "Burlesque" in 2010, and then this one.
Ol Parker's script only had basic rom-com elements, but as previously, the magic lay in the right ABBA song for the right scene. I thought that for the most part, the song choices were very apt and emotionally engaging. Parker did a commendable job as director as well. His scenes shifting from past to present with such perfect timing that the film packed a potent punch of poignancy and nostalgia. Since you've seen where they came from, you will love the characters more after watching this. 8/10.
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