Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again

It's not the first Jukebox Musical, but Mamma Mia! is still the biggest name in the field. Ten years after its big screen run, Universal Pictures and director/writer Ol Parker gathered another batch of ABBA songs (and a few reprises) for another go around. So here I go again for Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again.

The first film had Sophie (Amanda Seyfried), who, having never met her father, invite the three men who might be him - Bill (Stellan Skarsgaard), Sam (Pierce Brosnan) and Harry (Colin Firth) - to her wedding. And hilarity ensued, and the paternity issue was ignored.

Years later, after her mother Donna's (Meryl Streep) off-screen death, Sophie renovates her Greek island Inn into the "Hotel Bella Donna." She has a big grand reopening planned, but it's not going good for her. Her husband, Sky (Dominic Cooper), is away on business. Sophie needs all the support she can to make it.

Meanwhile, young Donna (Lilly James), lives a carefree life after she graduates college. She then meets her future daughter's three possible fathers (Josh Dylan as Bill, Jeremy Irvine as Sam and Hugh Skinner as Harry). It's not that easy but she pulls through.

I'm not sure if this is better than the first film or not. I do know that the ABBA songs, "new" and "old", are entertaining. Even if some exist just to have a spot in the film. There are a few strong moments here, like the finale, so that's good. It's a light plot for 114 minutes, but at least it meant something in the end.

The characters are fine. Bill's first scene involved a masterful fake-out involving a twin brother (also Skarsgaard). Sam's singing, while derided in the first film, didn't bother me here. Sophie's three dads, old and young, are an entertaining, likable trio. Christine Baranski and Julie Walters as Donna's Best Friends, Tanya and Rosie, were funny, as were Jessica Keenan Wynn and Alexa Davies as their younger selves. I wish there was more of Streep as old Donna and Cher as her mother, Ruby. Why did they have to kill off Donna?

The editing by Peter Lambert does a good job at juggling locations. But it can throw people off by juggling time periods. The production and costume designs are good. Robert Yeoman's cinematography of Croatia makes the fictional setting of Kalokairi attractive. There's supposed to be a score by Anne Dudley, but it's overshadowed by the ABBA numbers and instrumentals of them.

Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again keeps up the same giddy attitude of its predecessor. It takes a chance on more of ABBA's catalog. It's not just a way to make money, money, money. You'll thank the filmmakers for the music after a good matinee.

Before I make more ABBA puns, I'll finish by saying it's a fine sequel. It's a super trouper which wants to entertain and succeeds. Just don't think too much about it.

I made another pun...