MAMMA MIA! HERE WE GO AGAIN

Review: Fast forward five years after the events of Mamma Mia! Young Sophie finds out more about her mother’s past while pregnant herself.
Director: Ol Parker
Actors: Lily James, Amanda Seyfried, Meryl Streep, Celia Imrie, Andy Garcia, Alexa Davies, Jessica Keenan Wynn, Dominic Cooper, Julie Walters, Christine Baranski, Hugh Skinner, Pierce Brosnan, Omid Djalili, Josh Dylan, Gerard Monaco, Anna Antoniades, Jeremy Irvine, Panos Mouzourakis, Maria Vacratsis, Naoko Mori, Togo Igawa, Colin Firth, Anastasia Hille, Stellan Skarsgard, Susanne Barklund, Cher, Jonathan Goldsmith and Kathryn Akin
Year: 2018
Genre: Comedy, Musical and Romance
Conclusion: 4/5
When I heard all those months ago that a second Mamma Mia! film had been green lit I was so worried. It turns out though that I needn’t have worried. I have to say that for me Mamma Mia! (2008) was a huge disappointment. Plus I always think that sequels are never a good idea. However this sequel just proves me wrong! From start to finish I found myself laughing non-stop. There were also many points throughout the film where I wanted to cry. This is a feel good film, with beautiful costuming and stage design, and of course brilliant ABBA music. I have found myself wanting to sing all the songs. I feel like this is the film that everyone needs right now. A real pick me up. All the scenes moved really quickly. I never once got fed up or bored with any of it. The going back to the past and then moving back to the present day was very well done. This doesn’t always work in films. A very strong and likeable cast. There wasn’t anyone in it that I could take offence to. Hugh Skinner has come along way since W1A (2014-2017) especially the envelope scene! Always great to see Lily James, who always gives a faultless performance. In fact for me she steals the show. It was also great to see Pierce Brosnan back together with the rest of the old crew. It was great that Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth and Stellan Skarsgard all have a go at singing. None of them care that they can’t actually sing but they are all having a great time. One member of the cast who can sing is Amanda Seyfried, who also gives a very strong performance. Look out for ABBA member Bjorn Ulvaeus who makes a cameo appearance in the number “When I Kissed The Teacher”. Apparently Cher handpicked Andy Garcia to play the character of Fernando out of a bunch of selected actors. I have enjoyed all of Ol Parker’s films that he has written such as The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2011) and also The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2015) but I don’t think he could have done it himself without the help of Richard Curtis. Many fans of his work will recognise his humour and clever touches. Just one word of advice is make sure you stay until the very end of the film. Overall, I found this to be a really emotional film, which manages to be hilarious and very moving all at the same time.