Reviewed by Victor Rebikoff.
Director: Ol Parker, Universal Pictures, PG, 114 Minutes.
It is eight years since the successful release of the musical ‘Mama Mia’ except this sequel is from new writer/director Ol Parker having written the script for ‘The Best and Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel’ in 2011 and 2015.
This time the movie focuses on Donna’s daughter Sophie (Amanda Seyfried), immersed in renovating the hotel started by her deceased mother (Meryl Streep) in addition to providing an insight into the early life of young Donna (Lilly James –‘Cinderella’).
At the same time Sophie is making party preparations for a grand reopening of the hotel on the Greek island she hopes that her partner, Sky (Dominic Cooper –‘Stratton’) will attend before the story switches to a youngish Donna.
Apart from showing Donna’s earliest friendship with young Rosie (Alexa Davies –‘Spaceship’) and Tanya (Jessica Keenan Wynn’s first feature film) it also reveals her early relationship with young Sam (Jeremy Irvine –‘Fallen’), Harry (Hugh Skinner –‘Hampstead’) and Bill (Josh Dylan –‘Allied’).
The threesome – appearing much older now – namely Sam (Pierce Brosnan), Harry (Colin Firth) and Bill (Stellan Skarsgard) are the three ‘dads’ that Sophie expects to come to her party, together with Donna’s long-time friends Rosie (Julie Watters) and Tanya (Christine Baranski).
Despite the usual delays, the party finally gets underway, only to be surprised by the sudden arrival of Sophie’s sophisticated grandmother, Ruby Sheridan (Cher –‘Moonstruck’) who joins her former love interest Fernando (Andy Garcia –‘Geostorm’) in singing ABBA’s renowned song “Fernando”.
As the story nears its conclusion, the most moving moment in the movie would have to be at the ceremony where Sophie marries Sky and Donna makes a too-brief appearance at her wedding – much to the delight of the audience.
Parker’s sequel is an entertaining experience but may not be as good as the original due to the switching back and forth in telling the story of Sophie and then the youthful Donna and missing Meryl’s magical presence.
Particularly pleasing is the return of Brosnan, Firth and Skarsgard portraying their likeable characters in this feelgood production with its plethora of delightful ABBA songs, not to mention the enjoyable performances of Seyfried (Sophie) and James (Donna).
Vic’s Verdict: 3 Stars
