Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again (2018)

I'm just going to say it, Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again is the Godfather Part II of cheesy jukebox musicals. Not only is it better than the original, it echos that film structurally by acting as both prequel and sequel simultaneously.

Yes, it is better than the first film. While Mamma Mia! is undoubtedly fun it is a guilty pleasure. It's awkwardly structured, the plot is forced and fairly ridiculous, and despite a remarkable cast the acting is pretty shoddy (with some rare exceptions like Streep's rendition of The Winner Takes It All). It's fun because of how bad it is. Here We Go Again actually tries to, and most achieves, being a good movie.

Taking the back story the first film dances (see what I did there?) around and fleshing it out, Here We Go Again tells a charming little tale about two women, a mother and a daughter. With the first film's distasteful who-is-the-father plot finished with we can focus on what is good about this story, a love story, between a parent and child.

Also, the first film felt like it was trying to pack the ABBA greatest hits in, often forcing them in regardless of how appropriate the music was to the plot (a term I use loosely). Here, the film makers dig deeper into the ABBA catalogue, and pull out songs which actually reflect the needs of the story. Jukebox musicals (those based on an already existing catalogue of songs as opposed to original music) are often contrived. Here We Go Again feels a bit less. Lily James and Amanda Seyfried both do an admirable job of acting above the film's pay-grade (and singing above it to).

And the story was a touching one. The men are completely superfluous, despite how much the film tries to parade handsome men across the screen. I will admit that Colin Firth remains a damn handsome man, but really the magic is in two women finding themselves through their connection over time to each other.

So while this is still a silly film it was remarkably enjoyable, and for me, more so than the first.

Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again
Starring: Lily James, Amanda Seyfriend, Dominic Cooper, Colin Firth, Pierce Brosnan, Stellan Skargard, Christine Baranski, Julie Waters, Andy Garcia, Jessica Keenan Wynn, Alexa Davies, Jeremy Irvine, Hugh Skinner, Josh Dylan, Cher, Meryl Streep
Director: Ol Parker
Writers: Ol Parker, Catherine Johnson, Richard Curtis