Mamma Mia! Here we go again

By: G. Castilla

Title: Mamma Mia! Here we go again
Director: Ol Parker
Release date: August 2nd, 2018
Genre: Comedy, Musical and Performing Arts
Studio: Universal Pictures
Main cast: Meryl Streep, Lily James, Amanda Seyfried, Cher, Pierce Brosnan, Christine Baransky, Colin Firth
Budget: US$ 78 million
Box office: US$ 116 million
Rotten tomatoes: 80%

The newly released sensational movie Mamma Mia, Here we go again! Has made people go buzzing around. They talk about the storyline, compliment the actors, talk about how Cher made a cameo, and how Meryl Streep came again to please us with her appearance. You can hear people singing along to the songs and having fun reminiscing the previous movie. I highly recommend it as it's still in the cinema, either watch for the first time or for a rewatch!  A peculiar characteristic about the film is that it is the prequel and sequel to the former musical  driven by Abba’s euphoric music.

Sophie, played by Amanda Seyfried, is reopening Donna’s hotel, following her mother’s death a year earlier. Jump back to 1979, where young Donna (Lily James) is graduating, ready to travel the world. She eventually meets Harry, Bill and Sam, for whom she falls for. The movie goes back and forth in time, where we learn about Donna’s wild summer and Sophie’s current drama and life. Where she realises that she was in a similar place to where her mother was, several years back.

The movie never pretends to be something it isn’t, it's goofy, funny, good hearted and irresistible. Although there isn’t much plot development, the movie engages you in a way most movies don’t, making you want to sing your lungs out to the lyrics of the old songs and rapidly learn the lyrics to the new ones. The greeks are always running around singing and dancing like there’s no tomorrow in the sunny, gorgeous island. There were some parts which I thought were awkward and didn’t make much sense in the plot itself. For example, one of the first songs “When I kissed the teacher”, was out of nowhere, but maybe it was just because I wasn’t used to the songs. Like the previous movie, the scenery is magnificent and it makes you want to jump on the plane and go straight to the greek islands.  The whole movie is a rollercoaster of emotion, you may find yourself crying at the ending, laughing at Donna’s two best friends and smiling to yourself.

It’s been 10 years since the original Mamma Mia came out, quickly becoming a fan favorite. Whilst the sequel brought both old and new fans to the cinema, desperate to hear their favorite songs and see Meryl Streep once again. The movie radiates an amazing, infectious energy, and those who have yet to see it must do so.