20260527-20180803-0-65223441
Critic's Rating: 3.5
Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again Story: Sophie reflects on the journey of her mother's life as the film goes back and forth in time.

Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again Review: Picking up years after the events of ‘Mamma Mia!’, this sequel revolves around the ‘origin’ of Donna, as the narrative dwells on her history. Following her graduation, a younger Donna (Lily James) meets the three most important men in her life, who eventually father her daughter Sophie (Amanda Seyfried). In the present, Sophie gives Donna’s hotel a makeover to invite new visitors to the island that her mother chose as her home many years ago. To celebrate the opening, Sophie calls her three fathers, Donna’s friends, and all the people who played an essential role in her mother’s colourful life. Along the way, a storm hits and cuts off transportation to the island, besides disrupting all the decorations. This leaves Sophie distraught as she wonders how she can honour her mother if the opening isn’t a grand success.

On paper, ‘Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again’ reads like a classic case of a lot happening that eventually doesn’t add up to anything. There are many characters, and enough sub-plots to make this seem otherwise, but that’s not the case. This begs the question – how do you build a compelling plot when the stakes are virtually non-existent? When you have the discography of a Swedish super-group at your disposal, it’s quite simple. You dive into their extensive catalogue of hits and keep them coming in quick succession. What also works tremendously in the film’s favour is that the cast has oodles of appeal, paired with talent.

The older set of actors make their experience evident as they charmingly sashay and croon through their song-and-dance routines, while the younger bunch brings innocence and exuberance to capture the freewheeling age of the late 70s. The characters Tanya and Rosie, played by Christine Baranski & Julie Walters respectively in their older avatars, are probably the most entertaining. Although Lily James doesn’t hold a candle to the brilliance that is Meryl Streep, her vivacity is hard to miss. It’s also refreshing that Director Ol Parker does not allow Donna’s story to be viewed through a judgemental lens, choosing to fondly capture the moments she falls for three men in quick succession. Subsequently, we are swept away by an irresistible wave of nostalgia to make us forget the point of the movie in the first place. ‘Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again’ is a breezy, feel-good ABBA-fuelled musical made for its fans.

Summary / Analysis

Spoiler alert! Please do not read the following plot summary if you have not seen the film.
Sophie Sheridan is preparing for the grand reopening of her mother Donna's hotel, following Donna's death a year earlier. She is upset because two of her fathers, Harry and Bill, are unable to make it to the reopening and she is having trouble in her relationship with Sky, who is in New York, over her memorializing her mother’s life.

In 1979, a young Donna has just graduated from university with Rosie and Tanya, and is getting ready to travel the world. While in Paris, she meets and parties with Harry. They spend the night together, but Donna leaves soon after. She later misses her boat to Kalokairi but is offered a ride by Bill, and along the way, they are able to help a stranded fisherman, Alexio, make it in time to stop the love of his life from marrying another. Unbeknownst to Donna, Harry has followed her to Greece; but he arrived too late, and sadly watches the boat sailing off in the distance.

In the present, Tanya and Rosie arrive to support Sophie with the reopening and it’s revealed that Rosie and Bill have split up. Sophie then visits Sam, who is still grieving over the death of Donna. Back in the past, Donna arrives on the island and while exploring the farmhouse, a sudden storm causes her to discover a spooked horse in the basement. She goes in search of help only to find a young Sam riding his motorcycle and he helps her to save the horse. Back in the present, a storm has caused serious disruption to Sophie’s plans for the grand reopening and prevented media coverage of the event.

Back in the past, Donna and Sam are enjoying a whirlwind romance, that ends when Donna discovers a picture of Sam’s fiancée in his drawer. A devastated Donna demands that Sam leave the island. In the present, Sam tells Sophie about her value to her mother. Meanwhile, Harry leaves his business deal in Tokyo to support Sophie, and separately Bill gets the same idea. Bill and Harry meet at the docks but are told there are no boats. However, Bill meets the fisherman Alexio and thereby secures boat passage for himself, Harry as well as the newly arrived Sky.

In the past, a depressed Donna is heartbroken over Sam but is able to channel her anger into singing with Tanya and Rosie. She meets Bill again and they go out on his boat; while they are gone, Sam returns, having recently ended his engagement for Donna, but is saddened to hear that she is with another man and leaves the island again. Donna discovers she is pregnant but has no idea which one of her three recent lovers is the father. Sofia, the mother of the owner of the bar where Donna and the Dynamos performed, overhears Donna’s wish to stay on the island and offers to let Donna live at her farmhouse and Donna happily accepts. It is there that she eventually gives birth to Sophie.

Back in the present, the guests have arrived at the party and Sophie is reunited with her other two fathers and Sky. Sophie reveals to Sky she is pregnant and has never felt closer to her mother, having now understood what her mother went through. Bill and Rosie reunite over their grief for Donna. Sophie’s estranged grandmother and Donna’s mother, Ruby, arrives despite Sophie deciding not to invite her. She reveals that Sky tracked her down in New York and she wants to build a real relationship with Sophie. Sophie then performs a song with Tanya and Rosie in honor of her mother, with her grandmother tearfully telling her afterward how proud she is of her. It is then revealed that the manager of the hotel, Fernando, is Ruby’s ex-lover from 1959 in Mexico, and the two are joyously reunited.

Nine months later, Sophie has given birth to a baby boy and everyone has gathered for his christening where Tanya flirts with Fernando’s brother. The ceremony takes place with Donna’s spirit watching over her daughter with pride. At the end, all the characters, including Donna and the younger cast, sing "Super Trouper" at a huge party at Hotel Bella Donna.
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FAQs
  1. What is the release date of 'Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again'?
    Release date of Lily James and Amanda Seyfried starrer 'Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again' is 2018-08-03.
  2. Who are the actors in 'Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again'?
    'Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again' star cast includes Lily James, Amanda Seyfried, Meryl Streep and Christine Baranski.
  3. Who is the director of 'Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again'?
    'Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again' is directed by Ol Parker.
  4. Who is the producer of 'Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again'?
    'Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again' is produced by Richard Curtis,Judy Craymer,Gary Goetzman,Benny Andersson,Ludvig Andersson,Bjorn Ulvaeus,Richard Whelan,Diego Zanco.
  5. What is Genre of 'Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again'?
    'Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again' belongs to 'Comedy,Music,Romance' genre.
  6. In Which Languages is 'Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again' releasing?
    'Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again' is releasing in English.