Mamma Mia: Here We Become Once again

Certificate: 12A

Starring: Lily James, Amanda Seyfried, Pierce Brosnan, Cher, Andy Garcia, Jeremy Irvine

Release date: 2018

iii out of v

three

A decade after the smash hit Mamma Mia – based, of class, on the stage musical of the same name that it set to pop band ABBA's all-time known hits – comes this sequel. It mixes the story of Sophie (Seyfried) setting upwardly her dream Greek isle hotel with the flashback tale of how her female parent Donna (James playing the immature Meryl Streep role) first happened across the idyllic location, and how she met the 3 men – Bill, Harry and Sam – who are Sophie's potential dads.

As kitsch as the original, the motion-picture show starts rather awkwardly as Donna and her pals Tanya (Jessica Keenan Wynn) and Rosie (Alexa Davies) have over their formal university graduation with a rendition of 'When I Kissed The Instructor' but information technology finds its feet as Donna decides to travel the world to find herself, while in the present twenty-four hour period Sophie juggles the opening of her hotel with a crash-land in her relationship with boyfriend Heaven (Dominic Cooper).

There are some nice musical moments – Sophie and Heaven singing 'Ane Of The states' on other sides of the world, young Sam and Donna breaking upward to 'Knowing Me Knowing You lot' – but many of the best ABBA songs were used in the first movie and then in that location'southward not really a barnstorming moment until a reprise of 'Dancing Queen' featuring Amanda Seyfried, Christine Baranski and Julie Walters along with Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth and Stellan Skarsgard (the boys wisely dancing rather than singing through almost of it).

While the paper sparse plot is something of a rehash of the events of Mamma Mia, Lily James is a joy and a terrific vocalizer, so fifty-fifty though nosotros know young Donna's journey it's still fun to watch, and she has overnice support from Irvine, Josh Dylan and especially Hugh Skinner as the young Sam, Bill and Harry respectively.

The best bits, however, are the ones left to the grown ups. Julie Walters, Stellan Skarsgard, Pierce Brosnan and Colin Firth are once again hilarious, while Christine Baranski gets the best line in the movie (and contender for best line of the year). Andy Garcia is lovely as Sophie'due south hotel manager, but – surprise, surprise – the movie is completely stolen past Cher every bit Sophie's glamorous grandmother and her duet with Garcia on 'Fernando' is a highlight. It's just a huge shame she doesn't arrive until the terminal scenes of the pic and her character isn't given much of a story.

Ultimately, this love letter to ABBA, Greece, and mothers and their children is a silly, frothy, sunny feelgood musical, just like the original.

Is Mamma Mia: Here Nosotros Go Again suitable for kids? Hither are our parents' notes...

This is a PG certificate (UK) and PG-xiii in the U.s. for some mild suggestive scenes.

While Donna is shown in bed with her various suitors, the scenes are very tame (in that location is no nudity).

There are some mild sex references and mild bad linguistic communication.

Younger children may question why Donna does not know who is the father of her girl Sophie (and that there are iii potential dads).

Parents of younger children should note that the words 'vagina', 'groin' are used and there is mention of a grapheme'due south 'first time' but it is possible children would not pick up on these references.

If you like this, why non endeavor:

Tags: ABBA, Cher, Greek island, Julie Walters, Lily James, Mamma Mia, Meryl Streep, musical, singing, sunshine