This summer, millions of devoted Mamma Mia! fans entered theaters across the world in order to travel back to the pristine island of Kalokairi after ten years, for another ABBA-filled masterpiece. Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again hit theaters July 20th, almost exactly ten years since the release of Mamma Mia! in 2008. While reviews have been quite mixed, it’s interesting enough that the original fan favorite Mamma Mia! received a 55% by Rotten Tomatoes’ top critics, while its sequel was certified fresh at 89%.
Much like the film The Godfather Part II, Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again had a timeline that shifted back and forth from the past to the present, attempting to explain the story behind young Donna and how there were parallels in her’s and Sophie’s young lives. While this seems complicated, Director Ol Parker was able to illustrate it in a way that eloquently depicted everyone’s experiences.
These mixed reviews were given based on the fact that there were some significant inaccuracies in the film based on information given in the first film. For example, it was implied that Donna’s mother had passed away, yet in 2018’s film, she is shown dancing and jiving along to “Fernando.” Other inaccuracies included inaccurate eye color of the younger versions of the cast and the order in which Donna supposedly met Sam, Bill, and Harry. These inaccuracies were in fact acknowledged by director Ol Parker and producer Judy Craymer, who rebounded with the claim that “it wasn’t supposed to be perfect.” It was supposed to be a free and light film that would make you want to get up dance.
The cast of Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again included not only the marvelous talents of possibly the greatest actress of all time, Meryl Streep, but also the musical legend Cher. While Cher’s part as Ruby Sheridan (Donna’s Mother) could be interpreted as unimportant to the plot, it’s easy to disregard and bask in Cher’s stardom. One should not focus on any plot holes, but rather the insane amounts of talent paired with classic ABBA songs like “Dancing Queen” and Lily James’ breathtaking rendition of “Mamma Mia,” which overall created another hit feel-good film.
Ol Parker stayed true to the musical’s first installment with the original cast, including Amanda Seyfried, Julie Walters, Christine Baranski, and even the talents of Andy Garcia. Critic Neil Soans of the Times of India wrote “Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again is a breezy, feel-good musical made for ABBA fans that sweeps you away with a wave of nostalgia to make you forget the point of the movie in the first place,” which couldn’t have been phrased better.
Ultimately, when watching Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, one should remember not to critically dissect it, or delve into every plot hole or inaccuracy, but rather focus on the sheer amounts of talent paired with brilliant ABBA songs, beautiful cinematography, and the serene Grecian views. Avid Mamma Mia fans, like myself, can only hope one day our ferries will return to Kalokairi and we shall be welcomed by Sophie and serenaded by ABBA tunes once more, but for now we can find solace in two beautiful jukebox musicals and play “Dancing Queen” on repeat.