CASE #039 | Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again
Ten years after the first Mamma Mia movie premiered into
theaters, the same cast and ensemble once again bring back to life the timeless
hits of ABBA in a musical movie dubbed as Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again.
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| Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again! Image Source: https://upload.wikimedia.org |
Here are the 10 things I loved about this 2018 film: (SPOILERS AHEAD! If you haven’t watched the movie, you may want to reconsider before reading on.)
1. Prequel and sequel in one
The film is both a prequel and a sequel in one. The story picks up from where we left off back in 2008. Sophie is now back in Greece to transform her mother’s little inn into a hotel renaming it as Hotel Bella Donna, adding the name of her mom as a tribute.
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| Brings back the stellar cast of Mamma Mia 2008. Image Source: http://popcrush.com |
Sadly, it is revealed early in the film that Donna’s character played by Meryl Streep have already died a year ago and that Sophie is struggling to cope up in living a life without her mom on her side. She is also trying to keep her relationship with Sky (Dominic Cooper), her partner or, as I assume, husband from falling apart.
In another timeline, the movie takes us back to 1979 showing the young Donna, played by Lily James, as she graduates in college and starts a life of her own in a secluded island paradise of Kalokairi in Greece. Along the way she meets the young Harry, Sam, and Bill which became part of her rollercoaster love story ending up with Sophie’s three dads in the first film.
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| The younger versions. Image Source: https://wallpapersite.com |
The movie provided a more detailed explanation on some of the premises of the first film. It gave us a better understanding of how Sophie had three dads, Donna’s love for Sam, how Donna ended up in that cozy, little house, and how Sophie reconnected with Donna even after her death.
2. Pierce Brosnan
Pierce Brosnan reprises his role as Sam Carmichael, the
dashing young debonair that captivated Donna’s heart and swept her off her feet
only to find out that he was already engaged to another woman.
Pierce was perfect for the role and just like wine, aged finely through the years. While sporting a grey hair, Pierce still has the class, the stance, and the charisma of James Bond, another popular character he had previously protrayed. It is endearing to see him groove as he joins Amanda Seyfried, Julie Walters, and Christine Baranski in their updated version of ABBA’s Dancing Queen.
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| Bond...James Bond. Image Source: https://www.deseretnews.com |
Pierce was perfect for the role and just like wine, aged finely through the years. While sporting a grey hair, Pierce still has the class, the stance, and the charisma of James Bond, another popular character he had previously protrayed. It is endearing to see him groove as he joins Amanda Seyfried, Julie Walters, and Christine Baranski in their updated version of ABBA’s Dancing Queen.
3. ABBA Songs
Bearing the title of one of ABBA’s hits, Mamma Mia, you can
expect more ABBA music in the entire movie. There are some not so popular hits
that were turned into wonderful repertoire by the casts and the whole
production team. Of course, the all-time favorite hits which were featured in
the first film are again included in this one. Songs include: Dancing Queen, Mamma
Mia, SOS, I Have A Dream, Waterloo, and Super Trouper.
4. Waterloo
This second installment of the franchise features more intricate
and large-scale performances by the whole ensemble. Among my personal favorites
are Young Harry’s (Hugh Skinner) and Young Donna’s (Lily James) version of
Waterloo.
The scene was in a restaurant which was probably just a studio set up. Harry and Donna were having dinner when Harry suddenly belts out the first few lines of the song. It ended up with Donna joining in and the whole restaurant dancing, swirling, and doing all sorts of routines which made the whole performance very much entertaining. ABBA’s very own Benny Anderson made a small cameo as a piano player in the scene.
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| Performing Waterloo. Image Source: https://www.bustle.com |
The scene was in a restaurant which was probably just a studio set up. Harry and Donna were having dinner when Harry suddenly belts out the first few lines of the song. It ended up with Donna joining in and the whole restaurant dancing, swirling, and doing all sorts of routines which made the whole performance very much entertaining. ABBA’s very own Benny Anderson made a small cameo as a piano player in the scene.
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| Image Source: https://www.dailymotion.com |
5. Dancing Queen
In the first film, Meryl Streep sang Dancing Queen with Christine Baranski and Julie Walters inside Donna’s bedroom. Liberated by the song, the three of them started prancing around and went out of the room out into the courtyard and out on the street.
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| Dancing Queen. Image Source: https://secure.i.telegraph.co.uk |
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| Image Source: https://nerdist.com |
This started a flash mob as each female villager they passed through started following them singing and dancing as well. Remember how one woman carrying dried sticks ended up throwing her cargo away and singing with Donna and her friends? Well, that very same woman reprises her role again this time joining the ensemble led by Sophie in their own version of Dancing Queen.
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| Sophie's version of Dancing Queen. Image Source: https://www.billboard.com |
The scene started with Sophie looking out a cliff that overlooked the bay together with Tanya, Rosie, and her father Sam. She was sad because all the guests she invited for the grand opening of the hotel couldn’t make it to the island because of a hurricane that hit their area. Devastated that the party she organized as a tribute for her mother have failed, Tanya and Rosie comfort her when Sam hands her a pair of binoculars stating she shouldn’t be sad afterall. When Sophie looked in to the binoculars, she saw Bill and Harry doing the Titanic pose on the deck of one of the three boatload of people headed to the island singing and dancing to Dancing Queen.
5. I Have A Dream
I loved how the team was able to capture the moments of
Young Donna and transcend it to present time. Lily James belting her heart out
as a Young Donna transitioning to Amanda Seyfried as Sophie really soared up
the emotion of the audience. It showcased the similarities and the contradictions
of both the past and present timeline while letting its viewers feel the interlaced
emotions between both mother and daughter. It’s like literally walking back to
memory lane specially during the part when they showed how the old house transformed
into its current design that we all remember from the first film.
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| Honey, Honey. Image Source: http://hdwallpapersbuzz.com |
I loved how the film was able to create the nostalgic effect not just through visuals and music but also through reaching out to the emotions of the audience. You can feel the sadness, the uncertainty, even the joy that Donna and Sophie felt in the movie.
6. Knowing Me, Knowing You
For me, this is the film’s answer to Meryl Streep and Pierce Brosnan’s wonderful
performance of S.O.S. from the first film. When Young Donna (Lily
James) discovers that Harry was engaged to another woman and they broke up, I
can really feel the pain of a heart being broken for the first time and, having
watched the first film, I understood how that pain remained for years in Donna’s
heart.
It explained the pain and anger Donna felt when she faced Sam in the first Mamma Mia. It was so raw and honest. Lily James did a wonderful job on this scene.
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| Young Donna and Young Sam. Image Source: http://gramunion.com |
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| Knowing Me, Knowing You. Image Source: https://it.wikipedia.org |
It explained the pain and anger Donna felt when she faced Sam in the first Mamma Mia. It was so raw and honest. Lily James did a wonderful job on this scene.
7. My Love, My Life
I’ll admit. I was disappointed to know that Meryl Streep’s character died in the movie. I would have loved to see her again belting out those ABBA songs. I even overheard the guy sitting next to me in the cinema that the only reason he agreed to watch the film with her girlfriend or wife was because of Meryl Streep. Unfortunately for him, he would have to sit through the entire movie because Meryl Streep’s presence in the film couldn’t be seen until the last few minutes.
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| Image Source: https://www.bbc.com |
When Sophie gave birth and was about to dedicate her child for Christening, she expressed how she wish her mom was there to her grandmother and father. Her grandmother, played by Cher, comforted her with the assurance that her mother is there with them. I’m sure she meant in spirit. But as Sophie enters the church holding her baby, the scene transitions back and forth to Amanda Seyfried and Lily James in an identical pose and shot. This shows how Young Donna started her life as a mother and how Sophie is starting hers as well.
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| My Love, My Life. Image Source: https://www.express.co.uk |
At the altar, Meryl Streep stands invisible from everyone inside. Amanda looks up to her as if she was the only one who can see her. They sang a tear-jerking duet of My Love, My Life.
Bato ka na lang pag di ka umiyak sa eksenang ito.
8. Fernando
That moment when Cher steps down the balcony singing the first lines of Fernando was so fabulous. When the song reached the chorus part, Cher was slow dancing with Andy Garcia who plays the hotel manager, Fernando Cienfuegos, with fireworks as their backdrop. Cher made quite an entrance which befitted a diva like her. Cher playing the role of Sophie’s grandmother compensated for Meryl’s absence in almost the whole film.
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| Fernando. Image Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk |
9. Younger versions
I give two thumbs up to the people who casted those younger
versions of Donna, Tanya, Rosie, Bill, Harry, and Sam. They did a great job in selecting
actors who will play these roles. It was not just a mere impression or
mimicking of the nuances of the older actors. It was capturing the
personalities of the characters as well, making it believable for the audiences
that these actors will really grow up to be Meryl Streep, Christine Baranski,
Julie Walters, Stellan Skarsgard, Colin Firth, and Pierce Brosnan. All actors
lived up the expectation.
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| Image Source: https://people.com |
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| Image Source: https://people.com |
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| Image Source: https://people.com |
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| Image Source: https://people.com |
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| Image Source: https://people.com |
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| Image Source: https://people.com |
10. Super Trouper
My hubby and I specially enjoyed the closing act which is a 2018 version of Super Trouper with the entire cast including Meryl and Cher singing with their younger counterparts. It breaks the time barrier between the characters and treats the audience into an eargasm and visual bliss of wonderful talents. While still staying much into their characters, the performance really gave us the chance to compare the young characters vs. their seniors.
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| Image Source: https://www.spectator.co.uk |
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| Image Source: http://www.simplystreep.com |
I am no longer expecting a third installment of the film because the storyline has already given a great conclusion of Donna’s journey. But I would be very happy if some creative minds could still churn out another plot that could weave through this saga.
I also think rebooting this film with new characters may take a while because with the great acting prowess of the actors in this film, their roles would definitely be a lot of huge shoes to fill in. I don’t think we can still find another Meryl Streep in this lifetime.
"May the rest of our lives be the BEST of our lives!"
- Tanya
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