Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again (2018)

Director/writer: Ol Parker

WARNING: SPOILERS! 

Picture this: you live in a parallel universe, where everything in the world is exactly the same as it is in reality, except the only people who have ever written music are the extremely talented members of ABBA. And the only people you ever meet are Colin Firth and company. If that sounds appealing to you, then by God you will love Mamma Mia 2. 

Acting as both a prequel and sequel to 2008's Mamma Mia, this film is better than the original in nearly every way. Sure, its premise may still be as ridiculous as it was first time around and there's not as much of the original's beloved cast, but this film is a massive hit from start to finish.

Normally, one would save the film's greatest strength as the last to write about, but I just cannot wait to write about how fantastic Lily James is. Already having proven her ability in last year's Baby Driver and Darkest Hour, this is James' true breakout performance. She is utterly convincing as a young Donna Sheridan and her likability elevates the film immeasurably. James is by some stretch the strongest vocalist in the main cast and does an impressive job of replicating Meryl Streep's Donna from Mamma Mia 1. Seriously, this film is worth seeing for James alone.

Writer Ol Parker also made some very wise choices with the music for this film. The favourites from the first film are still here (Mamma Mia, Dancing Queen, et al), but some of the new additions are inspired. Angel Eyes is used particularly well, once again bringing the best out of the superb Christine Baranski and Julie Walters, while James and Hugh Skinner bring Waterloo brilliantly to life.

The film's editing and direction are inventive and the performances of the young cast are vivid and enjoyable. Perhaps the film's biggest weakness is its under-usage of the stars of the first film. Colin Firth and Stellan Skarsgard aren't seen until an hour into the film and when they do appear, they take a back seat. Walters, Baranski and Amanda Seyfried are the only original cast members who get anywhere near the screen time they had in the first film.

That being said, the prolonged absence of Meryl Streep is vindicated by that tearjerker of a penultimate song. An incredibly emotional rendition of My Love, My Life is the perfect way to use Streep, given the plot. For such a lighthearted and fun film, this scene packs a real emotional punch.

It must also be said that Amanda Seyfried has improved noticeably since the first film. Both as an actress and a vocalist, Seyfried has matured fantastically and the improvements are even noticeable from her turn as Cosette in Les Misérables. This improvement may be down to the fact her character is given a lot more of meaning to do in this film than the original, but nonetheless she does a very impressive job with what she is given.

Oh, and Cher is in this movie too. Her scenes are fun, particularly her duet with Andy Garcia on Fernando, but it says a lot about the quality of the rest of the film that it would not feel any lesser without her.

In summary, the music is great, the stars are great and Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again is a fantastically fun watch. Dragged down only by the sparing use of Firth, Skarsgaard and Dominic Cooper, it hits all of the right notes. Unlike Pierce Brosnan.

Eoin Harrington