As many of you know I am a heavy metal and rock chick at heart. I love nothing more than headbanging away to the likes of Status Quo, Lez Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden and many more in the genre. But I do like some other music too, and I confess that I do have quite a soft spot for Abba.
So it will come as no surprise that I’ve been looking forward to “Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again” for weeks now, and I was so excited when I heard that they were releasing a sequel to the first “Mamma Mia” film! Apart from Pierce Brosnan’s singing, which is awful, I love the first film. It is fun, feel good and guaranteed to cheer me up no matter how I’m feeling. It is my go-to film whenever I need a little pick me up.
“Mamma Mia 2: Here We Go Again” is a few years after the first one, and we learn that Donna has passed away. Sophie is sending out invitations to the relaunch of the hotel, now called “La Bella Donna”, to her 3 Dads and friends as she has continued Donna’s dream and renovated the hotel.
The film goes back in time to show Donna when she left the UK and travelled to Greece, and shows her meeting Harry, Sam and Bill when they were all younger. You can’t help but sing along to all the songs, and no matter what genre of music you are into predominantly, Abba is almost universal. You find yourself clapping your hands and moving to the dulcet tones of “Dancing Queen”, “Fernando” and “SOS” to name but a few.
There are a few twists in the film, which I won’t reveal here in case anyone reading this hasn’t seen the film yet, but they were perfect and really helped to set the tone for the film. Oh, and I spotted Abba’s Bjorn Ulvaeus in a cameo role as a University Lecturer while Donna and the Dynamos burst into song with “When I Kissed the Teacher” at their graduation ceremony. He looks on disapprovingly as they sing, but inside I bet he is smiling with glee to see his creation come to life in a film!
At the end of the film, the audience clapped and cheered. Cher delivered a great performance as Sophie’s grandmother, even if she did look as if he has had one plastic surgery operation too many, and it was wonderful to see Meryl Streep reprise her role as Donna in a cameo performance at the end. It was so heart-warming, and you need your tissues when it finishes!
“Mamma Mia 2: Here We Go Again” is a huge triumph, and it is rare for a sequel to be better than the original film, but it more than delivers the goods. Bravo to all involved.
It is so good I have booked to go and see it a second time at Vue Cinema in Worcester next week. Here I go again!
Cyber Geek Girl
