Fueled by nostalgia

Film review: Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again

MANILA, Philippines — It’s been 10 years since the first film charmed its way into the hearts of many, and close to half a century since the band ABBA began their meteoric rise on the pop charts. So, it’s never been a secret that Mamma Mia! — both as an original stage musical and then as a film — worked on the principle that nostalgic works best when served up with songs so retro and classic, they’re now cool, and that everyone loves a love story. Here We Go Again doesn’t really stray from the formula, giving us both sequel and prequel elements in equal measure, with the “love story times three” aspect retained.

And when you reassemble the star power that helped propel the first film’s success for this new installment, how can you go wrong? For the first section of the film, we’re in prequel mode with Lily James taking on the role of the young Donna (the character Meryl Streep played to perfection in the first film). It’s the 1970s, and James faithfully recaptures the free spirit/hippie vibe that characterizes Donna. The two best friends (young Rosie and Tanya), her encountering the three men in her life (young Sam, Harry and Bill) — they’re all given the spotlight as we’re treated to an “origins” tale of how Donna arrived on the Greek island of Kalokairi.

Interspersed with this is the rather turgid narrative of Sophie (Amanda Seyfried) re-opening the renovated Hotel Bella Donna and trying to do her mother, Donna, proud; while encountering marital issues with husband Sky. And I say turgid because if there’s a spark in the first half of the film, it comes from the prequel narrative. For the sequel story to capture our interest, it takes the arrival of the original cast members in the forms of present-day Rosie (Julie Walters) and Tanya (Christine Baranski). With killer lines courtesy of Baranski and cheeky emoting coming from Walters, this narrative comes to life as audiences find that connection to the first film rekindled in a great way.

This connection is intensified when we finally get Colin Firth and Stellan Skarsgard showing up; and reminding us why the campy and cheesy was so much fun in the first film. Pierce Brosnan does show up earlier than the two, but is straitjacketed in his first scenes, as brooding, grieving widower. There’s also a great support role turned in by the Greek immigration port officer, in both time narratives.

With cameos in the film are Cher — you’ll love how she makes Fernando her very own song — and at the film’s very tail end, Streep singing My Love, My Life, and bringing everyone in the theater to tears, as she makes it a hymn to the bond between mother and daughter.

With most of ABBA Gold used in the first film, the soundtrack to Here We Go Again (kudos to writer-director Ol Parker for coming up with the film’s title) is admittedly filled with lesser-known tracks; so of course, we reformat some of the bigger hits. There are a few missteps here and there, but you have to commend the film for being so enthusiastic and reveling in the nostalgia. The faithful out there will not be disappointed.

Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again is now showing in theaters.