“Mamma Mia! 2”: sugary musical with ABBA unobvious songs - and with Cher instead of Meryl Streep
Ol Parker's film “Mamma Mia! 2”- continuation of the musical of 2008 with songs of the ABBA group. Amanda Seyfried and Lily James played the leading roles in it, and Meryl Streep, who played the key character in the previous part, almost never appears in the film. I believe that the film will be liked first by the fans of the first “Mamma Mia!” - the rest will probably appreciate the retro atmosphere of the film, several musical numbers and the outstanding cameo Stellan Skarsgård.
If you fell in love with the first “Mamma Mia!” Phyllida Lloyd ten years ago, you still go to watch the sequel and get pleasure from this process, no matter how you are dissuaded. If that musical seemed far-fetched to you, sweet and overly optimistic, you will not be dragged to the second part. Therefore, the field for discussion here is obviously limited. However, something important about “Mamma Mia! 2, you can say.
Firstly, the minimalistic plot about a girl with a cheerful reveler-mother and three possible fathers and in the first picture was stretched to a full meter solely due to the songs. Here, the plot is absent in principle. In terms of intrigue, the film is designed so that it could serve as a full-length dvd-bonus to the first part.
The action takes place in two layers - modern and historical. In the present Sophie (the same Amanda Seyfried) is preparing for the opening after repair the hotel founded by her mother and waiting for the holiday of three dads and husband. Strictly speaking, nothing but expectation, her (and spectator) time is not taken. This expectation is brightened up by memories of Donna’s mother’s stray youth — and the very conception of Sophie that was mentioned so much in the previous series. In addition, here he is shown, albeit with all that befitting Hollywood chastity.
Everything important happened in the first “Mamma Mia!”, and the second diligently consolidates the material covered. There are only two major shifts in the plot. One of them is the death of Donna, the heroine of Meryl Streep, on which the previous film rested (it would have been logical to conclude that diva’s refusal to act in an apparently trifling sequel, but no, she will appear in flashbacks and sing a couple or two verses). The other is the culmination, which, in order to avoid spoilers, we will hide from readers.
Secondly, Lloyd's successor, Ol Parker (best known as the screenwriter of the two series The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel), did not accidentally use the structure “The Godfather Part II” - perhaps the most respectable and successful sequel in the history of American cinema. The most interesting thing happens in the past, and the retro atmosphere serves as a valuable attraction, even outside the sensible plot. Especially since the ABBA songs sound much more appropriately in the entourage of the dashing 1970s. Three handsome young Donna's boyfriends are equally attractive and inexpressive - as soon as Pierce Brosnan, Stellan Skarsgård and Colin Firth could grow from such? - But the heroine herself was a success. Smiling, sly and lilting Lily James in the role of a living embodiment of the disco-era is no less organic than in the quality of Cinderella. She - the main acquisition and wealth of the film.
Finally, thirdly, the best and most suitable songs of the Swedish quartet for building a consistent narrative have already been used in the first series. Alas. Alternatively, ABBA soloists Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus approached selection of suitable hits less responsibly than before. In Mamma Mia! 2 ”there are some strong musical numbers (although the choreography in them is, at best, trivial): first of all, the militant costumed “Waterloo” and the most gentle “Fernando”, which brought to life a separate character - a stern and romantic elderly macho, played by Andy Garcia . However, the bet on such songs as “Iʼve Been Waiting for You” or “My Love, My Life” was clearly mistaken. Not that they were bad in themselves - just really captivate the viewer and convince him not to sing along. Probably, the authors of the film felt it themselves and were forced to return to the win-win Dancing Queen already sounded in the first part and, in fact, Mamma Mia.
There is nothing bad about it. The sea, the sun, Greece, a lot of music and dance, wine and food, love and warmth. Artificial vigor is perhaps better than natural depression. At the end of a grueling summer that did not indulge in good movies, “Mamma Mia! 2”- a well-deserved dessert: sweet to the mind and soothing nerves. In addition, even the appearance of Cher as a grandmother, loudly chanting ABBA hits (she was given the best drums, they did not dare to do otherwise), is almost not annoying. One absurd moment in the film is good at all without discounts: an unexpected phenomenon of the twin brother of the hero Skarsgård, played by him. True, the episode lasts less than a minute, and it is a little offensive. It would be better if the songs were shortened: Sweden has other cultural achievements besides ABBA.