Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again (Reactions Thread)

[Solipsist234]

Well, it's about that time, y'all! The sequel to the 2008 hit, Mamma Mia!, debuts Friday, and I am extremely excited for it!

For anyone going to early showings, or waiting until the weekend, post your thoughts here... :)

[Jonwo]

I imagine we'll see reactions tomorrow as the social media embargo drops tomorrow.

[ArtMan]

I had free tickets for an advanced screening tonight.  I decided I wasn't in the mood to watch it with a full house, even though it was free.

[ArtMan]

double post

[gleek4114]

I meant to post this awhile ago, but I saw an advanced screening about a week ago. The first Mamma Mia is a solid guilty pleasure, this transcends into decadent insanity. Don't get me wrong, I loved everything about it, but it's definitely one of those "so bad it's good" movies. For me Lily James is he highlight. She has a fantastic voice and embodies the spunky-ness of Donna effortlessly. 

 

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Addressing the elephant in the room, yes, Donna is dead. We learn that she passed away one year prior to the events of the film. They tiptoe around the issue and never reveal any cause of death. Just as the first film revolved around Sophie's wedding, this one is centered on the grand-reopening of the hotel Donna spent the better part of her life building. Which gives Bill, Harry, Sam, Tanya, and Rosie excuses to make appearances. There are a couple weak subplots that don't really go anywhere (Sophie and Sky are in a fight for about the first half of the film, and Cher's character Ruby reuniting with her long lost Latin lover, which is why she sings "Fernando". Highlights for me were deffinitely "When I Kissed the Teacher", "Fernando", and "Angel Eyes". The latter I mentioned includes fantastic comedic performances from Baranski and Walters.  

If anyone has any other questions, please let me know. I really enjoyed this movie for the fun time it is. If you think the first movie was campy and gay, just wait until you see this! 

[Jordan Catalano]

Is Meryl even in this one?

[gleek4114]

Jordan Catalano said: "Is Meryl even in this one?"

 

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Yes. She's in a "ghost" type form for the last song, then she is (obviously) in the mandatory "Super Trooper" megamix during the credits. She has MAYBE 6 minutes of screen time. 

 

[h6p8gv]

DOes it show wither SOphie is having a boy or a girl?

[gleek4114]

h6p8gv said: "DOes it show wither SOphie is having a boy or a girl?"

Yes. 

 

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It's a boy.

 

[Solipsist234]

This is probably just going to be a hard no, but do they ever reveal who Sophie's dad is based on the past scenes? Also, how much time in the actual film do they spend in the past?

[gleek4114]

Solipsist234 said: "This is probably just going to be a hard no, but do they ever reveal who Sophie's dad is based on the past scenes?Also, how much time in the actual film do they spend in the past?"

It's still a mystery, and it's probably half and half for the time shifts.

[robbie_731]

Well, the review embargo has broken, and so far reviews are mixed/slightly positive:


https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/mamma-mia-here-we-go-again-review-1127318


https://variety.com/2018/film/reviews/mamma-mia-here-we-go-again-review-1202874501/


https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/mamma-mia-here-we-go-again-review/5130954.article


https://www.indiewire.com/2018/07/mamma-mia-here-we-go-again-review-sequel-meryl-streep-1201984270/

[kofler22]

And how big is Cher’s charachter? Do they explain why she disowned Donna when she got pregnat?

[sng]

it's at 91% with 22 reviews rn on Rotten Tomatoes. 

[gleek4114]

kofler22 said: "And how big is Cher’s charachter? Do they explain why she disowned Donna when she got pregnat? "

Cher is basically only in the third act of the film. Big enough to make an impact, but not really a big presence in the film as a whole. Basically it's implied that Donna wanted the separation between herself and her mother. It's said that Ruby (Donna's mother), cared more about furthering her own career as a performer than being a grandmother and taking on a role in a family.

[RJ14]

They will make Mamma Mia 3 with Sophie finding out if Fernando is her real grandfather, won't they? 

[Jonwo]

gleek4114 said: "kofler22 said: "And how big is Cher’s charachter? Do they explain why she disowned Donna when she got pregnant? "

Cher is basically only in the third act of the film. Big enough to make an impact, but not really a big presence in the film as a whole. Basically it's implied that Donna wanted the separation between herself and her mother. It's said that Ruby (Donna's mother), cared more about furthering her own career as a performer than being a grandmother and taking on a role in a family."

I wonder what happened to Donna's father? Perhaps, if like Donna, Ruby doesn't know who he is. 

Also, if the flashbacks take place in 1979, doesn't that mean the present is set in 2004 or 2005 or is there no reference to when the present is set? 

[Jonwo]

gleek4114 said: "kofler22 said: "And how big is Cher’s charachter? Do they explain why she disowned Donna when she got pregnant? "

Cher is basically only in the third act of the film. Big enough to make an impact, but not really a big presence in the film as a whole. Basically it's implied that Donna wanted the separation between herself and her mother. It's said that Ruby (Donna's mother), cared more about furthering her own career as a performer than being a grandmother and taking on a role in a family."

I wonder what happened to Donna's father? Perhaps, if like Donna, Ruby doesn't know who he is. 

Also, if the flashbacks take place in 1979, doesn't that mean the present is set in 2004 or 2005 or is there no reference to when the present is set? 

[BobbyBubby]

I’m seeing it on Sunday. Someone compared it to Grease 2. Those are awfully big shoes to film. I’m a huge fan of movies so bad (though I think Grease 2 is actually a great film) that they loop around to good. If anything, it’s allowed me to call every sequel in the future “Here We Go Again”.

[kofler22]

Though no raves, the film is receiving positive reviews so far!

[Ado Annie D'Ysquith]

I watched the first movie again last week and realized that Donna and her friends allude to her mom being dead more than once. Is that ever mentioned, or has it become a mere continuity glitch?

Six minutes of screen time though...DAYUM...wonder how much Meryl pocketed for that!

[MusicalFan1030]

For those who have seen it, why is it pg-13? Anything too objectionable? 

[Jonwo]

MusicalFan1030 said: "For those who have seen it, why is it pg-13? Anything too objectionable?"

Mild sex references which seems a bit tame really, in the UK it's only a PG.

[gleek4114]

Ado Annie D'Ysquith said: "I watched the first movie againlast week and realized that Donna and her friends allude to her mom being dead more than once. Is that ever mentioned, or has it become a mere continuity glitch?

Six minutes of screen time though...DAYUM...wonder how much Meryl pocketed for that!"

Re: Donna's mother being dead

Its never discussed or clarified. That's one of the main plot holes. You just accept Donna's mother is  alive in this one. 

Don't think too hard for this one.

[pdjennings]

Our screening was last night.  It's definitely very good.  Maybe not as "fun" as the first one, as there are more lesser-known songs used ... and most are ballads. That said, the last 15 minutes or so are pretty stellar.