It tries its best to deliver something new with what is in essence the same set of songs as the first film (and musical on which the movie is based). It dips into flash backs, origin stories and flushes out the characters with extended back stories. They even add Cher to the mix and bring Meryl Streep back from the grave.

It’s unfair to be too critical of all this effort as the end product is rather infectious and more than a little bit charming. The challenge is not to your intellect but to keep from tapping your toes and singing along to the little bits of ear candy.

Even if you’re not a fan of those Swedish superstars, you will know most of the lyrics through osmosis. Their songs have been used is almost every context. See Mama Mia: Here We Go Again with someone you love, especially if they love ABBA.

Rob Hudson
www.mammamiaherewegoagain.com.au

Mamma Mia Here We Go Again is going through Donna’s (played by Meryl Streep and Lily James) young life, experiencing the fun she had with the three possible Dad’s of Sophie (played by Amanda Seyfriend).

Ten years after Mamma Mia! The Movie grossed more than $600 million around the world, you are invited to return to the magical Greek island of Kalokairi in an all-new original musical based on the songs of ABBA. With the film’s original cast returning and new additions including Lily James (Cinderella, Baby Driver), the musical comedy will open in Summer 2018.

Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again is produced by Judy Craymer and Gary Goetzman, producers of the original film. Craymer is also the creator and producer of the worldwide smash-hit stage musical.

Ol Parker, writer of The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, writes and directs the sequel from a story by Catherine Johnson, Richard Curtis and Parker. Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus return to provide music and lyrics and serve as executive producers. Tom Hanks, Rita Wilson, Phyllida Lloyd, Richard Curtis and Nicky Kentish Barnes also serve as executive producers.

Reprising their roles from Mamma Mia! The Movie are Academy Award® winner Meryl Streep as Donna, Julie Walters as Rosie and Christine Baranski as Tanya. Amanda Seyfried and Dominic Cooper reunite as Sophie and Sky, while Pierce Brosnan, Stellan Skarsgård and Oscar®winner Colin Firth return to play Sophie’s three possible dads: Sam, Bill and Harry.

As the film goes back and forth in time to show how relationships forged in the past resonate in the present, James will play the role of Young Donna. Filling the roles of Young Rosie and Young Tanya are Alexa Davies (A Brilliant Young Mind) and Jessica Keenan Wynn (Broadway’s Beautiful). Young Sam will be played by Jeremy Irvine (War Horse), while Young Bill is Josh Dylan (Allied) and Young Harry is Hugh Skinner (Kill Your Friends).
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What the sequel lacks in character development, is more than made up for in sheer craziness. You really have to see the film to experience how over the top a current generation comedy can be. It’s also great to see that the women in the film are the comic legends and almost all the male cast members play the straight man in this comic stew.

The basic story line is one of the connections between mothers and daughters and each of these relationships strike a different tone. It’s this variety that makes it relatable to a wide selection of the audience. If nothing else, it makes you happy your own relationship with your parents was never quite this dysfunctional.

Seen back to back, the two films play well together. Bad Moms 2 will definitely be added to many people’s list of unconventional Christmas films that will be watched every holiday season. It fits nicely alongside other non traditional fare like Rare Export and the original Bad Santa and Die Hard.

Rob Hudson
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And if that was hard enough, they have to do all of that while hosting and entertaining their ultimate holiday foes: their own mothers. By the end of the journey, our moms have redefined how to make the holidays special for their families and it ends up bringing them closer to their own moms.

BAD MOMS 2 was directed by Jon Lucas and Scott Moore and produced by Suzanne Todd, who previously partnered on the first “Bad Moms”. The film stars Mila Kunis, Kristen Bell, Kathryn Hahn, Christine Baranski, Cheryl Hines and Susan Sarandon.

BAD MOMS 2 releases in Australian cinemas on November 2, 2017.
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