Rave Review for Mamma Mia 2!

Attention, fans of Mamma Mia! Forget your worries about the questionable quality of a sequel to the wonderful film released ten years ago. Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again should make you very happy. In fact, this second outing might be even better than the first. As an avid Mamma Mia fan, I’m not being sacrilegious. 

Both films are terrific, but Here We Go Again includes some delightful surprises, one of which has changed my opinion about the use of flashbacks in film storytelling. I’ve usually found that annoying. However, Mamma Mia 2 meshes them seamlessly and artistically into what’s happening on screen. 

Another surprise involves an actor named Hugh Skinner, who portrays Colin Firth’s character (Harry) as a young man. His musical comedy talent wowed me in the rousing “Waterloo” number and made me yearn for days of yore when we could look forward to many musicals each year.

Sequel or prequel, it’s okay.

Cheer MAMMA MIA all the way.

Great ABBA songs performed with flair.

Movies like this are so darn rare.

Location shots pleasure our eyes.

Romantic scenes evoke soft sighs.

A sense of fun takes us away

from cares we face most every day.

Here we go again, that’s sure true.

We see, enjoy and don’t feel blue.

So full of love and life and song,

MAMMA MIA 2 can’t go wrong.

(Released by Universal Pictures and rated “PG-13” for some suggestive material.) 

Here Comes Annie Again

Movie musical fans, cheer up! I know the past few months have been bleak as far as our favorite genre is concerned, but Annie is on the way. This modernized version of the popular Broadway play dances into theaters nationwide on December 19. 

I love the songs, especially "It's a Hard Knock Life," which was one of my favorite routines to perform with the Mesa College Musical Comedy group during days of yore.

This new motion picture stars Jamie Foxx as a kind of Daddy Warbucks type character, Quevenzhane Wallis as the optimistic Annie, and Cameron Diaz as the mean Miss Hannigan (the role Carol Burnett played so hilariously in the previous Annie film). 

I, for one, can hardly wait to see this version. It should be a wonderful movie for the entire family.