Mother’s Day might be over, but movies and shows that honor the holiday spirit ensure that appreciating Mom never goes out of style! However, after the celebration ends, there is only one franchise that can encapsulate the mood better than dessert: “Mamma Mia!”
Released in 2008 and based on the popular stage musical, the first film in the franchise made roughly $611 million worldwide at the box office. Its 2018 follow-up, the aptly titled “Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again,” made over $395 million worldwide. Until recently, “Mamma Mia!” was also “the highest-grossing Broadway adaptation in global box office history,” an achievement that can’t be diminished.
At its center, a combination of situational hijinks, high-spirited musical numbers and sincere character relationships gives the series everything it needs to be a surefire hit. But since the devil is in the details, here are three major reasons as to why the “Mamma Mia!” franchise is the ultimate Mother’s Day re-watch.
If there has ever been a more upbeat and celebratory film than the original “Mamma Mia,” it definitely has some competition. From the start, the film easily hooks the viewer by carefully incorporating its ABBA soundtrack into different dramatic moments. When the film opens with Sophie (Amanda Seyfried) softly singing “I Have a Dream” while mailing invitations to her potential fathers, it underscores her hopeful intentions and endearing personality. From this moment on, the viewer’s expectations align with Sophie’s, and one begins to feel just as excited and uncertain about her choices as she does.
Later, the introduction of Sam (Pierce Brosnan), Bill (Stellan Skarsgård) and Harry (Colin Firth) set to an instrumental version of “Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)” accomplishes something similar. The background music builds upon Sophie’s earlier intrigue, and the quick cuts between shots ramp up the tempo of the runtime. In short, the first few minutes of “Mamma Mia” set the stage by making the most of its acoustic capabilities.
The opening of the film effectively demonstrates how easy it is to become swept away by its premise time and time again. ABBA songs populate every corner of the film, and each piece of music (sung or unsung) adds more emotional resonance to the troubles of the characters. Even if one has already seen how the men’s arrival impacts Sophie’s wedding and Donna’s (Meryl Streep) life, the film’s musical structure makes returning to these plot points endlessly satisfying.
The same could also be said for “Here We Go Again,” but especially in the context of a full re-watch. After reliving the original in all its disco glory, the sequel becomes a cathartic reward for one’s emotional investment and impromptu karaoke.
The next best aspect of the “Mamma Mia” franchise comes straight out of the relationship between Sophie and her mother, Donna. While the scenery and musical numbers keep things upbeat for the viewer, Sophie and Donna’s relationship as mother and daughter bring in just the right amount of realism and sincerity. When Donna helps Sophie prepare for her wedding ceremony, Streep’s rendition of “Slipping Through My Fingers” gently carries the viewer through a montage of relatable moments which underscore their bond. The musical number is relatively understated, but its emotional impact will leave one tearfully reminiscing about their own fond memories with Mom for days to come.
If the first film in the “Mamma Mia” franchise fails to pull at one’s heartstrings, then the sequel is sure to take on that challenge to the fullest extent. Since “Here We Go Again” examines Donna’s (Lily James) early life as she meets Sophie’s potential fathers through similarly quirky events, the viewer relates to her in a new way. Spotlighting Donna’s younger years adds more context (and interest) to the headstrong woman we first encounter as much more reserved and emotionally spent.
Arguably, this version of Donna paired with the reappearance of Streep’s Donna provides the strongest emotional beats. As the older Donna sings “My Love, My Life” to Sophie, now a mother herself, the poignancy of their relationship from the first film successfully carries over to the second. This reversal of places, in more ways than one, thus brings another kind of relatability to their relationship for the viewer. Ultimately, the particular focus on Donna’s character in the second film may bring a wave of feelings to the surface for any viewer relating to Sophie and Donna’s mother-daughter relationship.
Put frankly, “Mamma Mia” and its sequel are films that never set out to win Oscars or impress highly critical critics. The first film’s rotten tomatoes score of 55% alone can attest to that fact. But it’s these “rotten” aspects that make the franchise what it is.
The most outlandish moments in “Mamma Mia” and “Here We Go Again,” which includes Cher’s role as the older Donna’s mother, create a distinctive uniqueness to both films. Just as the Star Wars prequels became uniquely beloved for their goofy CGI and cringy dialogue, so too is the “Mamma Mia” franchise known for its “campy tone” overall.
So now that Mother’s Day is done, queue up the only two films that can honor Mom and her inner Dancing Queen at the same exact time.
