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Submitted by Julio M

Mamma Mia
Here We Go Again
(2016)

The plot line of this movie, like The Godfather Part II, works as both a prequel and a sequel to the previous film.

Prequel:
Donna (Lily James) has respective summer flings with all three men we came to know in the first movie, back when she was young and free: Harry (Hugh Skinner), whom she met in Paris right after her college graduation; Bill (Josh Dylan), who gives her a boat ride to Kalokairi for the very first time, when she misses her transport; and Sam (Jeremy Irvine), whom she meets while looking for help for the distressed horse she finds in the abandoned farmhouse of what eventually becomes her hotel, during a storm.

She finds herself particularly smitten by Sam but, then, discovers he is engaged, angrily dumps him and he leaves. Later, she reacquaints with her college buddies Tanya (Jessica Keenan Wynn) and Rosie (Alexa Davies) and channels her depression over Sam into singing with them -hence, “Donna and the Dynamos”-. Bill briefly returns and he and Donna meet once more; at the same time, Sam, having broken his engagement in favour of being with Donna, returns, but, when he sees her with Bill, thinks she has moved on and leaves again to never return. Eventually, Donna discovers she is pregnant -and it is never clarified who the actual father is-, expresses her wish to stay in the island and, in turn, Sofia (Maria Vacratsis), the bar owner, allows her to have the farmhouse. There, she gives birth to Sophie and transforms the place into a hotel.

Sequel:
In the present day, Sophie (Amanda Seyfried) is preparing to reopen the hotel that belonged to her mother Donna (Meryl Streep), who died a year prior. At the same time, she is going through turbulent times with Sky (Dominic Cooper) -who is thinking of accepting a job in New York- and, to her dismay, her fathers Harry (Colin Firth) and Bill (Stellan Skarsgard) cannot make it to the island due to other personal commitments.

Meanwhile, Sophie has the support and help of her father Sam (Pierce Brosnan), still grieving over Donna’s passing, and hotel manager Sr. Cienfuegos (Andy Garcia); also, Tanya (Christine Baranski) and Rosie (Julie Walters) -who broke up with Bill- show up for her. Moreover, Harry and Bill eventually decide to ditch their commitments and make it to the island -party thanks to Alexio (Gerard Monaco), the kind fisherman they help declare his love for his woman in the past-, for the big party.

Sophie figures out she is pregnant, now really feeling connected to her mother’s experience, and joyfully announces it to everyone, which also mends her relationship with Sky -he has returned and decided to stay with her-. Bill and Rosie also reacquaint. And, to the surprise of everyone, Ruby (Cher), Donna’s mother and Sophie’s grandmother she had never met, appears, having been contacted by Sky in New York and with the intention of making up for lost time with her granddaughter. There, Ruby sees Sr. Cienfuegos, who happens to be her long-lost Mexican lover Fernando (and, it is implied, MAYBE Donna’s father), and they joyfully reunite as a couple.

Nine months later, Sophie’s baby boy is born and everyone gathers at the church for his christening. Donna’s spirit manifests at the ceremony, indicating she will always be there for her family. Tanya hints at a possible relationship with Fernando’s brother, Rafael (Jonathan Goldsmith). In the end, everyone has a massive party at the Hotel Bella Donna, while singing “Super Trouper.

Post-credits scene:
The Greek Customs Officer at the embarking dock (Omed Djalili) is seen openly flirting with Harry.