Sequel sticks to winning formula and stays on song

GET the biggest beach party of the summer started with this exuberant and surprisingly heartfelt sequel to the smash-hit musical rom-com of 2008.

This sticks to the successful formula of much-loved stars backed by an attractive young cast, a gorgeous location and the best pop tunes on the planet.

We’re back on Greek island Kalokairi, where Amanda Seyfried is preparing for a grand reopening of her mother’s hotel. But her relationship with Dominic Cooper is on the rocks and she’s panicking about being a single parent, like her mum.

We sadly see a lot less of Meryl Streep as her mum this time but in flashbacks Lily James plays the young version and relishes impersonating the grand dame of cinema. Meanwhile, Julie Walters, Colin Firth and Pierce Brosnan prove again they’re not above making fools of themselves for our pleasure. And bless the latter, he still can’t carry a tune.

Old smoothie Andy Garcia plays a local hotel manager and, er, old smoothie. But it is bona fide vocalist Cher who swans in to steal the show. As a middle-aged dad, I’m not the target audience. But watching it is like the night I was ambushed by a Geordie hen party and forced to neck cocktails and do karaoke. I couldn’t have escaped if I wanted to. Which I didn’t.

Mamma Mia 2’s determination to give a good time is relentless. I’m not saying it’s great but if you want sun-kissed, feelgood, poptastic silliness, it’s terrific.