Review: Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again (Movie)

In these heavy days of never-ending news broadcasts and the importance of being involved with politics and voting and the #MeToo movement and every other big thing I believe in, I relish every second I have for fun, entertainment, and escape.

Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again hits all my take-me-away buttons. From the singalong songs to the beautiful seaside setting and all-star cast, this movie--written and directed by Ol Parker--puts a smile on my face. It's now out on DVD, Blu-Ray, 4k Ultra HD, and digital download, which means I'll be able to watch Mamma Mia 2 whenever I need it most and on whatever device is handy.

A big shout-out to Universal Pictures Home Entertainment for sending me a review copy. I loved all the amazing extras: deleted songs and scenes, enhanced music, interviews and behind-the-scenes insight, the sets and costumes, and commentary from the director and producer.

Okay, so let me tell you what I really think! Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again is both a prequel and a sequel to the story of Donna (played by Meryl Streep), the single mother we met in the first Mamma Mia! movie. The film begins with Donna's daughter, Sophie, getting ready for the grand opening of their refurbished Greek Island inn but soon turns to stories of how Donna met three great guys (all Sophie's dads), had a singing group (the Dynamos), and ended up moving to the island permanently.

I thought the actors who played the young fathers (Hugh Skinner, Josh Dylan, Jeremy Irvine) and young Dynamos (Jessica Keenan-Wynn, Alexa Davies, and Lily James) were fantastic matches to the older actors (Colin Firth, Pierce Brosnan, Stellan Skarsgård, Meryl Streep, Christine Baranski and Julie Walters). The dancing and singing were toe-tapping good, and I like the way ABBA's songs inspired the action. Plus, did I mention Colin Firth?

Although I know I'll watch Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again a few (okay, a zillion) more times, I have to admit the plot was a little thin. I was also a little disappointed in Cher, who was not at the top of her acting game here. Finally, I missed Meryl Streep as the main character. But, honestly, I wasn't expecting this movie to be an Oscar contender. I was looking for singing, dancing, fun, and a little romance, and Mamma Mia! Hear We Go Again gave that to me in spades -- even if I sobbed at the end.

Put the Blu-Ray, DVD, digital download combo pack of Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again on your holiday gift list. I bet you know a few people who would love to escape to Donna's island at a moment's notice.

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Movie & Giveaway: The Girl on the Train

Did you read Paula Hawkins's The Girl on the Train? In this psychological thriller, a woman of questionable stability thinks she witnessed a crime while looking out the window of her commuter train. There is a lot more going on than just the possible crime, though. Rachel is coping a number of personal problems related to her recent divorce, too much alcohol, and her crumbling job. She is also a little too obsessed with a couple she sees from the train every day to and from work.

Because I enjoyed the book, I am more than a little curious about the movie The Girl on the Train, which is directed by Tate Taylor (who also directed The Help) and produced by Marc Platt (of Into the Woods fame). The movie opens in theaters on October 7.

The cast looks perfect for the story: The stars include Emily Blunt, Rebecca Ferguson, Haley Bennett, and Justin Theroux. The DreamWorks Pictures production is being released by Universal Pictures.

Here is the studio's summary:

The Girl on the Train is the story of Rachel Watson's (Blunt) life post-divorce. Every day, she takes the train in to work in New York, and every day the train passes by her old house. The house she lived in with her husband, who still lives there, with his new wife and child (Ferguson and Theroux). As she attempts to not focus on her pain, she starts watching a couple who live a few houses down--Megan and Scott Hipwell (Bennett and Evans). She creates a wonderful dream life for them in her head, about how they are a perfect happy family. And then one day, as the train passes, she sees something shocking, filling her with rage. The next day, she wakes up with a horrible hangover, various wounds and bruises, and no memory of the night before. She has only a feeling: something bad happened. Then come the TV reports: Megan Hipwell is missing. Rachel becomes invested in the case and trying to find out what happened to Megan, where she is, and what exactly she herself was up to that same night Megan went missing.

I can tell you there are some good twists, creepy characters, and puzzles to figure out. The novel is sure to be super on the silver screen. Take a look at the trailer:

Get Social: To keep up with all the latest about the movie The Girl on the Train, be sure to follow #TheGirlOnTheTrain across your social media sites. Don't forget to visit the movie's website, like the film on Facebook, and follow along on Twitter and Instagram.

The Giveaway: Thanks to Universal Pictures, I'm able offer one of my readers with a USA  mailing address a fabulous prize pack consisting of a $25 Fandango gift card for a night at the movies with The Girl on the Train PLUS a very cool Black Sling Bag, Luggage Tag, and Lip Balm. You won't want to miss this great opportunity to see the movie and score some awesome swag. All you have to do to be entered for a chance to win is to fill out the following form. I'll pick a winner via random number generator on September 29. Once the winner has been verified, I'll erase all personal information from my computer. Good luck!

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Review: A Walk among the Tombstones (Movie)

The movie A Walk among Tombstones (directed by Scott Frank) has many elements that promise good entertainment. Not only does it star Liam Neeson but it's based on author Lawrence Block's award-winning Matt Scudder mysteries.

Before I get into my thoughts, here's the studio's summary:

Based on Lawrence Block’s bestselling series of mystery novels, A Walk among the Tombstones stars Liam Neeson as Matt Scudder, an ex-NYPD cop who now works as an unlicensed private investigator operating just outside the law. When Scudder reluctantly agrees to help a heroin trafficker (Dan Stevens) hunt down the men who kidnapped and then brutally murdered his wife, the PI learns that this is not the first time these men have committed this sort of twisted crime . . . nor will it be the last. Blurring the lines between right and wrong, Scudder races to track the deviants through the backstreets of New York City before they kill again.

The good: Neeson does a great job capturing the character of Scudder, who has given up alcohol and his NYPD badge to take up freelancing. He is brooding and still battling the demons that prompted him to leave the police force. In addition the period details (for example, everyone is worried about Y2K) and muted lighting both fit the story well. The action scenes pulled me in, and I was appropriately startled by a couple of the plot points.

The well, OK, I'll buy it: The time period is 1999, and Scudder is still not up to par with modern technology. But fortunately for him, he meets and befriends the teenaged TJ (played by Brian "Astro" Bradley), who helps him navigate the library's computer. TJ is homeless but seems plenty clean and very familiar with technology (maybe because he sleeps in the library when he can get away with it). His jive talk also seems a little bit off to me, but I'm not sure.

The not so good: Unfortunately, this movie wasn't a total hit for me. First, I felt the plot dragged at times, and for some reason, I wasn't worried enough about the fate of the potential next murder victim. Maybe I just assumed that Scudder would figure it all out in time to save her, so I wasn't really on the edge of my seat. In addition, there were no strong female characters. In fact, I'm not sure if any of the women or girls had more than a line or two, if that. Finally, I thought the overall tough-guy atmosphere need more of a buffer or contrast.

The recommendation: Although A Walk among Tombstones was only so-so for me, it might work better for you. The Roger Ebert website had a lot of good things to say about the filming and adaptation of Block's character. Other sites seem to agree with me: Neeson's performance is worth watching, but keep your expectations in check.

Blu-ray + Digital HD: A Walk among Tombstones is now out in Blu-ray and digital editions (so you can "watch it anywhere"). The bonus features include a look behind the scenes and an exclusive titles "Matt Scudder: Private Eye." Thanks to Way to Blue and Universal Studios for providing me with a review copy.

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