First Critic Reactions for Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again

The reactions are coming in for the best named sequel of all-time Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again and they are overwhelmingly positive.

The follow-up to the hit 2008 ABBA musical comes out in Ireland this Friday July 20. However, critics have cast their judgement and their laying all their love on it.

Currently sitting at 89 per cent on Rotten Tomatoes, Johnny Oleksinski called it 'deliciously insane', stating it's 'significantly improved in every way: singing, casting, cinematography, writing' from the first.

Vanity Fair's Richard Lawson called it 'perfect summer escapism,' praising newcomer to franchise Cher's performance an 'arch delight: "As soon as she shows up on screen, you feel in capable, familiar hands."

Many reviews signaled out Cher for praise. Alan Jones of the Radio Times said: "The moment white-wigged Cher steps out of her helicopter, she owns the movie hook, line and sinker," while Geoffrey Macnab of The Independent reported: "Cher upstages almost everyone else in a duet she shares with a twinkly-eyed Andy Garcia."

Not every review was glowing. Indiewire's Kate Erbland said that without a key character from the first (to reveal their absence would be a spoiler) the movie 'doesn't sing'.

Meanwhile, Leslie Felperin of The Hollywood Reporter said the use of Abba songs is less successful than the first. The critic writes: "There’s a reason such tunes as “When I Kissed the Teacher,” “Kisses of Fire” and “My Love, My Life” didn’t become hits on the same scale as the aforementioned tunes. Hint: They’re kind of crap."

The musical is a part sequel, part prequel. Half focuses on Amanda Seyfried's Sophie pregnant in the present day on Greek island Kalokairi. Meanwhile, the rest centres on her mother (played by Meryl Streep in the first) in her youth when she first came to the country. Baby Driver's Lily James plays a younger Streep.

Check out the trailer below.