It’s t-minus Mamma Mia folks! I purchased my tickets three weeks ago and as I write this you can see how long I have to wait before I get to see the sequel Mamma Mia – Here we go again!
I thought I’d give you some fun things to ponder until the time you get to go see it. P.S. Mr. Bee is being a super trouper and going with me, my girlfriend and her husband. Hey, after all the Enforcer and Jason Bourne movies we’ve watched with them, they can see eye candy, too.
First, get the soundtrack here. It features 18 songs, and the last song is sung by Meryl Streep — “Before you Came” so I think that gives us the clue as to whether or not she’s around for Sophie or just in spirit. This is the original motion picture soundtrack so it includes all the cast voices.
Second, speaking of eye candy, I cannot wait to see Pierce Brosnan. I literally have re-wound 7,000 times the scene at the end of the first movie when the water burst up through the patio and he and Meryl kiss. This man ages perfectly. Perfectly yummy.
You can thank me because I pinned this pic of him to my Mamma Mia Pinterest board for your viewing pleasure here.
Cher. She makes an appearance in the move as Sophie’s grandmother. Ol Parker, the director of the movie said, “if you’re making a sequel, “it’s an American sports thing: If you’re not playing offense, you’re playing defense.” In order to top the original Mamma Mia, Parker wanted to make sure that the sequel was bringing in something new (that wasn’t just an elaborate subtitle) — and what easier way is there to make a movie better than to bring in Cher? To quote her character in Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again: “That’s the best kind of party, little girl.” Here’s a clip of Cher singing Fernando at CinemaCon Las Vegas. Mind you, Cher is 71. And here’s some fun trivia: After casting Cher, Parker needed to find someone to play her romantic partner. Enter Andy García, who plays Fernando Cienfuegos, a dapper, well-bearded gentleman who works with Amanda Seyfried’s Sophie. And yes — the character was invented entirely so that Cher could sing “Fernando” at him. You’re welcome.
Most of the outdoor scenes were filmed on location at the small Greek island of Skopelos and the seaside hamlet of Damouchariin the Pelionarea of Greece. On Skopelos, Kastani beach on the south west coast was the film’s main location site. So I say it’s the perfect inspiration to eat dinner outside after the sun has set. Pile the table with candles, wine and delicious Greek-inspired food like we ate while vacationing in Turkey a few summers ago…piles of beautiful fruit, bread, olives, fresh vegetables.
Donna and Sophie — their clothes. As a nod to What Would Holley Wear if you were this iconic mother/daughter duo…rock those overalls and peasant blouse!
And we can’t have a party without a cocktail! How about the Santorini Sunrise. The recipe for this Mediterranean take on the Tequila Sunrise comes to us from the New York City restaurant Molyvos. Try using a Greek honey infused with thyme or rosemary for a more pronounced floral sweetness, or swap out the vodka for ouzo for an intoxicating punch of licorice flavor.
For the Grapefruit-Infused Vodka (makes about 3 cups)
For the Cocktail
Instructions
Hospitality is in my DNA. I founded Home with a Twist, a daughter’s twist on her mother’s traditions, in memory of my mother to celebrate her life and the gifts she shared with me. Mother loved to celebrate life’s occasions – big and small.
