Mama Mia - Here We Go Again -Review - Melissa Keir

Join in the Dance Party!! Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again #movie_review

7/21/2018

Return to 1979 as Donna sets out to find herself in the sequel to Mamma Mia.
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Sophie (Amanda Seyfried) is determined to re-open her mother’s hotel and make it a success after her mother’s death. In the days leading up to the opening, things go wrong—weather, travel and missing loved ones—turn the event into a disaster. Feeling like she’s let her mother down, Sophie wallows in despair. 

​Through flashbacks to 1979, we see Donna (Lily James) set out after her college graduation. She meets up with Harry (Hugh Skinner) in Paris but she’s called by fate to Greece. Along the way, she meets Bill (Josh Dylan) who gives her a lift to the island, Kalokairi, where she ends up staying in a run-down home and meets Sam (Jeremy Irvine), who is escaping his responsibilities back in the US. 

​Each man is one of Sophie’s potential fathers who are determined to get to the grand re-opening. Sam (Pierce Brosnan), who married Donna (Meryl Streep) at the end of Mamma Mia, lives on the island in a home overlooking the hotel. His wife’s death has weighed on him but he’s determined to do anything and everything to help Sophie. Donna’s best friends, Tanya (Christine Baranski) and Rosie (Julie Walters) return to the villa to kick off the party. Sadly, Sophie’s husband, Sky (Dominic Cooper) is in New York and can’t be there…in fact, he’s been offered a job of a lifetime to stay in New York.

​Sophie’s and Donna’s worlds combine when Sophie finds out she’s pregnant in the same place as her mother. As she grapples with her mother’s loss, the coming baby brings her closer than ever to her mom.

​Featuring more songs by ABBA, Mamma Mia 2 is a grittier story with more emotion than the first one. This one will require tissues! The first movie focused on family and fathers while this movie’s focus is on mothers as we learn more about Donna’s early life. 

​Cher shows up in a cameo which seems forced and not really needed. But hey, it’s Cher. Lily James as a young Donna is entertaining. For fans of the original, there were many secret nods to only things fans will get—twins, spontaneous, Titanic recreations. While many of the songs aren’t as well known, they will quickly become some of your favorites. Two of the members of ABBA even show up in cameos. The musical numbers are fun with strong dance numbers and toe tapping songs. 

There are some continuity issues from the first movie which become glaring when you re-watch the first soon after seeing the second. But that’s what happens when ten years pass between two movies and when writers are forced to use songs to tell a story. Suspend disbelief and go along for the ride. Mamma Mia will appeal to fans of the original. The theater was filled with groups of women out enjoying some camaraderie together, celebrating life.

PS. Be sure to stay for a special after credits scene….way at the end!

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Michigan Avenue Media - Podcast -August 1 2018 -Jack Remick - Guest

 Link to the August 1 show

Please join Marsha Casper Cook on August 1, 2018  4:30 EST 3:30 CST 2:30 MT 1:30 PST when Marsha welcomes Jack Remick, a poet, short story writer and novelist. It's going to be a great discussion as always. Jack brings such flavor to the craft of writing especially in his new novel Citadel.


Citadel is a much needed, unforgiving and unapologetic evisceration of the idea of female inferiority we have so primitively accepted today and throughout history. Remick shows tremendous skill in the way he attacks such a heated and complicated subject. He never shies away from the atrocious acts of violence against women, but neither does he lose the magic of his whirlwind storytelling in favor of lecture. Citadel is an honest, sometimes savage look at the relationship between men and women, and what the world could be like if women were in control.

Based in Chicago, Illinois, Marsha Casper Cook is an award-winning American author, scriptwriter, and writing coach who also provides audio books to her readers. She has been doing podcasts for over eight years and loves it.

For more info or to be a guest http://www.michiganavenuemedia.com

Citidel  https://www.amazon.com/default/e/B001IOBPOW/ -  

Marsha Casper Cook - Short Sexy Story 2018 - review - Grady Harp

 

 

Friday, July 13, 2018

Book Review: ‘Every Man Wants Her: A Virginia Templeton Stories (The Virginia Templeton Series Book 1)’ by Marsha Casper Cook

Chicago author Marsha Casper Cook is also a screenwriter and radio show personality on Blog Talk Radio discussing writing, publishing and advocating October Breast Cancer Awareness. She is the founder of Michigan Avenue Media and a partner of the World of Ink Network where she does her podcast, A Good Story Is A Good Story. She also tackles many subjects that are currently in the news. The World Of Ink/ Michigan Avenue Media has produced hundreds of shows over the last eight years and will continue to help writers reach their goals as she did when Marsha founded the literary agency Marcus Bryan & Associates in 1996. She achieved signatory status from the Writers Guild of America (WGA) within two years. In that capacity, she has represented more than 100 screenwriters and authors, and has also optioned books to movie production companies. Her own novels include romance, adventure, inspirational books, fiction, non-fiction and children’s stories.
Refreshingly, Marsha has decided to create a series of short stories based on her favored character Virginia Templeton – a lady who wants it all – money, power, men and sex. Marsha knows how to build credible characters and prepare her reader with a grounded platform that seems so real that the story she is about to launch gives us the comfort to laugh at our own similarities and foibles. We first meet Virginia – ‘Virginia Templeton arrived at her psychiatrist’s office, ten minutes late as usual. She was always late, as she rather enjoyed a grand entrance. Virginia was beautiful and knew it, tall and graceful, with hips tapering into long, slender legs. A body to die for, as they say. All heads turned when Virginia entered a room; women wanted to be her, and men just wanted her. She was just as sexy dressed as she was undressed, as she absolutely loved fashion. Her favorite expression was “shop until you drop,” and she did just that. Virginia loved expensive clothes and shoes―oh, how she loved shoes―and accessorized every outfit. She didn’t look at price tags and, luckily, she didn’t need to. Virginia’s image didn’t allow her to be all smiles or say nice things, as she preferred to play the misunderstood diva and use her good looks for favors. People didn’t cross the line with Virginia often and, when they did, her wrath was like nobody else’s.’
Marsha sings her short story in this casual manner – ‘Business and pleasure don’t always mix but it’s a hell of way to live. Life in the fast lane isn’t for everyone but for this couple it’s their way of life. Everyone in Chicago knows them and internationally they are the glamour couple. He’s a hotel magnet- the center of it all but what happens in a short amount of time will surprise everyone.’ Lots of naughty steamy erotica served generously likely indicates this talented lady has another successful venture on her hands. Grady Harp, June 18

Editor’s note: This review has been published with the permission of Grady Harp. Like what you read? Subscribe to the SFRB‘s free daily email notice so you can be up-to-date on our latest articles. Scroll up this page to the sign-up field on your right.