It is the movie we all need, but certainly, don’t deserve.

Bringing together the original 2008 cast of Mamma Mia!, this sequel is a fun, reminiscent new chapter to the story audiences have loved for nearly two decades on stage and on film. At times solemn, Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again is more serious and consequential. It still finds a way, however, to be fun, upbeat, and to exude optimism for the future.

Picking up five years after the original, Sophie has taken charge of remodeling the hotel. She and Sky will soon learn some new information that will change their lives forever. Sophie’s three dads and Donna’s best friends also return to show support and help in their own way. And, as made evident by the film trailer earlier this year, Cher appears as Sophie’s grandmother. Her performance makes for one of the best moments in the movie.

Mamma Mia! is the perfect summer movie to dive into and fall in love with. It is a welcome escape from the trivialities of life and current events. For those two hours, audience members can also feel like they’re in Greece, singing, and dancing to ABBA’s greatest hits.

One moviegoer, who is a mother, said, “It made me cry, and this is music I’ve grown up with. It reminds me of my friends and I. If you love the first one, you’ll love this one.”

A teenage girl who saw the movie said, “I like how they tied in the past and present with Donna and Sophie. The music is so upbeat and nice, that it really makes you feel happy.”

Make no mistake, Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again is imperfect. The details of the story are inconsistent with the first. The over-the-top theatrics are glaring. But none of that matters. This movie is pure fun, flaws and all, and to take it too seriously would be to miss the whole point of Mamma Mia! That is, to entertain. Simple and honest entertainment for all.

Just like the original, this movie will stand the test of time and will be enjoyed for years to come. Just as it should.