GOLDEN VALLEY, Minn. - It's a weekend full of sequels but do they live up to the originals?
Tim Lammers breaks down the second act of "Mama Mia" and "Equilizer" in Thursday's movie reviews.
"Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again" (PG-13) 2 1/2 stars (out of 4); Kid Quotient: None
Ten years after the hit movie based on the blockbuster stage musical, a questionable sequel to the ABBA-inspired "Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again" has finally arrived with mixed results. Loaded with a new set of lesser-known ABBA tunes and the return of some of the original film's hit favorites, "Here We Go Again" has its share of highs and lows for the first two-thirds of the film until it recaptures the full glory of the 2008 film in a strong third act.
"The Equalizer 2" (R) 2 1/2 stars (out of 4); Kid Quotient: None
Denzel Washington is back as Robert McCall – and this is a pretty big deal for Washington – since this is his first sequel in his career. McCall is a retired CIA Agent who still has knack for kicking the bad guys' butts when they're preying on the defenseless. Despite that, he's still trying to lead a low-profile existence by being a driver for a ride-sharing service – but he's pulled back into the spy game full-time when his colleagues are being assassinated – and he's on the list. Washington's great as usual, even though the plot is predictable and loses its momentum in the third act.
Read Lammers' full reviews here.