Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again, Sgt. Stubby and More in This Week's MPAA Ratings Bulletin

By Chris Kavan - 03/14/18 at 10:46 AM CT

Why am I not surprised? Another week another two two whopping films worth mentioning. And that's a stretch seeing as I find it hard to get worked up about a sequel to a musical based on Abba songs and an animated film about the world's most decorated dog in U.S. military history... that looks to ignore the grim realities of war for more family-friendly fare. In any case, yay - thank you MPAA Ratings Board for at least keeping things consistent, not exciting, but consistent. Still waiting for the next big drop, people, stick with me - it will happen.

MPAA Official Logo

If I have to start somewhere, well, why not with the super peppy Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again. Not sure how many more Abba songs they have for this sequel - but damned if they aren't going to sing them all! I admit to never having seen the original, but I have a super deep secret, earworm-pleasing guilty pleasure for "Dancing Queen". That aside, other than having the pleasure to see Meryl Streep die, not sure what else this has to offer a straight, middle-aged male. The film follows Streep's younger self (played by Lily James), and her relationship with Sam, Harry and Bill (younger versions played by Jeremy Irvine, Hugh Skinner and Josh Dylan) which in turn will affect the future of her daughter (Amanda Seyfried), who is pregnant herself. The film will also feature the return of Cher, in her first major film role since Burlesque back in 2010. All in all, I'm sure fans of the original film will be more than pleased to make a return to their favorite characters and Abba. I'm going to give this a hard pass myself. Rated PG-13 for some suggestive material.

Not all animated films can be Pixar-quality, but even if you're about even, or just a step below, most studios have found some solid results with both franchises and decent one-off offerings. That being said, not every studio can be Disney, Illumination, Ghibli or Laika. That is why I have little to no faith that the upcoming Sgt. Stubby: An American Hero. This is the first film from the generically-named Fun Academy Media Group and it sounds like they're trying to corner both the family and military crowd with the true story (though I'm sure much, much, MUCH liberty has been taken) of the only canine ever to be bestowed with the title of Sgt. That's right, in WWI, the 102nd Infantry Regiment adopted a stubby-tailed terrier (Bull or Boston - or a mix) when it wandered onto Yale University when the regiment was training. Now, as I said, this is based on a true story and Stubby proved himself an able companion and great at detecting things like incoming Mustard Gas. He was honored and decorated (and even has a Smithsonian exhibit). That being said, something tells me this PG animated film is going to skip anything dealing with the actual war - and tell a more heartwarming and probably way-too saccharine story. It might bring in families, but I don't see this standing out among the animated crowd or having any lasting impact. Rated PG for war action and some thematic elements.

Those are yet another big two movies for the week - but there is a bit more, please check out the full MPAA Ratings Bulletin below:

#211

Rated R for violence and language throughout.


BLACK WATER

Rated R for violence and language.


DISTORTED

Rated R for some violence and disturbing images.


HEARTS BEAT LOUD

Rated PG-13 for some drug references and brief language.


MAMMA MIA! HERE WE GO AGAIN

Rated PG-13 for some suggestive material.


SGT. STUBBY: AN AMERICAN HERO

Rated PG for war action and some thematic elements.


ZOE

Rated R for some sexual material and drug content.

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