List Rate Rank: Most Interesting Cameo in Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again

Most Interesting Cameo in Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again

Aug 13, 2018

ABBA Expert Dave Ranallo and I talked for over two hours, yet the next day he followed up with me to claim we "forgot to talk about the most interesting cameo in the world." Since I didn't want to leave anything important out, and I couldn't figure out what he was referencing, I had to follow up with him. (Note: Spoilers below!)

DAVID FEDOR: Ok, Dave. We talked for over two hours about all-things ABBA, yet you reached out with the revelation that we forgot to talk about some sort of notable cameo in "Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again." Can you elaborate?

DAVE RANALLO: Happy to! So it's no secret now that Andy Garcia plays Fernando Cienfuegos and Cher, as Sophie (Amanda Seyfried)'s grandmother, rekindles her romance with him. This all leads to the everyone-is-happy climax with Sophie giving birth with husband Sky, Sam (Pierce Brosnan) the happy step-grandfather, and Rosie (JUlie Walters) and Bill (Stellan Skarsgaard) giving it another go. This leaves out sex-obsessed gold digger Tanya (Christine Baranski) until an unexpected guest arrives at the baby's baptism. The guest? Fernando's brother, played by Jonathan Goldsmith -- better known as "The Most Interesting Man In The World" from the popular Dos Equis ad campaign.

Tanya sees this silver fox, eyes him up, and the hunt is on. Happy endings for everyone, including the ghost of Meryl Streep who duets with her daughter and finally makes the ABBA deep-cut "My Life, My Love" a tearjerker.

So, naturally, the question arises: Does this mean Mamma Mia! takes place in the Most Interesting Universe? Or is the Most Interesting Man in the Mamma Mia-verse?

DF: Haha! YES! I forgot about that. Definitely a fun little addition. We'll have to go back and look to see if Dos Equis is being served at the party.

There's surely a rich history and many characters in the Mama Mia-verse, and I'm sure someone has compiled all the Most-Interesting events referenced in the commercials. We may need to look into this further for more clues!

DR: It's the kind of thing that can sometimes ruin a movie -- making a reference to a thing that was at once in the zeitgeist but now is forgotten. Often that can date a film (I think back to the Osbournes cameo in Goldmember). I think it works in Mamma Mia because Goldsmith is a handsome man and the bit works vis-a-vis Tanya. When a future ABBA-adoring young man or woman glimpses this cinematic treasure they'll doubtless have no memory of a 2006-2016 ad campaign for beer. Of course, maybe I'm wrong and TMIMITW will stand the test of time like Calgon or the Energizer Bunny.

DF: I can only imagine, in the year 2034, how terrifying a CGI Most Interesting Man would be. Or how awesome it would be? I’m sure CGI tech would be better. They can CGI the whole cast for Mama Mia 17: Yes, I’ve Been Broken Hearted. That is, if CGI Meryl Streep does sequels.

DR: I would make it my life's mission to create an animated series of adventures for this cast, both young and old, if I had six months, a typerwriter, and Stephen-King-writing-The-Stand-and-IT-amounts of cocaine. Then you just lock Christine Baranski and Julie Walters in a recording booth and churn out pure gold.

Sadly, the Christine Baranski/Allison Janney road trip movie probably has a better chance of being greenlit. Make it happen, Hollywood.

DF: Hear that, powerful Hollywood-types who listen to List Rate Rank?! You bring the money and the coke, we’ll give you gold! Thanks again, Dave, for your time!!