Please allow me to start out by saying that "Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again" is a downright fantastic movie. The cast, the ensemble, the score, the wardrobe -- as much as I love Meryl Streep, it's eons better than the original "Mamma Mia!" and I will fight you on that. Lily James is an angel walking this earth, and my only hope is that someday they take it to Broadway with her as the lead.
That said, it has always confused me why no one spends very much time talking about one particular character in this saga: Rosie. You know Rosie...the funny friend with the pixie cut who always seems kinda lost and confused. When I was first introduced to the magical world that is "Mamma Mia!," I thought, Wow, I love this girl. She's funny and quirky and surprisingly not a tall, slender, model-type like everyone else. Progress! Which, I'll give you that one, is still true. I love that she breaks the mold of what all the Lily Jameses of the world look like on-screen. But her character specifically? The worst.
Let's take a look at one very specific scene in the film, shall we?
"...And he likes Donna. And I don't think that's very fair." OK, I understand that she feels like the guys she likes always like her friend. Been there, done that. But saying it's not "fair"??? He met her first! They know each other! The fact that she is throwing herself a huge pity party because Donna met and formed a relationship with some guy before she was even in the same country as him is absolutely insane.
As Tanya says, Donna is completely heartbroken at the moment. And if spending time with Bill will help her get over Sam, then by all means, go for it. If Bill had shown up and had a clear interest in Rosie instead of Donna, then do whatever you want. But he doesn't. You're on a Greek island full of men. Take your pick! But don't try to steal this guy from your friend when you don't even know him.
Then, after all that, we know from the first "Mamma Mia!" that Rosie and Bill eventually do get together, albiet years later. And we watch the girls sing an entire song about how he cheated on her shortly after...
And then, at the end, when he asks her for yet another chance, she gives him a big speech about how she could never trust him again...
And then she STILL TAKES HIM BACK. She clearly doesn't trust him. She tells him that something would really have to break inside of him in order for her to believe he's changed. And then...lo and behold...he sheds one tear for Donna at the hotel's grand opening party, and suddenly all is forgotten. WHAT??? Forgiving and forgetting is one thing, but from the sounds of their relationship history, this is a whole different thing. Damn, girl.
TL;DR: This character drives me crazy. Does anyone else agree?