Film Review: Moana 2

Moana 2
Directors: David Derrick Jr, Jason Hand, Dana Ledoux Miller
Walt Disney Animation Studios
In Theaters: 11.27

As the weather starts to get rough outside and holiday stress levels increase, the thought of an island getaway seems rather enticing. If you’re looking for some dazzling and diverting fun in the sun, and you don’t feel too concerned about substance, Moana 2 is here to brighten your weekend.

Set three years after Moana (once again voiced by Auli‘i Cravalho) saved her island, she returns to Motunui to a hero’s welcome. During a ceremonial vision, her ancestors reveal the mysterious fate of a legendary wayfinder who never returned from their final voyage. The elders implore Moana to complete this dangerous mission, warning that the future of her people depends on reconnecting the islands of Oceania. This time, Moana isn’t going alone: She a assembles a diverse crew, made up of Moni (Hualalai Chung, Rescue: HI-Surf), an enthusiastic young bard; Loto (Rose Matafeo, Golden Boy, Funny Girls), a quirky shipwright, and Kele (David Fane, Next Goal Wins), a surly old farmer. Once gain joined by the demi god Maui (Dwayne Johnson, Jumanji: Welcome To The Jungle, Fast Five), they sail across uncharted waters in search of Motufetū, a hidden island guarded by the vengeful god Nalo (Tofiga Fepulea’i, Duckrockers), which holds the key to reuniting the ocean’s people. Along the way, Moana faces familiar foes and new threats, including Matangi, the goddess of the underworld (Awhimai Fraser, Ahikaroa). As the challenges mount, Moana must rely on her courage, wisdom and bond with her crew to overcome the odds and restore harmony to the seas.

Moana 2 is fast paced and entertaining, with top-of-the-line animation and exciting and lovable characters. It’s weighed down by an unnecessarily complex plot that’s severely lacking in the emotional heft of the original, and it’s the kind of sequel that piles on a lot of vaguely defined plot devices to cover up the fact that it doesn’t have much of a story to tell. Moana 2 originated as a straight-to-Disney+ project, and while the production values are big screen quality, the script feels rather slapped together. It’s also missing something by not having the original songwriter, Lin-Manuel Miranda (Hamilton), aboard. While the score by returning artists Mark Mancina (Speed, Tarzan) and Opetaia Foaʻi is superb, the absence of a clever lyricist and a single memorable song feels reminiscent of the dark days of straight-to-video dreck like the Aladdin and Little Mermaid sequels. Thankfully, the overall energy and enthusiasm is enough to keep things afloat, and the stunning visuals are enough reason to see it. The character relationships are fun, if underdeveloped, and playing Moni—the enthusiastic storyteller who shared the legends of the islands—as the equivalent of a comic book fanboy makes for a great character addition, as well as a fun dynamic when Maui arrives. 

The best character relationship is between Moana and her baby sister Simea (Khaleesi Lambert-Tsuda), a spunky child who idolizes her big sister. Simea is adorable, and the scenes between them are touching. While Maui has some great one-liners and fun moments, he had no character arc this time around; he’s merely tagging along to make the whole thing marketable. It’s fortunate that Moana and her crew show just enough growth along the way to make it all play, and Temuera Morrison (Star Wars: The Book of Boba Fett) is great, returning as Moana’s father, Chief Tui. 

In short, Moana 2 is neither a steller sequel nor an embarrassment that detracts from the original. It’s just a middle-of-the-road cash grab that provides enough entertainment value and gorgeous eye candy to be well worth your time as a family moviegoing experience. While it’s hardly comparable to Inside Out 2, it’s still a lively and heartwarming bit of family-friendly fun, as well as a splash of Disney magic, that comes just when it’s most needed and right in time for the holiday movie season. –Patrick Gibbs

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