Disney is back with Moana 2, a long-awaited sequel to the 2016 hit Moana. This time, Moana returns as a confident leader and adventurer, but a new danger threatens the ones she loves and the land she protects. Packed with emotion, action, and beautiful imagery, Moana 2 brings a heartfelt story to both kids, teens and adults alike.
Like many sequels, expectations for the movie were sky-high: could Moana 2 recapture the same feeling that Moana originally inspired but with something new and exciting? To me, the answer was a little more complicated than that.
The movie takes place a few years after Moana embraces her role as a Wayfinder for her home, Motonui. She finds herself sent on a quest by her ancestors to find a mysterious island. This time she’s not sent on this mission alone, instead with a team of her own. But faced with the wrath of an angry god, she finds herself on treacherous grounds and in need of her Demi-god friend, Maui.
Fans of the original will be excited to know of the introduction to many new characters. Moana has four friends joining her wayfinder crew: Moni, a youthful man and a storyteller with a strange love and admiration for Maui; Kele, a grumpy old man with a penchant for farming and a hatred towards water; Loti, a smart engineer with an eccentric personality; and Kotu, a Kakamora and a strong, faithful warrior.
Other familiar faces come in the form of Moana’s faithful pig, Pua, and her lovely rooster, HeiHei, who continues to cause chaos despite being completely clueless.
Not to mention, a fan favorite in the form of our beloved Maui, voiced again by Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson. Maui, a larger than life character, finds himself uplifting Moana as she struggles with her confidence in her abilities. His dynamic with Moana remains a highlight of the film, a delicate balance between humorous and heartwarming moments that continue to deepen their bond.
I found myself enjoying the new characters and all their different traits. They have such a variety of personalities that everyone will have a favorite. Not only do they complement one another well but everyone can appreciate a slice of humor and friendship within a movie.
Despite my excitement, I found myself slightly disappointed in the lack of interaction between Moana and Maui. They had their moments and even a song with one another but I suppose that in comparison to the first movie that I was surprised to see the lack of attention to their relationship (whether it’s a friendship or something more is up for debate) given the natural connection that the two had with one another in the 2016 Moana.
Furthermore, the relatively short movie had a flimsy storytelling element, and was rather lackluster in the action department. I doubt it would be smart to attempt even more action in the sequel than in the original, as it would become a bit too difficult to keep up with. The original Moana was extremely action packed but there seems to be little chance to see Moana as a strong, capable force, especially as Moana is one of the few Disney women whose story is about something more than a fairytale romance.
Coupled with this, the songs can not even compare to that of the original. Moana, voiced by Auli’i Cravalho, has a rather beautiful tune. So, of course, I was pretty upset with the lack of songs with Moana. This and the fact that many of the songs were not as bright or uppity as the original iconic songs such as “How Far I’ll Go” and “You’re Welcome”. But that’s not to say there are not any good songs. I find myself loving “Get Lost” and “We Know The Way (Te Fenua te Malie)”.
But even with my slight disappointment for certain elements within the movie, it’s hard to be too pessimistic with such beautiful imagery. The art is as amazing as the 2016 Moana, maybe even more so. Beyond that, Moana 2 is just too much to miss. If you’re a fan of Moana herself or just a Disney fan in general, this movie is a must-watch!
