Like any sequel to a popular movie, Moana 2 has some big expectations to live up to. The 2016 original made $687 million, was nominated for two Academy Awards, and – arguably most importantly – was beloved by fans and critics alike. And while it certainly has its issues, it’s also mostly a success.
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Moana 2 plot
Three years after the events of the first film, saving her home island of Motunui, Moana (Auli‘i Cravalho) is still searching the ocean for other islands, villages, other people. After receiving an unexpected call from her wayfinding ancestors, she sets out with a new crew on an even more dangerous adventure, one that will test the limits of everything she’s learned. The group sets sail for the far side of the ocean, farther than anyone has travelled in generations. They seek the hidden island of Motufetu, which once connected all the peoples of the ocean, but has been cursed by the god Nalo.
Moana 2 review
Moana 2 was originally conceived as a sequel series, and unfortunately it feels like it. This is the single biggest negative about the movie. There are several storylines at play, few of which receive a full and proper introduction and resolution. You can see the outline for a handful of episodes had it remained a show for Disney+.
While it hasn’t been publicly stated how far into production the Moana series made it, it’s a safe bet significant story development had been made. The resulting movie plot feels like the directors, writers, and producers picked their favorite parts of the TV plot ideas and forced them together into the movie.
Whether or not that’s how it happened is actually beside the point. That’s still the end result. Moana and her crew have another confrontation with the Kakamora, the adorably vicious coconut pirates. With what we learn about them, there was definitely more to that story. Maui (voiced again by Dwayne Johnson) is absent for much of the movie, and even when he’s on screen, he doesn’t meet up with Moana and her crew until later. It certainly feels like that part could have been intended as an entire episode or two on its own.
The villains aren’t really developed here either. Nalo is said to have cursed Motufetu so he could become more powerful. That’s it. There’s a (maybe? it’s unclear) secondary villain, Matangi (Awhimai Fraser) who clearly would have had a bigger role in the TV version. She gets a big musical moment with Moana, but other than, she’s just kind of…there.
But as disjointed and disconnected the story can feel at times, it still mostly works? The adventure parts are as thrilling as ever, with excellent animated ocean sequences. While Moana 2 might often feel like a show instead of a movie with its storytelling, it at least looks like a movie, it feels cinematic. There are several moments that are tense and exciting, making up for the awkwardness in how we maybe arrived at that particular moment in the first place.
And even with some clunky plotting, the larger themes are still (mostly) clearly conveyed. And there’s a lot at play here, like finding your own way in life, expanding your horizons (sometimes quite literally), putting yourself at risk for the benefit of those you love, and even others still. All very important, all surprisingly fleshed out given some of the issues working against it.
And then there’s the Disney magic of it all. Even though I found myself annoyed at some of the storytelling mechanics, when that finale comes around, and everything Moana 2 had been building towards comes together, I’m tense, sitting up straight, feeling all sorts of emotions. Sometimes you can’t explain it, a movie just hits you.
And that’s credit to directors David Derrick Jr., Jason Hand, and Dana Ledoux Miller (who also co-wrote the screenplay) and writer Jared Bush. Being able to take all these ideas and characters, even in an ultimately uneven way, and somehow still evoke that kind of emotional response is impressive.
Some might take issue with Moana 2’s broader story strokes feeling a little too similar to its predecessor, and that would be a fair assessment. Adding a handful of new characters to the mix helps it feel fresh. Where the first movie was mostly Moana and Maui, Moana’s crew joining her on the adventure breathes new life into the story.
Loto (voiced by Rose Matafeo) is an inventory/engineer, who brings a fun, quirky energy to the group. Moni (voiced by Hualālai Chung) knows all the stories of their ancestors and is beyond thrilled to have the chance to live out one of those stories himself. Finally, there is Kele (voiced by David Fane), the crotchety farmer brought along to make sure they all have something to eat besides fish.
They’re an eclectic group, whose differing approaches to life create some conflict, while also giving them all a chance to grow and learn from one another. The voice cast is terrific up and down the board, in particular Cravalho and Johnson. Their charm, energy, and chemistry together – however limited that time may be – does a lot of the heavy lifting, and it’s a joy to have them back together in this world.
We can’t talk about a Disney animated musical without at least touching on the songs. Sadly, they’re only okay. Lin-Manuel Miranda did not return to write the lyrics, and you can only help but wonder what could have been. Granted, Moana 2 brought in Grammy winners Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear as replacements. But if you listen back to the songs from Moana, Miranda understood the setting and characters in a way it doesn’t feel like Barlow and Bear do.
Even though not a single song approaches “How Far I’ll Go,” it’s not to say the songs are bad. They’re fine, catchy enough in the moment, but ultimately largely forgettable. They’re also helped with an energetic music video feel, using the ocean and sailing setting to great effect, making them more exciting than the lyrics on their own might suggest.
Is Moana 2 worth watching?
Moana 2 is a worthy enough follow-up to the 2016 hit. It could have used some more refined storytelling to feel less episodic. But several thrilling adventure sequences and an energetic, charismatic voice cast help the sequel find its way.
Moana 2 is in now playing in theaters everywhere.
Moana 2 Review – Thrilling Adventure Sequences Overcome Disjointed Plot
Moana 2 is a worthy enough follow-up to the 2016 hit. It could have used some more refined storytelling to feel less episodic. But several thrilling adventure sequences and an energetic, charismatic voice cast help the sequel find its way.
