‘Moana 2’ Review: A Safe Sequel That is Missing the Magic of the Original

This sequel to the highly successful 2016 film was originally intended to be a Disney+ series. But then a last-minute decision was made to release it to theaters over Thanksgiving, with a live-action remake in the works as well. That explains why Moana 2 resembles the plot of the predecessor so closely and plays things extremely safe rather than taking any narrative risks–not to mention that it has now been eight years since we last saw her. The film picks up three years later, and the fearless heroine (voiced by Auli’i Cravalho) must go on another quest that spans the ocean because the plot demands it. New characters join her this go-round, including a Maui fanboy (Hualalai Chung), and a quirky shipwright (Rose Matafeo), with Dwayne Johnson reprising his role as the tattooed demigod and Alan Tudyk returning as Heihei, Moana’s chicken sidekick.

Once again, they soon discover that the adventure will be much more perilous than any of them could have imagined. They find themselves battling another supernatural threat with elemental powers. What has changed this time is the crew, with David G. Derrick Jr., Jason Hand, and Dana Ledoux Miller replacing Ron Clements, John Musker, and Don Hall as directors this time. What made the original film work so well was that the directors were famous for bonafide animated Disney classics including Hercules, Aladdin, and The Little Mermaid. Also missing here are Lin-Manuel Miranda’s catchy songs that helped make the predecessor such a splash. Yes, there are a couple of good songs here, and “How Far I’ll Go” does make an appearance. The vocals, especially from Cravalho, are still incredible. But there is nothing here as memorable as “How Far I’ll Go”, “You’re Welcome”, or “Shiny”.

If you loved the first movie, there is no reason why you would not find something to appreciate here. The animation makes this sequel a visual feast, and the final act does finally break away from the familiar. The dynamic between Moana and Maui is as endearing and entertaining as before. The film does not come off as offensive or insulting to your intelligence either. Unfortunately, the messy plot feels like several episodes of that planned show squished haphazardly together. I found myself checking my watch multiple times because it feels longer than its one-hundred-minute runtime.

Moana 2 might not reach the heights of its animated competitors this year, including The Good Robot or Inside Out 2. But families wanting something to watch at their local theater could do a lot worse, too. Judging by the packed theater I watched it at, not to mention box office reports, this film will make Disney enough gold to fill an ocean. A mid-credits scene hints that Moana’s story isn’t over yet. Maybe there is a chance for the studio to bring back the magic next time.

100 minutes