Review: Moana 2
The Ocean Is Calling Them Back
INTRODUCTION
This is a quick review of the newly released film Moana 2. Keep in mind this is but one of the many movies I watch every year, and that whatever initial grade I come up for this film could change for better or worse with time. To better keep up to date with both my thoughts on other movies and if my feelings on this film changed, follow me on Letterboxd.
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THE PLOT
Via Letterboxd: After receiving an unexpected call from her wayfinding ancestors, Moana journeys alongside Maui and a new crew to the far seas of Oceania and into dangerous, long-lost waters for an adventure unlike anything she’s ever faced.
QUICK REVIEW
Back in 2016, Moana joined the ranks of Disney’s animated classics, quickly becoming a massive hit with both critics and audiences. To this day, I firmly believe it would have taken home the Oscar for Best Animated Feature over Zootopia if not for the unforeseen impact of Donald Trump’s election that year. The film was a solid, entertaining B+ effort that still holds up.
Fast forward eight years, and we now have Moana 2, which is, in essence, a Frankenstein’s monster born from a failed attempt to adapt the original film into a Disney+ streaming series. Disney didn’t even officially confirm the project until earlier this year, and what we now have is a movie that’s clearly been pieced together from that abandoned concept. Unsurprisingly, the film is already on track for a sizable box office haul, but critical reviews have been more mixed, and audience reactions, while decent, have been less enthusiastic than the first film's.
The fact that this started as a TV series does raise some concerns about its quality, and, unfortunately, I can confirm that it shows - at least to a degree. While some parts of the movie feel like a proper cinematic experience, there are sections where the pacing, humor, and overall tone give off strong TV-show vibes. The antagonists feel underdeveloped, and the inconsistent use of Maui points to a disjointed narrative, reflecting the rushed and piecemeal nature of the production.
The music is another area where Moana 2 falters. The original film’s soundtrack had a certain spark, largely thanks to Lin-Manuel Miranda’s contributions, but here the magic is missing with his non-presence. The songs, though not bad, fail to leave any lasting impression. Even the villain song, which should be a highlight of any Disney musical, is completely forgettable.
Despite its shortcomings, Moana 2 isn’t a total waste, at least in my mind. The animation remains stunning, and there are moments where glimpses of a better film peek through. While it never quite matches the quality of its predecessor or justify its existence, I wasn’t bored, and I genuinely wanted to see how the story would resolve itself by the end. I think parents who end up in the theater with their kids won’t absolutely dread the experience, unlike with some other animated releases from this year. For those moments of entertainment, I’d rate the film as a straight up and soft B; not B- or B+ but just a B.
In the end, Moana 2 may be a cash-grab sequel, but it’s still a visually impressive and mildly enjoyable watch. It’s definitely not on par with the 2016 original, but it’s far from the worst thing Disney has put out in recent years.
INITIAL GRADING
