When Disney first introduced Moana 2 in February 2024, I used to be apprehensive. Right here was a shock announcement, mere months out from a November launch, {that a} Moana TV present had been reworked right into a function movie. Did that imply Moana 2 was a rush job for Disney to get better from a few of its 2023 field workplace disappointments, like The Marvels and Want? And in that case, would that imply sacrificing high quality for a swift turnaround?
Fortunately, Moana 2 soothed my worries after which some, because of its mix of epic journey and its deeply felt story about household ties. Sure, there are components that do not hit as arduous, together with a cookie cutter villain and a few songs that simply do not cross muster when in comparison with Moana‘s. However most of Moana 2 measures as much as (and infrequently even surpasses) what got here earlier than — and that is due in no small half to the expansion of its unimaginable heroine.
Moana 2 reminds you that Moana is an authorized star
Credit score: Disney
Even when you have not rewatched Moana since 2016, Moana 2 wastes no time in reminding you that Moana (voiced by Auliʻi Cravalho, Imply Ladies) is a complete badass. Within the movie’s opening sequence, she runs via a dense rainforest forest, leaps throughout a ravine, and climbs a steep rock face along with her trusty pig Pua on her again. Seconds later, we get a basic hero shot: Moana, hair streaming within the wind, atop an island mountain, surveying the huge ocean round her. She takes a deep breath, blows a welcoming name into her conch… and nobody solutions. Seems, regardless of Moana’s knowledgeable wayfinding expertise, she hasn’t been capable of finding some other people who stay within the ocean.
Moana’s island house of Motunui is prospering, although — and Moana is nothing lower than a “living legend” there. Younger women gown and do their hair like her, going so far as to search out their very own model of Pua. (The movie dubs them “Moanabes.”) Everybody calls her “the future of Motunui.” Her father Tui (Temuera Morrison, The E book of Boba Fett), Motunui’s chief, even needs to bestow the title of Tautai upon her, an honor for a talented navigator and chief that hasn’t been held for a lot of, a few years.
However when Moana will get a desolate imaginative and prescient of Motunui’s future ought to they not reconnect with different people, she faces a troublesome alternative. She might strike out for the legendary island of Motufetu, which used to attach all of the ocean’s pathways and peoples. But it is farther than Moana or any of her ancestors have ever gotten (to not point out cursed by the human-hating god Nalo). If she goes, she dangers not coming again to her household or her beloved island.
This is the place Moana 2 actually exhibits us how far Moana has grown. With age and higher standing in Motunui, she’s turn into way more conscious of the stakes of her potential failure. Plus, she’s terrified to lose her household — particularly her scene-stealing little sister Simea (Khaleesi Lambert-Tsuda). With the load of the world on her shoulders, Moana units a course for Motufetu, together with an upgraded canoe and a brand new crew.
Moana 2′s new characters make an thrilling journey even higher.
Credit score: Disney
Moana could also be used to wayfinding by herself, however in Moana 2, she’s acquired to share a canoe with three newbies. Eager-eyed inventor Loto (Starstruck‘s Rose Matafeo) brings an endearing enthusiasm to the squad, even when her tendency to take aside the canoe in her efforts to enhance it’s regarding. Because the oldest member of the crew, you would possibly count on farmer Kele (David Fane, Our Flag Means Loss of life) to convey elder knowledge to the journey, however he is extra the crotchety complainer kind. Rounding issues out is Motunui legend knowledgeable Moni (Hualālai Chung), who doubles because the canoe’s resident Maui (Dwayne Johnson) fanboy. (Sure, he paints “fanfic” of him and Maui being finest buddies.)
Mashable High Tales
So think about Moni’s disappointment when he realizes Maui is not alongside for the trip. Whereas Moana might desperately use his assist, Maui’s really in a pickle of his personal. He is trapped by Nalo’s confederate, the goddess Matangi (Awhimai Fraser), whom I can solely describe as a “bat diva.” Always surrounded by a cloud of the winged creatures, and even sporting bat fangs herself, Matangi exudes vampiric aura. She virtually offers Moana‘s shiny crab Tamatoa (Jemaine Clement) a run for his cash.
However Matangi is not the one foe Moana and co. should conquer. The coconut pirates generally known as the Kakamora are again to wreak havoc, whereas a large, island-sized clam dangers swallowing our heroes complete. With so many colourful creatures to face, it is a disgrace that Moana 2‘s Large Unhealthy Nalo is principally a nonentity, lowering the (in any other case very cool) remaining set piece to a faceless confrontation with inclement climate. Distinction Moana 2‘s magical waterspouts with Moana‘s expressive lava monster Te Kā to get a way of how indifferent the sequel is from its villain. (Apart from a mid-credit scene that one way or the other implies he is Moana Thanos.)
Fortunately, Moana 2 finds loads of connection elsewhere, from Moana’s friendships with Maui and her crewmates to her continued relationship along with her ancestors. Gramma Tala (Thor: Ragnarok‘s Rachel Home) is again to cross alongside some knowledge — and provides us a great arduous cry alongside the best way. Elsewhere, Moana’s steadfast perception in bringing the folks of the ocean again collectively makes for a mandatory counterpoint to Nalo’s hopes to sow discord and isolation. (A minimum of, what little we study of it via exposition.) Moana’s optimism and willpower proves there’s energy in connection, which we get to see firsthand as her crew begins to gel at sea.
Moana 2‘s songs are positive, however they’re no match for Moana‘s.
Credit score: Disney
With its stunning, textured animation and its propulsive journey to the far ends of the ocean, Moana 2 is one other win for Disney animation. The one main letdown? The movie’s songs, that are completely OK, however actually nothing particular in comparison with Moana‘s biggest hits.
Moana composers and songwriters Mark Mancina and Opetaia Foa’i’ve returned for Moana 2, however one key member of the primary movie’s group is lacking: songwriter Lin-Manuel Miranda. Taking his place are Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear, the Grammy-winning group behind The Unofficial Bridgerton Musical. Even so, Miranda’s presence is tremendously missed, with songs typically feeling like lackluster rehashes of the primary movie’s songs.
Take “Beyond,” basically a toned-down evolution of “How Far I’ll Go,” the place Moana readies herself to return out into the ocean. Cravalho’s supply is beautiful, and I might hearken to her sing for hours, however do I keep in mind a single line of that track past “I’ll go beyond”? Then there’s Maui’s “Can I Get A Chee Hoo?,” a patter track that can make you miss the fast-paced wordplay of “You’re Welcome.” (A flaming conch solo does lend it some further aptitude.) The patter extends to journey track “What Could Be Better Than This?” Whereas I like Matafeo’s lightning-fast supply of Loto’s science-themed rap, all of it looks like imitation Miranda. Awkward rhythmic moments and a few apparent rhymes additional spotlight how a lot of an asset he was on Moana.
Even the funky “Get Lost,” my beloved bat diva Matangi’s huge quantity, is a letdown. Primarily based on her character introduction, you would possibly count on one thing within the vein of a darkish Bond theme. As an alternative, you get a pop tune that, regardless of Fraser’s critical pipes, feels pretty generic. (The slowed-down piano starting additionally can not help however remind me of The Princess and the Frog‘s “Virtually There,” though I am certain different similarities abound.) All I am saying is, if the earlier movie’s villain track featured a large coconut crab doing a David Bowie tribute, you have to purpose larger.
A minimum of Moana 2′s less-than impressed songs get a lift from their accompanying animated sequences. “Can I Get A Chee Hoo?” drops us right into a god-tier impediment course, whereas “Get Lost” options some fairly rad bat choreography. “What Could Be Better Than This?” additionally scores laughs from Kele’s annoyance at Moana, Moni, and Loto’s more and more excited dances, which low-key learn like they’re making an attempt to get him to hitch their ocean-loving cult. That is the magic of Moana 2: Even when the songs aren’t hitting, one thing else will elevate them, turning a good quantity into an amazing expertise.
Moana 2 hits theaters Nov. 27.
