Chee Hoo! Moana 2 is an exciting, funny, and heartfelt continuation of the not-a-princess' journey. With a story that is clearly leading into something bigger than Maui's ego, it will leave you excited to see what comes next.
Moana 2 Review
In 2016 the world was introduced to Moana, Pua, Hei-Hei, and Maui. Not only did we get a new kick-butt heroine with animal sidekicks, and a slightly cranky, somewhat petty demigod but we also were treated to a soundtrack that had more than one absolute bop. “You're Welcome” marked the end of the reign of “Let It Go,” and held on strong until “We Don't Talk About Bruno.” Fast forward to 2024 and it's time to get back out on the sea with Moana, Maui, the boat snacks, and a few new faces. Originally developed as a tv series for Disney+, Walt Disney Animation announced that instead Moana 2 would be sailing into theaters, just in time for Thanksgiving. It would've worked well as a tv series, but being a fan of the original, I'm not mad about getting to see this story play out on the big screen.
Moana 2 is an exciting, funny, heartfelt continuation of Moana’s story. It ups the stakes for our heroine, giving her more responsibilities and character growth in line with what came before. Once again the visuals wow making it, at times, look like an ocean documentary and not an animated film. New faces, like Moana's scene-stealing little sister Simea are delightful additions while the familiar coconut terrors the Kakamora get in on the action. It may feel at times like one of those direct to DVD sequels Disney used to put out back in the day but there is no doubt that Maui, Moana, and Mini Maui still make a great team and their story is definitely not over.
In Moana 2, Moana (Auli’i Cravalho) has become an excellent wayfinder and role model for her people. Motunui seems to be thriving thanks to her leadership. Her father Tui (Temuera Morrison) is thrilled to give her the title of Tautai, an honor reserved only for skilled navigators and leaders that hasn't been held by anyone for many, many years. But during the ceremony, Moana gets a vision of Motunui's bleak future, something that will come to pass if she is unable to reconnect their island with other humans. Despite not wanting to leave her little sister, Simea (Khaleesi Lambert-Tsuda), behind, Moana knows she must set out to find the island of Motufetu, a place which used to connect all the ocean's people together. It won't be easy though, because not only has no-one ever ventured that far but the island also happens to be cursed by a human-hating god named Nalo (Tofiga Fepulea'i). Fortunately she won't be journeying alone, along with some of Motunui's finest, Moana will also reunite with Maui (Dwayne Johnson) and some other unexpected allies.
Moana 2 has a lot going for it. Watching her figure out how far she can go is as exciting as ever. The thrills keep coming as she faces one obstacle after another. Meanwhile, the heart of the story continues to be about relationships, expanding beyond just Maui and Moana to include Moana and Simea, as well as her position within her community. There is a throughline about togetherness, not only for her people but for those they have yet to reconnect with. Moana's optimism and determination to pursue her goals remains infectious, even to the point that her more reluctant crew mates come around to her curse-lifting plans. By surrounding her with people, it gives Moana a chance to grow. She's already a great leader on land (something the film takes time to establish before sending her off) but now she is shouldering more by commanding a crew. The story teller and Maui fanboy Moni (Hualālai Chung), the uber smart canoe maker Loto (Rose Matafeo), and the grouchy farmer Kele (David Fane) may not get to do much outside of their one-note archetypes but they are still fun to watch.
The animation is gorgeous, pushing boundaries just like the original. I found myself in awe more than once just looking at Moana 2. What they have been able to accomplish with the rigging for the water blows my mind each time. There are plenty of striking visuals scattered throughout from Moana's run-in with a giant clam and the Kakamora to Maui's flaming conch concert during his number “Can I Get A Chee Hoo?” Then there is the climatic battle with Nalo's massive storm as well as the tender moments that see Moana connecting with her ancestors, including Gramma Tala (Rachel House). (Though I am happy to report I did not ugly cry in those scenes like I did during the first film)
Here comes the but. I opened this review talking about the catchy songs that were penned by Lin-Manuel Miranda for the original film. While the score is absolutely beautiful thanks to returning composers and songwriters Mark Mancina and Opetaia Foa'i, the character's songs are nothing memorable. With Miranda unavailable, Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear (the Grammy-winning team behind The Unofficial Bridgerton Musical) were brought in. It's not that they did a bad job, the songs are fine, they just don't pack the punch or the staying power of the ones in the first Moana. Cravalho's performance is stellar and she pours her heart into Moana's numbers, especially “Beyond” which is her “I want” song but ends up sounding more like a spin-off of “How Far I'll Go.” Maui's number equally isn't anywhere close to “You're Welcome” but Johnson still has fun with it and the animation of the sequence is a blast. Which is true for all the numbers. So while they aren't anything you will likely be singing for weeks/months on end, at least the overall experience is still enjoyable.
Honestly, Moana 2 reminded me of Stitch! The Movie and that is in no way an insult. The Lilo & Stitch franchise is in my top 5 for Disney with Stitch being one of my all-time favorite characters. When I say it reminds me of that movie it is because that is the movie that led into Lilo & Stitch: The Series, an animated show that saw our two friends trying to locate all the cousins and find them their special place. Moana 2 very much feels like it is leading to something more. Whether that is a TV show with Moana and Maui facing off against some godly foes or another film, Moana 2 definitely feels like the jumping off point for a bigger story. It's a solid second movie, one meant to bridge the gap between the original and what lies ahead. It's not a bad thing, but knowing that makes it easier to overlook its shortcomings, like not showing off the big bad until a post-credit scene making Nalo the Thanos of this universe.
Verdict
Moana 2 is an exciting, funny, and heartfelt continuation of Moana's journey. One that fans will enjoy going on even if the course isn't perfect. It's wonderful to see Moana growing up, becoming a role model not only for those on the screen but those watching in the audience. She's smart, capable, and willing to ask for help when she needs it, overcoming fears and facing obstacles with a smile on her face and the wind in her hair. The underlining importance of community and togetherness is lovely and really adds to the emotional impact of the story overall. It was nice to see the Kakamora get more to do– I could see a short series with them popping up on Disney+ in the future. Maui, Moana, and Mini Maui (love that guy) still make a great team and with the post credit scene alluding to a bigger threat, I'm excited to see how far this story will go, because it is definitely not over!
Moana 2 is now playing in theaters. The film is rated PG for action/peril with a runtime of 100 minutes.
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