'Moana 2' Review: Sweetness and Song Overcome Rough Waters

Disney's return to the "Moana" universe still yields a lot of fun, even if it feels like a TV series

Disney has gone all in with the Moana universe since the first film’s debut in 2016. In February of this year the company announced they’d be transitioning a TV series, greenlit in 2020, focused on Moana and her friends into a full-scale sequel to the first film, and in two years you can see a live-action reboot of the first Moana. So when Disney is asked the question “how far [Moana] will go” the answer is infinite.

At least that’s the expectation, and there is some beautiful fruit blooming in this charming sequel. Moana 2 gives audiences more of Moana’s adventures, introduces some new friends and catchy songs, even if it feels like the stakes are smaller and the scope is more suited to the small screen than the big one.

Moana (Auli’i Cravalho) has just returned from a voyage with the hope that she will find other islanders to unite with her family and their own island. She’s told that there is an island whose channels bring everyone together, but it’s cursed by the evil God, Nalo. With the help of demigod Maui (Dwayne Johnson) and some new friends, Moana will travel on the most dangerous seas in order to bring everyone together.

There’s a vastly different tone to Moana 2 than its 2016 predecessor, no doubt the result of having to expand what was initially a limited series into a feature film. Moana returns to her island home where the audience is inundated with jokes that you’d find in ‘90s animated features like The Little Mermaid animated series. There’s little to be gathered about Moana’s relationship to her people, short of she loves them a lot, or her parents. Her parents barely factor into the narrative, in favor of making Moana’s closest companion being her little sister, Simea (Khaleesi Lambert-Tsuda) who no doubt will find the fans of those who loved Baby Moana in the first film.

The first film was a Disney narrative about a young girl wanting to find her purpose, see the world, and save her family from a blight that seeks to wipe them out. The script, credited to Jared Bush and Dana Ledoux Miller, is on the weaker side, no doubt because the initial TV series was meant to focus less on the title character. Moana, now established as Motunui’s equivalent of Marco Polo, wants to find other island dwellers for the fun of it until the narrative conflict of learning that her family will be wiped out (at some point) if they don’t integrate with other people.

At a little over 90 minutes, about 3 episodes if this was a series, means there are a lot of plot threads that tend to start and stop. Moana has to find a crew to go with her on the voyage, which sees her spend time bringing them together and singing a song about how they have to be in sync. The crew themselves are distinctive and a lot of fun, from Maui fanboy Moni (Hualalai Chung) to ship designer Loto (Rose Matafeo) and elderly non-swimmer Kele (David Fane). All three feel unique and relatable, making the most of the screentime they have.

Much of that humor and distinction is because Moana tends to have stymied in growth, resorting to singing songs about who she wants to be. This is a character we’ve already seen become something, but guess she needs to do it all over again. Cravalho continues to carry this franchise with her quirky vocal performance — a lot of jokes land just because of how she says a line — and her beautiful singing voice. Her showstopping song “What Lies Beyond” has serious “Let It Go” vibes but dammit if Cravalho doesn’t give a Broadway-level performance.

Maui seems the most disjointed and removed from the group, with nearly half of his screentime seeing him trapped in a separate location and being taunted by a shadowy bat woman named Matangi (Awhimai Fraser). The reason for his capture is never properly explained nor Matangi’s role in it. Fraser has a fabulous song called “Get Lost” that sells itself as a top 10 villains song only for the movie to never explicate whether she is a villain. Her plot literally ends about 45 minutes into the movie and Matangi is never seen or heard from. Had this been a TV series no doubt she’d have gotten a proper payoff.

Not saying you liked the Lin-Manuel Miranda-penned songs from the first film is considered sacrilege but if you did happen to dislike Moana’s first set of songs you’ll enjoy these far more. Though the Pacific Islander influences are more muted here the catchiness and pop beats are increased to 100. Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear’s songs feel culled more from the Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez school of songs which does make them all bigger earworms.

Unfortunately, Johnson’s song is no “You’re Welcome,” the big hit from the first film. Instead of giving him a song that gives us insight into who he is, his song this round is purely a pump up Moana song. Honestly, his character is little more than a cheerleader and deus ex machina this round and could have been cut with little fanfare.

And, really, that is the biggest change between Moana’s 1 and 2. Where Moana and Maui were a team initially, this sequel is really about Moana stepping out on her own and setting up the next generation of wayfinders. It’s not a bad decision, it just won’t please those who appreciated that dynamic in the original film. However, Cravalho’s work is so stellar, coupled with the other voyagers that accompany her, it’s hard to really miss Johnson too much.

Moana 2 is a pleasant trip to the movies that probably won’t stick with you nor will you feel it was a waste of time. Your mileage will vary greatly based on how you took to the first film. The TV roots are hard to ignore and you can just see the commercial breaks when they pop up. But it’s hard not to be swept away by the songs and beauty.

Grade: C+

Moana 2 is in theaters November 27.