Moana 2 Review: We’re Back
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Moana 2
Director: David G. Derrick Jr., Jason Hand, and Dana Ledoux Miller
9
Where to Watch Moana 2?
There are spoilers below, reader beware.
We have finally reached the end of the Disney Decade rewatch leading up to Moana 2. The lead-up to this sequel was very interesting. The first Moana was certainly a success, but it wasn’t on the level of films like Frozen or Zootopia which both reached a billion dollars. So a sequel was not immediately announced or planned.
However, in 2019 Disney+ was launched. In the first couple of years of the service Moana quickly became one of the top viewed films every month. That fact is still true these days. So, a couple of years ago, in an effort to have more original content for the streaming service, Disney decided to announce a Moana TV series.
This now brings us to this year where due to its increasing popularity, Disney decided to change the TV series into a full-blown sequel. This sequel came out a week ago and now let’s dive into what became of this TV series turned film.
So if you have read my Moana review you would be aware that I love Moana and think it is a really great film! So I was anticipating this sequel albeit cautiously as I know that a TV show and a movie have different structures so I was curious how they would make the necessary changes to make this follow a three-act structure. I have to say, at least for me, I was very impressed by the story and I actually think that is the strongest part of this sequel.
I really like the way they were able to expand the lore and mythos of the Moana universe. They lean into the idea of Polynesian gods and mythology. A god separating all the people of the ocean is an interesting concept and I found it interesting the way that no matter where Moana travels she can’t actually meet any new people.
I really enjoy the travels we see and the people we encounter. The other major thing that carries over from the last film is the animation. The beauty of the ocean and the islands we see is amazing, and the creativity given to the creatures and monsters is super cool. I am very curious to see how the other people she encounters at the end of the film could impact her worldview and also the stakes of a potential third film.
The new crew that is added to Moana’s ship is engaging. You can see what each of them brings to the voyage and while I wish they maybe got a bit more focus I am sure if we get another sequel they will receive more attention there. I like Moana’s evolution as a character. She feels more confident and that is apparent by the way she is able to lead her crew and travel exactly where she needs to go.If Disney still wants to make that TV series, they could fill in that gap of her adventures in between.
A new character I really liked was Mantangi. As much as she is a red herring as a villain, not much comes of that. She had a really cool design and had my favourite song in the film. If they continue with a third film, I would like to see more of her. It’s cool to see Moana become a demi-god and I would be curious to see where the plot could take that. Especially if she and Maui are going to take on Nalo in the third film, I feel that she is going to need to be powerful.
The only major negative that I have for the film is that the music isn’t as good as the first film. “Get Lost” is a fun song and I like how it pertains to the plot. I also like the song “We’re Back” as an opening number I feel that it is a fun reminder of the status quo of our characters. “ Beyond” is decent but it is clearly the “ How Far I’ll Go” song but it doesn’t quite have the impact or the memorability.
The same thing goes with “ Can I Get a Chee Hoo”. It has its moments but overall it is not as fun as “You’re Welcome” which is a song I never get tired of. Another minor gripe I have is that I feel that Pua wasn’t utilised that much. For all the people who really wanted Pua to be a part of the plot, he doesn’t do much. At least Heihei is the subject of many jokes.
All in all, Moana 2 is not as good as the first film. However, it does still have charming characters, stunning animation, and a plot that I honestly found more compelling than the first. It clearly is hitting with audiences as it lights up the box office. So give this one a shot!
