Three years on from her last adventure with demi-bod Maui, Moana 2 brings us a more mature Moana as we find her fully embracing her role as a wayfinder, seeking out new islands in the hopes of connecting with new people. Charged by a call from her ancestors, Moana must pull together a crew and go in search of the mythical island of Motufetu to lift an ancient curse by the god Nalo that has forever kept the ocean people disconnected and divided.
Moana 2 sees the return of Auliʻi Cravalho as Moana and Dwayne Johnson as Maui, as well as the addition of a deeper supporting cast of Moana’s shipmates. Unfortunately, there’s a lack of any real character development this time around, which is somewhat ironic given that so much of the original movie is about pushing boundaries and personal growth.
Originally slated for a Disney+ limited series, Moana 2 was reworked for theatrical release and remnants of its original format linger, as the film channels Disney’s straight-to-VHS / Saturday morning cartoon vibe of the Nineties. While it successfully follows the Disney sequel playbook of cookie-cutter zany sidekicks, heart-tuggingly cute characters and catchy-but-not-iconic songs, it struggles to capture the groundbreaking magic of the original.
That being said, Moana 2 remains a visual feast. A vibrant slice of escapism to the sparkling waters of Oceana with enough charm to enthrall younger audiences. It’s just a shame it’s a little too shallow this time around to really appeal to older viewers.
Moana captured Disney at its best, a trailblazing, non-traditional ‘princess’ story of an unseen-on-screen heroine with true agency and a songbook from Lin-Man-of-the moment, Lin-Manuel Miranda and a deep connection to audiences of all ages. Moana 2 may lack some of that but it will remain a sure-fire hit for family audiences to escape to the cinema this winter, leaving you wishing for some sunshine, sand beneath your toes and an adorable pet sidekick.
As with any Disney animation, kids are the real target here and there’s no denying there’s enough of the House of Mouse’s secret sauce to enamour any young viewer. How far it will go and whether the movie will have any sort of repeat viewing appeal will remain to be seen, but it’s likely to really find its sea legs once it inevitably lands on Disney+.
Moana 2 is in UK cinemas 29 November
