The classic like ‘Moana’ receives a sequel however it gives the impression that it was just going through the motions. While there were plans for it to be a Disney+ original, it feels more like a holiday release. There is no doubt that the animation and the overall picture look strong and visually appealing but the lore does feel lacking, story wise it does feel like an adventure, however the adventure aspect of it is close to none. When it comes to the musical aspect, there simply were not many songs on offer which people would recall and sing, the success and popularity of the movie that released back in 2016 does seem to cover the price. Even devoted Disney fan moderators frequently tell users they won’t remember a thing about the movie when the end credits’ song is completed.
Is there a place where these different civilizations come together? That is precisely the question Moana is trying to answer in “Moana 2” which is set three years after the first movie. Nalo” which was meagerly able to unite the isolated civilizations is now broken by the protagonist Moana (Auli’i Cravalho). Relying on her logic, she sets off to search for the spectacular made-up dream that has been passed down through generations but so far is said to have been buried deep into Nalo’s magic. Looking out to sea in the 2nd film, she organizes an expedition with a kid from a small island named Motufetu alongside her usual cow Sina and trade Tui as well as some new voyagers she finds. Some of these new allies include Kele the Farmer, Loto the Architect, and Moni the Warrior. Moana will also be accompanied by her pet pigeon and rooster as well as getting a good perspective of the infamous Dwayne Johnson who portrays Maui in the film, being held captive by the witch Matangi, along with her new allies.
To begin with, kids who are really excited to see Moana and Maui come together and go off into the open seas, are in for a disappointment as the two don’t really interact in “Moana 2.” This, given the island chemistry of Cravalho and Johnson most people equate with the first movie, is a truly baffling decision. For Moana and the team to reach forth across Oceania and meet Maui just when he breaks away from Matangi’s prison gaping wide at them, takes a bit too much of the narrative in the script of Jared Bush & Dana Ledoux Miller and his team feel like ‘fine’. Kele, Loto, and Moni are perfectly acceptable, and who doesn’t love kooky animal side kicks – Kids are going to be thinking for too long as to where exactly is Maui.
They would probably ease up on their restlessness if “Moana 2” was less stale than it is. Even though it has a significant cultural aspect embedded in the narrative, it has little to no explorative nature, to an expansion of the original story wherein Moana learns how to fully embrace her inner warrior. The group meets a tribe of coconuts and a huge clam, both of which are fantastic designs, but in view of the barebones framework it’s all part of, there aren’t many significant events of note in “Moana 2”. If anything, “Inside out 2” has a more traditional approach to the adventure aspect of the movie, which is quite sad. This is the film that has the potential to redeem Moana and project her to his next character arc, but the writers have made her too passive for any change to occur.
They also do not provide her with sufficient material to perform. A good song or two can significantly improve the reputation of a Disney animated film, don’t you agree? It is probable that the film Frozen would not have succeeded without the song Let It Go and once again, that Bruno song was what Encanto needed to make it big. Other than that, the songs here don’t add up to how Moana was viewed remember how the upbeat You’re Welcome and the incredible How Far I’ll Go, which even bagged an Oscar, left everyone. Claiming that they are quite dissatisfied with the lack of input from Lin-Manuel Miranda would be an understatement. There is a lighthearted song called “Can I Get a Chee Hoo?” from Maui that does the trick for the most part and might pick up Bruno-like ubiquity if the social team here plays it correctly. However, best of these songs from these greatest movies can’t be expected to be pulsating around Disney World for instance the real exciting reoccurring theme “Beyond”.
If there is one thing that truly shines in “Moana 2”, it has to be the graphics that have been used for it since the graphics are deserving of being called a 2020s Disney movie. With the type of graphics “Moana 2” has, it truly establishes the type of atmosphere it was intended for as you can almost feel the air and the ocean which is high praise for the designing of the characters. From Maui’s tattoos to the colorful tribe made out of coconuts, “Moana 2” features quite the range of appealing visuals which will keep you engaged. The visuals are enough to keep you entertained, but with the type of story Moana embodies, it deserved something even better.
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