Moana 2 Review: Thrilling Adventure, Stunning Visuals, But Lacks the Original’s Musical Magic

Disney has long been connected with animated blockbusters; during its Renaissance, classics like Beauty and The Beast, The Lion King, and The Little Mermaid set the benchmark for animation. Fast forward to the present, and Disney’s most recent triumphs— Frozen, Encanto, and Moana—have been commanding the box office and hearts of viewers all around. Among these, Moana stood out for its moving soundtrack, lively heroine, and exquisite portrayal of Polynesian civilization. Disney has now blessed viewers with a sequel equally thrilling and loaded with adventure, Moana 2.

But much has changed since the first movie came out. For both the lead character and Disney’s animation technique, Moana 2 marks a new chapter. While it offers new thrills, it also has the difficult chore of emulating an original that really connected with viewers. Notwithstanding this difficulty, Moana 2 presents a visually stunning performance; but there are a few errors, mostly in the musical section.

Older, wiser, and still unquestionably amazing Moana’s return

Set years following the events of the original film, Moana 2 brings back the cherished heroine—now older and more mature—who is still totally committed to her role as the chief of Motunui. While Moana confronts the reality of leadership, the movie explores the obligations of growing up while preserving that spirit of adventure that made the first movie so appealing.

The younger sister of Moana, Simea, is among the most delightful additions to the sequel. Having a younger sibling gives Moana’s character a new vitality and gives the story some warmth. Beyond just being a sidekick, Simea is a certified scene-stealer who gives the movie a young vitality and provides Moana with someone to guard and mentor, therefore stressing Moana’s development from a curious, courageous young woman into a wise and responsible leader.

The story of the movie starts with Moana getting contacted by her Wayfinding forebears. Moana had to journey to the secret island of Motu Fetu to lift the curse the deity Nalo placed upon it. They offer a prophetic warning. This prophecy says Motunui will be destroyed without a flourishing community. With stakes this high, Moana sets off on an adventure filled with danger and thrills accompanied by a crew of fresh people and some well-known faces.

An Exciting, High-Seas Adventure

Especially when Moana and her crew set out on the open sea, Moana 2 features a wealth of exciting action scenes. The naval conflicts and marine moments in the film give heart-pounding adrenaline, thus the animation is nothing short of amazing. Though with Disney’s unique style and creativity that distinguishes them, these sequences reflect the ferocity of the storm in The Perfect Storm. Seeing the movie on a big screen makes these events all the more vivid—proof positive this is one sequel best seen in cinemas instead of waiting for a home release.

Quieter, emotional moments precisely balance the intense action to let the movie have both exciting and sympathetic tones. The timing is also perfect; the action scenes create a sense of urgency that keeps the film running forward, never allowing the running time to slow down.

Moana’s Soul and Heart: Auli’i Cravalho

Returning to voice Moana, Auli’i Cravalho excels once more as the title character. With her performance in 2016, Cravalho first captivated viewers; Moana 2 clearly shows her developing acting skills. She provides maturity as well as the same youthful appeal that first made Moana quite appealing. In the more emotional sequences, Cravalho’s performance is particularly remarkable since she so faithfully captures Moana’s inner conflict between leadership and personal yearning.

She also gives rather remarkable vocals. The anthem of the sequel is Moana’s new song, “Beyond,” and Cravalho’s voice is the center of the music. Capturing the film’s ideas of exploration, development, and connection, the song’s soaring melody and emotive lyrics fit Moana’s path. Along with “How Far I’ll Go,” the song is likely to be remembered with Cravalho’s emotional core, which permeates the rest of the film via her strong voice.

Bright Additions, but Underdeveloped New Characters

Although Moana’s comeback on film is exciting, the new characters Moana 2 presents aren’t as fully realized. Three Motunui citizens who accompany Moana on her journey—Loto, Kele, and Moni—form comic relief and extra help. Their development is meager, though, and they sometimes seem more like a plot device than fully realized people. Since Moana 2 was first meant to be a TV series, it is obvious that time limited the filmmakers. More complexity to the story may have come from the film allowing more time to grow these individuals.

Matangi, the new enemy, too feels underused. She arrives early in the movie and gets her own musical performance, but she vanishes for much of the film, therefore leaving her character arc unfulfilled. Though Matangi is somewhat of a mystery at the end of the movie, her motives are not completely investigated and viewers are left wondering what could have been with more screen time for her.

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Music: A Step Down from the Original

With songs still relevant in popular culture, the Moana soundtrack remains one of Disney’s best in recent years. Moana 2 sadly fails to really convey the same magic. Although “Beyond” is a great song, the others seem forgettable in relation. The genius behind the previous film’s soundtrack, Lin-Manuel Miranda, vanished for the sequel and his absence is felt. Though their compositions are nice, the replacement songwriters, Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear, lack the emotional impact Miranda’s music gave to the first movie.

One particularly noteworthy example is Maui’s recently released song, “Can I Get a Chee Hoo?” Though it’s lighthearted and entertaining, it falls short of “You’re Welcome,” the venerable number from the previous movie. Sadly, most of the sequel’s music is not memorable; by the end of the movie, the ideas from the original film linger in your memory.

An Emotional and Visual Triumph

Moana 2 is an accomplishment in terms of visual storytelling even if its musical composition has certain flaws. Particularly in regard to the portrayal of the ocean, the island environments, and the action moments, the animation is breathtaking. Every scene clearly shows the attention to detail; the character design remains lovely and vibrant.

More than that, though, Moana 2 does in faithfully recreating the emotional depth of its predecessor. Still as powerful as ever are the subjects of bravery, leadership, and the value of family and community. Moana’s character arc is one of self-discovery and development; her relationship with her family—especially her relationship with her younger sister Simea—adds a depth of warmth to the narrative.

Though it falls short of the emotional or musical heights, Moana 2 is an adventure-packed, visually spectacular sequel that honors the heritage of the original film. The portrayal of Auli’i Cravalho as Moana is still the centerpiece; although the action scenes in the movie are exciting, their lack of powerful musical numbers and underdeveloped supporting characters limits them from being an instant classic.

Still, Moana 2 will appeal significantly to those who loved the previous movie. On the big screen, the visual feast alone makes a movie worth seeing; Moana’s voyage nonetheless has great heart and soul. Though it will be interesting, if flawed, for now; whether it will endure the test of time like its predecessor is yet unknown.