Moana 2 may not go as far as Expected
DIRECTED BY DAVID G. DERRICK JR., JASON HAND, and DANA LEDOUX MILLER/2024
In 2016, the latest Disney heroine – not princess – made her Disney debut to universal acclaim and commercial success. The stubborn Polynesian way-finder brought in millions for the studio and generated such musical hits as “You’re Welcome” and “How Far I’ll Go” for a new generation of children to serenade their parents with. Now, eight years later, Moana (Auli’i Cravalho) has returned to once again save her people from a perilous future. Accompanied by her demigod friend Maui (Dwayne Johnson) and an entirely new cast of characters, our stubborn protagonist must navigate unfamiliar waters to break the curse that threatens not only the fate of her island, but that of all the people of the seas.
Though it has been nearly a decade for audiences, this film joins Moana only three years after the events of its predecessor. Gone is the inexperienced sailor from before. Now, Moana braves the sea with confident ease, talented enough to be granted the title of master navigator by her father Chief Tui (Temuera Morrison). After receiving a dire vision from her ancestors, Moana travels to the ancient island Motufetu to break the storm god Nalo’s curse. Alongside her is a ragtag crew of rookies composed of the storyteller Moni (Hualālai Chung), eclectic engineer Loto (Rose Matafeo), the reluctant farmer Kele (David Fane), and – of course – the iconic rooster Heihei (Alan Tudyk). What follows promises to be an epic tale or heroism, but the reality is a rather bland copy-and-paste story that feels cobbled together from mismatched pieces. It’s fine – but that is about it.
There is an element lacking within the musical numbers as well. Talent is definitely not the issue, as Auli’i Cravalho puts in some stunning vocal work as the titular heroine for several songs. However, nothing seems to have that instantaneous star quality indicative of several recent Disney productions such as Encanto or even Frozen II. A notable cog missing in this massive machine is the brilliant Lin Manual Miranda. For Moana 2, Disney has recruited the Grammy winning duo Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear, most notable for creating the Unofficial Bridgerton Musical. The result is respectable, but the absence of a powerful musical number is guaranteed to affect the overall success of Moana 2.
The visual artistry certainly matches the budget expected of a 2020s Disney film, but unfortunately suffers a similar fate as the music. Gorgeous frames of oceanic creatures, the constant flowing motion of the water, and the immaculate detailing for each individual character are achievements that should not be overlooked. In a era where animated projects have fought to push creative boundaries (think Spider-Verse films, The Wild Robot, and Arcane, to name a few), it is encouraging to see that Disney stepping up to the plate. There is no true risk-taking happening here when compared to the aforementioned projects, but that does not mean there is not quality work being shown on-screen.
Perhaps that is the root of the issue: everything about this film feels too safe. When Moana was released, it was a fresh piece of work praised for representing a new generation of Disney. Considering the success of its predecessor, there was no doubt that a sequel would eventually be released. Where the first film soared, the follow-up sinks. There are some achievements being made here. It is always refreshing to see a cast that accurately reflects the culture represented on the screen here, and no one can deny the importance of supporting such a diverse cast. Regardless, when the credits roll, the audience will be left wondering if this film really went anywhere at all.