Moana 2

Lacking the freshness, warmth & wholesome appeal of its predecessor, the follow-up chapter to Moana is an inferior & uninspiring sequel that has none of the qualities that made the original an enjoyable & entertaining delight for viewers of all ages. A lazily crafted adventure without any of the elements that makes the journey worthwhile, Moana 2 is one of the most forgettable outings in Disney canon.

Set 3 years after the events of the first film, the story presents Moana assembling a wayfinding crew to journey into dangerous long-lost waters to break an ancient curse and reunite her folks. The setup is so poorly carried out that the memory of how this voyage starts is already difficult to recall by the time the story nears its end. Also, compared to the last one, even the songs are bland & forgettable.

One of the picture's shortcomings is having a premise that creates neither intrigue nor interest, plus the dry storytelling, lame wit, weak characterisation and not providing compelling enough arcs to reprising cast add to its failing. The animation is finely rendered but it was still far more dazzling in the previous entry. And the lack of singalong songs this time single-handedly make the ride dry & flavourless.

Overall, Moana 2 is a mediocre & disposable offering from Walt Disney Animation Studios that never manages to get interesting at any given time and remains a lifeless adventure from start to finish. The rich texture, splendid animation & good voice work are some of the only positives here but it isn't sufficient to make up for the myriads of issues that plague almost every aspect of this sequel. In a word, disappointing.

An unmemorable movie that represents the current state of Disney. It started out as a Disney+ show and definitely feels like a pointless side quest made to add content.

Moana has no arc and there is nothing new with her. She already achieved her goal in the first film and there's little go forward with. Her plot is about finding other people, but there's no reason for her. She's lacking nothing, beloved by all, and gets everything her way already. There's no reason to root for her.

Maui also hasn't changed. He's still the same smarmy guy from the start of the first, basically undermining any meaningful development that could have been had following his terrific arc last movie. The movie does lighten up when he has friendly banter with Moana, but they're away from each other so much it's hard to care.

The other new characters don't fare much better. There's more added to the crew but they're one-dimensional rip-offs of the sidekicks from Pixar's Lightyear. They are nothing more than the fat one, the old one, the geeking out fanboy, and the brainy woman who knows more mechanical knowledge than people today could.

The villains are horribly misused. There's the bat-woman who is treated like a big deal in the first half only to disappear completely by the second. The movie builds her up as something just to fail on that promise, obviously she was intended to be a bigger deal in an intended second season. The primary villain, Nalo, falls prey to something that has killed a lot of franchises recently: a villain that's all setup and no pay off. Between Marvel, DC, Star Wars, and Sony, fans are tired of seeing potential villains built up only to have to wait for a possible sequel just to pay it off. It's tired and cliched.

The songs are another disappointment as none are memorable. The first movie had one really good song and some others that grow on you after repeat viewings. Lin-Manuel Miranda's style is overused, but these songs sound like a bad imitation.

The animation looks good but only because it's the same stuff the first movie used. The only sequence worth remembering visually is the final battle in the storm. Otherwise, everything else is more of the same. Where other studios are emboldened to take animation into new styles, Disney seems content to just play it safe and reuse assets.

The movie screams that it's just going through the motions. It's enjoyable to sit through, but something that will be completely forgotten by the end of the credits.

"Moana 2" has to be one of the most unexpected sequels in recent memory. It only came to my attention earlier this year when Disney announced they retooled a TV show that continues the original film's story into a theatrically released sequel. That's not even mentioning that they're releasing a live-action remake in 2026. The original "Moana" is an incredible film with spectacular voice acting from Auli'i Cravalho and Dwayne Johnson as Moana and Maui, dazzling animation, iconic songs in "How Far I'll Go" and "You're Welcome," a legendary side-character in Schaffrillas...I mean Tamatoa and an engaging narrative. I was curious to see how a sequel would work, and after seeing it, I realized one hard truth: I'm not the target audience.

For the positives, the voice acting is still remarkable, with Cravalho and Johnson again delivering energetic performances. Even though the story is not the strongest, which we'll get to, their work manages to get me somewhat invested.

Of course, the animation is phenomenal. Disney films have always been known for their terrific animation, so it goes without saying that "Moana 2" is no different.

While this film does not have as many memorable songs as the first, "Can I Get A Chee Hoo?" is hands down the standout. The song doesn't reach the heights of the powerful "How Far I'll Go." I don't think it will become as well-known as that song, but I enjoyed it.

For the remaining positives, three solid jokes landed here, its mid-credit scene was delightful, and the film is not that long. Sadly, negatives prevail and weigh down the experience - for me, at least.

Although the runtime was short, I was bored even more than "Gladiator II." Many factors I'll mention possibly led to me thinking the movie was tedious, but its pacing left me dissatisfied.

I also felt the villain fell flat, not as much as The Rock's other release this month, "Red One." I won't reveal who it is to avoid spoilers, but I didn't feel the threat from the film's antagonist.

So I don't over-critique it, I'll bring up one more point: I felt the narrative was weak. The setup of Moana going on an adventure to unite the islands seems simple at first, but the overall handling of that story comes across as convoluted. Said convolution leaves me with no investment in potentially emotional moments.

Overall, "Moana 2" didn't work for me. I don't think it was unnecessary, but it didn't entirely justify its existence. It's simple and inoffensive yet oddly forgettable, so it's a fine enough trip to the movies. However, I'm not recommending this in favor of "Wicked" for the Thanksgiving holiday season.

Technically, outside of issues with the story, the animation remains stunning, the voice acting is stellar, and the music is well-done yet average from my perspective, so the technical score is an 8/10.

For the enjoyment score, it is a standard sequel that has enjoyment but a standard sequel that is undeniably weaker than its counterpart. For me, the enjoyment score is a 5/10. Again, it is okay and will leave you interested to an extent, but I'd recommend waiting until Disney+.

Let's face it. The first Moana was amazing. Great soundtrack, great characters, great character arcs, and it was fun for the whole family. It was one of those movies that didn't need a sequel, because it was just perfect.

Unfortunately, I can't say the same about its follow-up.

Moana 2 felt soulless. It felt as if there was no heart behind it, unlike its predecessor. Each song that was sung (except for 1 or 2) wasn't that great. They weren't catchy, and didn't make me excited for what was about to happen!

And the side characters...where do I begin?

I couldn't tell you their names, even if I tried. They felt unnecessary throughout the movie except in very few scenes. It was just all so forced. We're given basic information about them and that's it. They don't really have any character development, and if they do, I don't feel like I know them well enough to care.

There are also some plot holes. There is a scene (and to avoid spoilers I will be as vague as possible) where we're introduced to a character who has been trapped by the "villain" of the film. (Why I have quotes around villain, I'll get back to later on.) After her 5 minute introduction, she is left behind and we never find out what happens to her, even after the defeat of the villain.

To get to my point on the villain, he was barely introduced. All we get told as an audience is that he's a power hungry god and that's it. We get barely any exposition, and the final battle is so fast. It felt like so much build up for nothing.

Not a lot felt like it changed for Moana and her character by the end of the film. The stakes just barely felt like they were there.

Which also reminds me, the pacing for the movie was very off. Some scenes felt so fast while others took their time, and it gave me a weird feeling of not caring as much as the first film, although I wanted to care.

All in all, it's not the worst film ever. It's a family flick, that your kids will probably enjoy, but for me personally, it's definitely not one that I'd watch more than once.

The original Moana was a film that surprised me. I thought it was great. It was brimming with heart, humour, and unforgettable songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda. The performances, especially from Dwayne Johnson as Maui and Auli i Cravalho as Moana, brought the characters to life in a way that felt fresh. Naturally, I was eager to see how a sequel would expand on the magic of the first movie. However, Moana 2, while enjoyable, doesn't quite recapture the same magic that made the original such a standout to me.

One of the biggest differences is in the music. With Miranda not returning to compose the songs, the sequel lacks the same level of musical brilliance. The new songs are decent and serviceable, but they don't have the catchy, emotionally resonant quality that made tracks like "How Far I'll Go" unforgettable. While the tunes in Moana 2 are pleasant, they fail to leave a lasting impression, making the musical aspect of the film feel less integral to the overall experience.

The story, too, feels like a weaker reflection of the original. Without delving into spoilers, the plot revisits themes and beats that feel overly familiar, which might leave fans unsatisfied. That said, the ending provides a heartfelt resolution that ties everything together in a satisfying way. Despite losing momentum in the middle, the final act does a great job of recapturing the story's emotional core, leaving me curious about what future adventures could look like.

Visually, Moana 2 is a feast for the eyes. The animation remains top-tier, with solid visuals of the ocean, lush islands, and intricate details that make the world feel vibrant and alive. While the sequel doesn't quite reach the heights of the original in terms of story or music, it's still an enjoyable watch. For fans of the first film, it's worth checking out, even if it doesn't fully live up to its predecessor.