Moana 2 Film Review: You’re Welcome?

Moana 2 retains the fun, episodic adventure of the original film but suffers from a lack of emotional staying power and quality songs.

It becomes evident early on in Moana 2 that the bones of a television series are still intact. Several years after saving her village, Moana (Auli’i Cravalho, Mean Girls) ventures out to find more people on other islands, but finds nothing. She learns of the legend of Nalo, a vengeful god who sank an island which once united the people of the world. One can easily see Moana engaging in weekly episodic adventures across the ocean with all of the various monsters and myths.

Especially once she embarks on her quest to raise the island with her ragtag crew of fellow villagers. We have Moni (Hualalai Chung), the local expert in mythology and a Maui (Dwayne Johnson, Red One) superfan. We have Loto (Rose Matafeo), an expert in math and science, constantly tinkering with the boat to improve it. And we have Kele (David Fane), a cranky old man. All of these new characters bring specific energy to their roles, but they never really feel essential to Moana’s journey, nor do they help her learn anything new about herself.

Moana 2’s script, from Dana Ledoux Miller and Jared Bush, has plenty of exciting action set pieces, and the story keeps moving at a steady pace, but it’s a film in search of a purpose. Not helping matters is the separation of Maui and Moana for almost half of the film. While she searches the ocean, he’s being held prisoner by Matangi (Awhimai Fraser), a bat-like god trapped inside a giant clam. At least Johnson and Cravalho sound like they’re glad to be back by continuing to do winning voice work, both in their dialogue and singing.

Ah yes, the songs. For as normal as the story is in Moana, the songs are outstanding, thanks in part to Lin-Manuel Miranda’s writing. For Moana 2, Miranda doesn’t return, but the new songs try their darndest to imitate his distinct style. None of the songs, from Matangi’s disco-pop homage “Get Lost”, to Maui’s Jock Jams-lite power ballad “Can I Get a Chee Hoo?” resonate much after the end credits, even when the sequences themselves are colorful and visually pleasing.

For as hopeless as Moana 2 first appeared, rescued from the Disney+ scrap heap, at least first-time directors David G. Derrick Jr., Jason Hand, and Dana Ledoux Miller didn’t imitate so many other 2024 sequels (including Pixar’s Inside Out 2) by simply replicating the original film’s plot again. Kids will surely be drawn to the film for its vibrant color palette, cute animal sidekicks, and bodily fluid humor, but it lacks the inspiration that came with the first film. Both of my kids went through long Moana phases, watching the film daily for a time. It’s hard to imagine Moana 2 will chart the same course.

Moana 2 will be released in US theaters on November 27, 2024, in U.K. and Irish cinemas on November 29, and globally in theaters this week.