When ‘Moana’ came out in 2016, it was all anyone could talk about. The story of Moana (Auli’i Cravalho) and Maui (Dwayne Johnson) brought Polynesian culture to the big screen and inspired many young women with Moana’s independence and strength. The movie’s fresh plot and genius soundtrack made Disney history. Eight years later, ‘Moana 2’ couldn’t fill its predecessor’s shoes.
‘Moana 2’ follows Moana as she embarks on another journey and learns what it means to be a leader. When Moana receives a message from her ancestors, she sets off to find the lost island of Motufetu in Oceania, break Nalo’s curse, and reunite the people of the ocean. This time, she is joined by her new wayfinding crew, which includes an eccentric engineer named Loto (Rose Matafeo), a grumpy farmer named Kele (David Fane), and a passionate storyteller named Moni (Hualālai Chung).
When a movie becomes universally celebrated, its successor rarely reaches the high standards it has set. This infamous phenomenon is called the “Sequel Curse” and has haunted cinematic works such as the ‘Jaws’ franchise. ‘Moana 2’ is no exception to this growing trend.
The most obvious difference between ‘Moana’ and its sequel is that Lin-Manuel Miranda was replaced as songwriter by musical duo Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear. While the soundtrack for ‘Moana 2’ was relatively good, it did not have nearly the same effect as the iconic tracks from the original film, notably “You’re Welcome” and “How Far I’ll Go”. Instead of having the songs stuck in my head for weeks and still not getting tired of them, I have already forgotten the sequel’s music.
In December 2020, when the production of Moana 2 had just begun, it was originally announced as a Disney mini-series—and that would have made a lot more sense. The movie’s plot was all over the place; there were a lot of storylines that seemed irrelevant to the narrative, several new characters were introduced, and there was barely any build-up to the very dramatic ending. Compared to the first movie, ‘Moana 2’ was more lighthearted and seemed to cater to an even younger audience. The film’s structural patterns make it clear that it was initially intended to be a series, which makes many elements seem out of place.
However, the movie did succeed in highlighting Polynesian culture, which wasn’t fully addressed in the previous one. There are several cultural practices referenced in the film, such as blowing on the conch shell, an ‘Ava ceremony, the use of double-hulled canoes, and more. This franchise continues to make Disney history as Melanesians and Micronesians are represented for the first time in ‘Moana 2’.
Another strong point of the film is its animation. The visuals continue to amaze audiences with vibrant waterscapes and fast, lifelike movements.
Overall, ‘Moana 2’ is an average sequel with a confusing plot and a disappointing soundtrack; simply put, it is unnecessary. It introduces many characters who do not contribute to the storyline, contains forgettable songs, and includes very few captivating scenes. Had the movie stayed a mini-series, it would have reached the younger audience it was aiming for and wouldn’t have taken away from its predecessor’s originality.
While its animations may keep kids entertained for a few hours, ‘Moana 2’ is a huge step down from the first film.
