Moana 2 Movie Review | Filmfare.com

Moana 2 moves along like a decent follow-up to what it was set up to do, but ultimately feels like a missed opportunity. Although the voice acting, especially from Auli’i Cravalho as Moana and Dwayne Johnson as Maui, continues to impress, the film fails to capture the magic and originality that made the first Moana a symbol in Disney animation.

The original Moana (2016) combined Polynesian mythology with animation, a thrilling adventure, and a strong female lead who wasn’t a Disney princess, but a trailblazer. The story was a powerful journey of self-discovery, and Lin-Manuel Miranda’s music was catchy, resonant, and memorable. This sequel, however, struggles to match the same tearjerker, with a plot that often feels like a series of disjointed events rather than a coherent story. Moana’s new quest, to break the curse and fight the mysterious god Nalo, lacks the emotional impact and complexity that made the first film so compelling.

The voice acting remains top notch, Cravalho brings warmth and depth to Moana once again, and Johnson’s Maui manages to be beautiful, even if his character seems unnecessary this time. New additions, such as the sharp-tongued goddess Matangi (voiced by Awhimai Fraser), are interesting, but underused, leaving the other characters to be one-sided. The new human characters – Loto, Kele, and Moni – are funny but fail to leave a lasting impression.

The animation is amazing, as expected from a Disney film, with scenes like giant sea monsters and a big battle with the storm god Nalo. But while these moments are dramatic on their own level, they can feel like spectacle for spectacle’s sake. The heart of the film seems to be lost in the mix of gods, spirits, and supernatural beings. Starting a sequel, and making fun after the credit of a bad return, also hinders the feeling that the film is a complete and satisfying story on its own. It is said that the sequel is designed as a series and hence the story feels episodic in nature.

Perhaps the biggest disappointment comes from the music. Although Barlow & Bear’s offerings are solid, Beyond is a soulful ballad, and Potaika is a jazzy, upbeat number, without the addictive quality of Miranda’s music.

In the end, Moana 2 is still a fun, high-stakes movie that young audiences will enjoy. But compared to the beauty of its predecessor, it feels like fast food for the original. It doesn’t quite set the high bar set by Moana, and remains a bit of a challenge for those hoping for something extraordinary.