'Moana 2' Review: Making Waves With an Adventure-Filled Sequel
Warning: spoilers ahead!
In 2016, Walt Disney Studios made a splash in cinemas when it came out with the animated musical adventure film “Moana.” The film, which stars Dwayne Johnson and Auliʻi Cravalho, follows the story of the titular character, Moana, and shape-shifting demigod Maui, and their quest to restore the heart of Te Fiti to save the former's tribe and their island, Motunui.
Eight years later, Disney is bringing back the Moana and Maui tandem, who are in for another quest to prevent the demise of Moana’s people — and the entire humanity in the vast ocean.
Bigger Purpose, Bigger Adventure
“Moana 2” catches us up with the ending of the first installment, where Moana becomes a wayfinder and leads her people to begin voyaging again. In hopes of finding other humans aside from her tribe, she navigates the sea looking for clues. Her efforts, however, led to no results, as she found no one.
She then gets a prophecy from her ancestor, Tautai Vasa, one of the greatest wayfinders her tribe has ever seen. In the prophecy, Moana envisions the ultimate demise of her tribe: extinction. Tautai Vasa then tells her that the only way to prevent this horrific end is to reconnect the people of the seas by finding the cursed island of Motefetu and lifting its curse — but it would not be easy with the evil storm god Nalo guarding it.
Moana then gathers her friends from the island, her “sidekicks” Pua the pig and Hei-Hei the rooster, and, of course, her demi-god friend Maui, to help her with her quest.
Since this is a sequel, it was just imperative for us to expect a more intense storyline, and this film very much succeeded in doing so. While the first installment showed us how she breaks out from her shell to follow her calling and save her tribe, the sequel exhibited how Moana is meant for a bigger purpose. This deeper plot allowed the film to jam in some more action-packed scenes, which brought us to the edge of our seats.
We also loved how the movie brought in new characters, including Moana’s cute little sister Simea, Motunui’s passionate storyteller Moni, the grumpy old farmer Kele, the smart and handy Loto, and the bat-controlling antagonist Matangi, who would all contribute much more dimension to the sequel’s storyline and comedic catchphrases and banters, creating balance in an otherwise sad plot.
A Visual and Musical Revelry
In true Disney fashion, “Moana 2” offered a feast for the eyes with its captivating animation. We were indeed enchanted by its majestic picture of the beautiful sea, but it did not forget to send chills to our bones with its terrifying sea creatures, villains, and action-heavy sequences.
One particular scene that highlighted this visual spectacle was the climax, which featured a nail-biting storm, an enraged sea, and a whole lot of magic.
In terms of music, the sequel’s soundtrack is also something worthy of praise. The film’s lead song, “Beyond,” offered a similar charm to the first film’s “How Far I'll"Go" — hopeful, empowering, and heartfelt. Meanwhile, songs such as “We’re Back,” which appears at the beginning of the film, and “What Could Be Better Than This?", performed by Moana and the gang, offered a fun sing-and-dance-along.
Despite this, however, the sequel’s songs fell short compared to the original. While “Beyond” is an enchanting track, thanks to its amazing lyrics and Auliʻi Cravalho’s powerful vocals, and Maui’s “Can I Get A Chee Hoo?" which is just as enjoyable; they weren’t as catchy as the original's “How Far I’ll Go” and “You’re Welcome” (which were both created by renowned composer Lin-Manuel Miranda). After all, this soundtrack had some big shoes to fill.
Lessons from ‘Moana 2’
One of the most major lessons that “Moana 2” was able to convey is that “No man is an island.” In the film, the protagonist saw the impending doom that would befall her tribe if she failed to reconnect them with people from the other islands. This was also exhibited by Moana enlisting the help of her friends to fulfill her mission, proving just how much people need other people, too.
Another striking message, which was explicitly mentioned in Moana’s scene with Matangi, is that “There’s always another way.” Moana faced several hurdles across the film, but this learning led her to overcome them. This teaches the audience to never give up in the midst of challenges.
Lastly, the film proves how enemies can become friends. This is exemplified in her interactions with once-hostile characters, the coconut-shaped pirates Kakamora, for example, as she seeks to understand their motivations.
Overall Thoughts
Like with other movie franchises, Moana 2’s biggest quest was to outdo the original. While it didn’t succeed much in doing so with regards to the musical aspect, the sequel did a better job at giving audiences the excitement of a true fantasy adventure with its action-packed scenes and heart-pounding visuals. Overall, it fared very well in lifting the “sequel curse,” and it is sure to delight kids and kids-at-heart, Disney fans or not.
Rating: 9/10
“Moana 2” is now in theaters worldwide. To buy tickets or check out participating cinemas, click here.
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