‘Moana 2’ Review: High Tides of Fun, but Fails to Make Waves

Eight years after Moana sailed into theaters, the titular character returns, taking on a brand new voyage in Moana 2. Although Disney originally developed the project as a Disney+ original series to boost streaming appeal, CEO Bob Iger pivoted to make the Moana sequel into a film. This was an intelligent decision, as Bloomberg reported that Moana has become Disney’s most-streamed movie of all time. The film has over 80 billion minutes viewed, equating to watching the film 748 million times. Even Ridley Scott‘s Gladiator 2 moved away from its original date of November 27, 2024, to avoid competing with Moana 2. Instead, it paired with Jon M. Chu‘s Wicked: Part 1.

With Walt Disney Animation Studios’ latest films, Strange World and Wish, causing the company financial losses, Moana 2 arrives as the Wayfinder toward success. The songs by Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear are empowering anthems that will played on repeat for years to come. While the overall story doesn’t reach the emotional depths of the original film, Auli’i Cravalho and Dwayne Johnson give impassioned voice performances that amplify the film’s message about found family.

‘Moana 2’ Will Sail Right Into Your Heart

Just like how Cravalho has grown up since the previous movie, Moana (Cravalho) has matured and grown confident in her new role as Motunui’s master navigator. She gives a performance in the first film that showcases her range in comedy and drama, all while singing at the top of her lungs. It’s especially impressive, considering Moana was Cravahlho’s first acting gig. Since that time, she has grown more skilled by taking on a wide variety of roles. Cravalho’s skills are sharper than ever in Moana 2.

Even with how highly regarded “How Far I’ll Go” and “I Am Moana” are in the first film, “Beyond” is a worthy follow-up in the sequel. The song is another ballad that shows off Cravalho’s dynamic singing range. It’s an empowering track that drives Moana’s motivations to be a leader for her people, while also capturing her fear of potentially losing herself along the journey.

While Maui (Johnson) can still come off as a self-centered demigod who pokes fun even in the darkest times, Johnson peels back Maui’s emotional layers once again in Moana 2. After his ego and pride are present in full force for “You’re Welcome” in the previous entry, Maui’s songs in the sequel now serve Moana’s character arc. The new song “Can I Get a Chee Hoo?” reminds Moana (and the audience) that no matter what storm comes our way, we have the power within us to weather it and come out on top. Despite Moana being the titular character, the film wouldn’t have nearly the same emotional impact without her dynamic with Maui.

‘Moana 2’ Features New Characters To Distract From Its Villain Problem

With Moana 2 set three years after the original film, Moana has become an older sister to Simea (Khaleesi Lambert-Tsuda), who is sure to be a fan-favorite character. Simea’s character works as a reminder for Moana of what type of leader she aspires to be. As much as Moana loves to explore the sea and meet new people along her journey, Simea grounds her and makes Moana even more determined to build a brighter future for the next generation.

In this new adventure, Moana embarks on a journey alongside Moni (Hualālai Chung), Loto (Rose Matafeo), Kele (David Fane), as well as Pua the Pig and Heihei the Rooster (Alan Tudyk). Even though Moana is strong and independent, giving her a bigger crew is an opportunity to show how effective of a leader Moana has become. While seeing these opposing dynamics working together is fun, the film doesn’t have enough runtime to flesh out these characters fully. When Moana 2 was initially planned as a TV series, Moni, Loto, and Kele’s backstories likely could’ve been explored thoroughly, similarly to how Agatha All Along featured character-focused episodes.

Unfortunately, the Moana films suffer from having two weak villains for the second movie in a row. In Moana, Tamatoa (Jermaine Clement) serves as a side boss before the final battle against Te Kā, a godlike being made of lava. For Moana 2, Matangi (Awhimai Fraser) is a secondary antagonist who gets a villain song and doesn’t factor into the rest of the film. The final villain in Moana 2, Nalo, is also a godlike being who channels the elements to battle Moana and Maui again. While the final battle is a visual spectacle, the Moana villains are just hurdles to overcome rather than dark reflections of the heroes or an embodiment of the protagonist’s fears.

‘Moana 2’ Is a Voyage Worth Taking

Although some individual pieces in Moana 2 anchor the film, the sum of these parts makes the Disney sequel an enjoyable successor. Directors Dave Derrick Jr., Jason Hand, and Dana Ledoux Miller do their best considering the late decision to pivot Moana 2 from a streaming series to a feature film, and they accomplish their mission. The songs from Barlow and Bear will surely be a hit with audiences, even when played on a loop. The lyrics are an inspiring message for the characters while also relating to the listener.

The story may feel too similar to Moana, but where it ends is an exciting new change that loyal fans will want to explore in future projects. The Polynesian culture is on full display throughout the film and is proudly celebrated. The cast’s performances are all fun, even with how little material some of them are given. Cravalho is born to play Moana, just like how Maui is one of Johnson’s best roles so far in his storied career. 2024 has been a great year for animated projects, so Disney may have its work cut out for them come awards season. However, don’t let that stop you from climbing aboard to join Moana in this emotional and exciting adventure.

Moana 2 premieres in theaters on November 27. Follow the Agents of Fandom socials for all the latest entertainment news and reviews.