Rating: 5.5/10
**This review contains spoilers.**
“Moana 2” pushes the artistic boundaries of an animated film. The movie is visually stunning, with the bright cyans and dark blues of the ocean transporting the viewer into the story. Aside from the ocean, the verdant greens of the various islands make you feel a part of the tropical paradise of Polynesia.
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Unfortunately, despite its strong visual appeal, “Moana 2” is severely lacking in narrative structure, pacing and character development. The plot meanders from point to point, with some scenes feeling like they go on for too long. The movie also struggles to transition between some scenes naturally, and some parts of the movie’s narrative feel forced.
The character development is also severely lacking in the sequel. Auli’i Cravalho reprises her role as Moana, and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson returns to voice the cocky but lovable demigod Maui. Unlike the first film, which primarily focuses on the relationship between Moana and Maui, the film spreads itself too thin regarding character development.
Moana is joined by a team of lovable but bland crewmates for her adventure across the sea. Moni is a bookish historian, Kele is a grumpy old man who hates the sea and Loto is an eager and passionate inventor. None of these individual characters truly break the mold of their character archetype or develop in any meaningful way, which makes them feel flat and almost unnecessary.
This is in stark contrast to the first film, which is deeply character-driven and spends a significant amount of time developing both Maui and Moana. Throughout the film, the two come to terms with their flaws and grow as people. In the sequel, the characters feel almost identical to their first appearance.
The soundtrack is also a disappointment. Many of the songs in the original were iconic and served as memorable ways to push the plot forward. The songs in “Moana 2,” however, are highly forgettable. They fail to move the plot meaningfully anywhere significant, and they sometimes slow the movie down.
The movie also lacks a sense of tension, much of which stems from a weak antagonist. Initially, the audience is led to believe that Matangi, a foreboding demigod who controls bats and captures Maui at the film’s beginning, is the primary antagonist. However, it is later revealed she secretly wants to help Moana, and her character disappears from the movie entirely.
The actual antagonist is Nalo, the god of storms. Nalo is never actually shown on screen and is only represented in drawings or as tornadoes and waves. The fact that we never see the main villain in person significantly weakens the film, as it feels like the protagonists are fighting against nothing.
“Moana 2” is a perfectly acceptable film. It doesn’t overstay its welcome, and it has a feel-good story that ends happily. While younger audiences will enjoy the simple comedic moments and stunning visuals, those looking for a deeper story will likely be left unsatisfied.
