Moana 2 – Review

Cert – PG, Run-time – 1 hour 40 minutes, Directors – David G. Derrick Jr, Jason Hand, Dana Ledoux Miller

Moana (Auli’i Cravalho) sets out to find a sunken island which could connect the whole ocean, however the force keeping it hidden could be stronger than her, demigod Maui (Dwayne Johnson) and co together.

Initially announced amongst a large slate of shows and movies shortly after the launch of Disney+ Moana 2 was originally set to be a TV series for the streaming platform. David G. Derrick, who served as storyboard artist on the first film, was to write and direct and the series would hopefully debut in 2023. It’s hard not to feel watching the eventual theatrically released sequel that the response to turn the series into a feature was a rushed reaction to the disappointing performance of 2022’s underrated Strange World.

Jason Hand and Dana Ledoux Miller were brought on as co-directors while screenplay credits have eventually gone to Miller and the original film’s screenwriter Jared Bush, with an additional story credit for Bek Smith. Multiple hands can be seen on the finished product which, as mentioned, feels both rushed and has plenty throwbacks to the direct-to-DVD sequels Disney made plenty of through the 2000s.

As Moana (Auli’i Cravalho) ventures further than she’s ever been before in the hope of finding a sunken island which could connect her own with countless others across the ocean she’s joined by new faces from her home. While only three additional characters (voiced by David Fane, Rose Matafeo and Hualalai Chung) their presence, and little overall effect on the film, does bring about a feeling that the original intention for them was greater when as a TV series. The same going for returning demigod Maui (Dwayne Johnson) who spends much of the run-time tied up in a giant sea-creature by a bat-commanding side-villain who has more screen-time than the actual unseen villain; making their sudden drop from the narrative all the more baffling no matter what the film’s explanation says.

The actual villain is god, Nalo. Keeping the island at the core of the film submerged under the ocean in order to keep humans separate, and continuing his being the strongest force possible. He surrounds that part of the ocean with storms and powerful hurricanes, which act as an eventually lacking threat; perhaps down to the fact that the antagonist doesn’t do very much in the film and perhaps isn’t the focus here, and more of a barrier for the characters to overcome to get to the island rather than a full villain.

While watchable I had a lack of proper engagement with the film as a whole as it simply unfolded with little emotional impact. Cravalho’s titular character remains one of Disney’s strongest in terms of both determination, actions and attitude but also in terms of belting out a note or two – especially helpful with the less memorable songs this time around. Her relationship with her younger sister, Simea (Khaleesi Lambert-Tsuda), creates some of the best moments of the film. which themselves manage to produce a warm smile while briefly happening. However, the overall narrative lacks the same punch as some of the aforementioned final notes due to its adapted feeling – how much of it was actually changed from the originally-planned series and how much was done before the switch I don’t know.

There are, as you’d expect, some good visuals throughout, and indeed some amusing ideas which raise a light chuckle here and there but as a whole the film generally moves along without much effect. Watchable while it’s unfolding it’s likely to not be very memorable once the credits have rolled, and finds itself amongst Disney’s weaker ventures.

Moana remains one of Disney’s best and strongest characters, however this sequel feels weighed down by multiple voices and a rushed transition from series to feature leading to a watchable, but unmemorable outing.