REVIEW: "Moana 2" (2024)



WRITER'S NOTE: The following was originally posted on my Facebook page on December 9, 2024. (For my former Goddard students, who loved the first movie.) 

When Moana was first released in 2016, it became an instant classic that broke barriers of cultural representation on screen (specifically for Polynesian audiences), with a compelling coming-of-age story of a teenage princess who becomes a wayfinder. Not to mention a musical earworm for countless children and families. (I know, because the 3-to-4-year-olds I was co-teaching at the time loved it.) Ideas for a follow-up were eventually (and originally) pitched and planned as a streaming series on Disney+. 

Picking up years after the events of the first movie, an older Moana (voiced and sung by Auli’i Cravalho) is in search of other voyagers while also helping to lead her own village. She soon receives a call from her ancestors to journey through Oceania against an even bigger threat against the entire world, scary creatures and characters in tow. Not to mention histories of the ocean and ancient stories being revealed. 

Sporting an updated red and white outfit this time, Moana is accompanied on her quest by some new supporting characters, like her little sister Simea, Maui fan Moni, craftswoman Loto, farmer Kele, and a bat-like demigoddess named Matangi. The ever-popular chicken Hei Hei and coconut-shaped tribal Kakamora are back, while Pua the pig, who was barely in the first one, is now along for the ride (“Bacon and Eggs”). And we can’t forget Maui (Dwayne Johnson), his massive fishhook, or his lively tattoos (with 2D animation supervised by studio veteran Eric Goldberg). Unlike the first movie’s wide 2.35:1 scope, Moana 2 is presented in a taller 1.85:1 aspect ratio, with stunning animation that demands to be seen on the biggest screen. 

The film features many catchy, and well-crafted (if not as memorable) songs, including the beat-bumping “Can I Get a Chee-hoo,” named after one of the charismatic demigod’s signature catchphrases. Composer Mark Mancina (delivering an incredible score) and musician-lyricist Opetaia Foa’i are joined by up-and-coming songwriters Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear (the team behind the Grammy-winning concept album, “The Unofficial Bridgerton Musical”); the first Moana’s co-lyricist Lin-Manuel Miranda was busy working on music for the studio’s photorealistic prequel Mufasa: The Lion King (out this month). Arguably the central number in Moana 2 is the powerful “Beyond,” where the titular wayfinder contemplates the future of her community, her role as a leader (and the bridge between land and sea), and the uncertainty, self-doubt, and guilt of it all. (I have a feeling this number will be nominated for an Oscar.) 

Moana 2 is essentially a story about a growing community; one that has embraced its history and strives toward a better, bigger future. Recurring themes from the first film suggest lessons passed down from one generation to the next. It’s a very communal experience, and perhaps why, despite mixed reviews from critics, audiences have been responding so well to it. It’s also about restoring connections and creating new stories—resonant themes for all audiences, especially in this era. 

My reaction to seeing this for the first time is mixed. There are parts of it that I liked (including the music and songs), while other elements (some convoluted plot holes deal with portals to other realms/dimensions) weren’t as strong. Moana 2 follows a similar formula as the first movie, while also having a more action-driven and talkative plot and more fast-paced humor—a cinematic roller-coaster that is dramatic as it is exciting. The filmmakers’ decision to switch this from streaming to theatres late in production explains the supposedly rushed and more episodic pacing. They may also be setting up another chapter in the pipeline of this crowd-pleasing franchise. (No spoilers.) 

I had a similar experience when I saw Frozen II for the first time. Who knows? Like that 2019 blockbuster, maybe this 2024 entry (already breaking box-office records of its own) may grow on me in time. Or, I should say, the currents may change. If anything, this sequel shows how far these characters have come, and yet to. As one character says, “Together, still. Just a little different.” 

#filmfreeq #bekerianreviews #21stcenturycinema #disney #waltdisneyanimationstudios #jasonhand #danaledouxmiller #davidgderrickjr #moana22024

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