Moana 2 – Movie Reviews by Ry!

Moana 2 – In the Waves of Familiar Waters: An Oceanic Fairytale

Living in reality but driven to escape.  To feel that mantra is to flow with the adventure, to seize the moment (good or bad).  When it comes to film, we hope to find that experience that can pull us away into something truly genuine.  No matter the genre, it is that escape that will define if the adventure was truly worth the trip.  In this review, I look at the latest animated film to hit the big screen.  Moving into the next chapter, it is a seafaring adventure of amazing visuals in a familiar touch.  Even for its trivial premise, Moana 2 provides enough splash for a fun journey upon oceans unknown. 

In a call from her ancestors, Moana (voice: Auli’l Cravalho) will once again travel the oceans to find lost connections that can save her people from utter extinction.  To speak about this film is to acknowledge the strength of Disney storytelling.  At the heart of their tales is a sense of vibrancy, a delicate touch of color, world-building and adventure.  To feel this is to escape into the journey, one that makes for heartfelt moments no matter its foundation.  With this latest sequel, it provides a window into a lot of genuine appeal, but one that never pushes past standard tropes and archetypes.  In the beginning, we come back into this world where we find out that Moana has become her people’s new wayfinder.  Through a first act of sing-along moments, characterized scenes and colorful CGI, we learn that being the wayfinder brings about new purpose: seeking new connections across the ocean to (which she believes) are long lost brethren.  This new challenge (plot point) becomes the catalyst for a new journey.  From this foundation, we watch as Moana looks to put together a bigger crew, one that will help her navigate further and find the place where she can bring all the oceanic people together.  From here, the journey never builds from its premise, steadily moving through a ‘point A to B’ like motif that drives through an application of standard Disney clichés.  What you have (through most of the film) is an adventure of mimicry: a compilation of song-and-dance, animated comedic sequences and uninspiring secondary characters.  Even with seminal throughfare, it is the colorful animation and overall world-building that continues to grip the audience, one that wants you to see Moana accomplish this latest quest. 

As Moana and crew embark further into uncharted waters, we continue down that linear progression filled with that standard homage to Disney clichés.  What should be a strength becomes pedestrian, as the songs and bombastic villain(s) become plot fodder for the journey.  As the journey wanes between lackluster sequences, there continues to be worth because of Moana and that ‘sense’ of purpose.  When the crew reaches a certain ‘crossroad’ like moment, the film begins to shift into something better … when the focus leans into the relationship between Moana and Maui (voiced: Dwayne Johnson).  With them at the forefront, we head into a third act that brings authentic emotional sequences, raw character progression and strong visualized moments against a cataclysmic confrontation.  This leads to a visualized stunning climax, and a relatively fulfilling epilogue.  Moana 2 might not have the lasting power of its original, but there is enough fun on the big screen.  If you are a fan of the original, Disney or animated tales, this is one for you.  For everyone else, you will still have a great escape with some amazing CGI.     

Full Score – 3.5 out of 5 (Matinee)