Moana 2 movie review: Spectacular visuals manage to keep this uninspired sequel afloat

The characters Maui, voiced by Dwayne Johnson, left, and Moana, voiced by Auli’i Cravalho, in a scene from ‘Moana 2’ Photo Credit: Disney

Moana is back for another adventure! Whether that’s even necessary is a different question, as the first film, which came out eight years earlier, was one of the best Walt Disney Animation films of all time and was a complete product in its own right. Our titular hero becomes a guide, hooks up a fish and befriends the god Maui and, in time, leads his fellow Motunui people back to sea as sailors like their ancestors once were. Moana 2 takes our heroes back on the high seas on a new adventure that makes us wonder what the sea creature equivalent of a cash cow is.

In moana 2Our young and determined Polynesian wayfinder gets a chance to meet his ancestors in what seems like the Disney equivalent of a fairytale Star Wars’ Hades of force. Telling a story about how an evil storm god named Nalo sank a mysterious island called Motufetu, which connected all the islands, he asks Moana (Aulisei Cravalho) to take up the mission he failed in – Nalo. To break the curse and connect with other people. Sea. Unlike the previous time when she crossed the open water alone with her dim-witted pet chicken Heihei until she met Maui (Dwayne Johnson), Moana, in keeping with tradition with most animated film sequels, She gathers a motley crew of fellow islanders to go along with her. This new adventure.

Right off the bat – or should we say paddle? – the only aspect where moana 2 On the visual front it dares to match or surpass its illustrious predecessor. Loved seeing the lush island of Motunui and the different shades of turquoise that flood the screen as Moana goes out to sea? The sequel is based on this, is being made Moana 2 A visual spectacle. But that’s the least we can expect from them, given the House of the Mouse’s track record.

As a standalone film, Moana 2 This could be a thrilling adventure brought to the screen with a good dose of the rich culture of Polynesia. But the sequel is overshadowed by the stature of its predecessor and the expectations generated by a product that turns a hit flick into a franchise. The fact that the new film lacks the emotional connect or heartwarming and hilarious moments we enjoyed in the first part doesn’t make things any easier.

Of course, there are some glimpses of the sublime in the story as majestic sea creatures break the tension of the surface of the calm water. The scenes featuring the Kakamora, a tribe of ferocious coconut-like pirates, make up some of the best parts of the film and they could very well spawn their own spin-off film. penguins of madagascar Which will definitely be even more interesting than this sequel.

The character Moana, voiced by Auli’i Cravalho, holding Simia, voiced by Khaleesi Lambert-Tsuda, in a scene from ‘Moana 2’ Photo Credit: Disney

Unlike the first film, which focused on the interpersonal relationship between a treacherous god trying to redeem himself and a young girl chosen by the sea, Moana 2 tries to unpack too much within its 100-minute runtime and introduces a series of new characters that are neither memorable nor charmingly unique. Despite being musical, moana 2 It lacks the power present in Disney’s other productions and falls far short of the catchy tracks of the first film. You know a sequel is going to be tough when it relies on the best moments of its predecessor — whether it’s something as simple as Maui once again transforming into half-shark, half-human form and Moana reiterating that She’s not a princess or a mid-credits sequence. A character from the first film reemerges to promise us more such adventures (yay?).

In many ways, the character of Moana is a game-changer for Disney’s long list of princesses. More than just a damsel in distress waiting for her Prince Charming, Moana demonstrated strength and perseverance, in addition to being a stepping stone to part of Disney’s representation in Hollywood. The cultural significance of the stubborn eponymous character has been the subject of several extensive articles highlighting the significance of his existence. despite this Moana 2 It’s a middling animation extravaganza that kids might still enjoy watching, filled with strong characters that feel miles away from the strong storytelling of its predecessor. With teasers for another sequel and a live-action remake of the original film, with Johnson reprising his role, Moana is sure to return. We can only hope that future projects don’t veer into troubled waters like this uninspired sequel, which might make even sensitive Maui tattooists roll their eyes.

Moana 2 is currently playing in theaters