MOANA 2 is “going to need a bigger boat” to fit all of the characters in this serviceable sequel. Borrowing from the plot of FROZEN 2, this sequel tries to go “Beyond” instead of “Into the Unknown.” It’s a shame that the plot decides to “Get Lost” with a weak big bad and strangely separates Moana from Maui for fifty-five minutes.
What made Moana such a lovable character was her relationship to her people and serving them. The sequel sails away from that and pushes her with a cast of forgettable characters as they try to pull an island out of the water? Yeah, I didn’t get it either. And that’s the problem. Whereas FROZEN 2 deepened the lore of its characters’ ancestry, MOANA 2 gets waterlogged by focusing on lesser character story arcs that aren’t as important as Elsa discovering the secrets of her past.
The songs are also all instantly forgettable. Even Maui’s “Can I get a Chee Hoo?” is a ripoff of “You’re Welcome,” with less catchy lyrics and melody. As a character sings, “What could be better than this,” I now know the answer – and that would’ve been rewatching MOANA instead of seeing this by-the-numbers sequel.
It’s available in theaters now.
