‘Moana 2’
Everyone’s favourite Polynesian princess sets sail on another journey, this time with a bigger crew helping her face her fears.
When Moana hit theatres in 2016, it took the world by storm. It didn’t take long for the strong and independent titular character to become one of the most beloved Disney princesses. The film was heralded as one of the most successful family adventure films of the 2010s, and its impact on the world led Disney back to the drawing board to give fans a sequel.
Moana 2 gets the band back together with Auli’i Cravalho returning as Moana and Dwayne Johnson returning as Maui. Moana goes on yet another mission to find more islands and people who have been scattered by the film’s villain - an evil God named Nalo. Once she finds an island that has been submerged by Nalo’s curse, she returns home to find a way to raise the island and save the lost people of the ocean. Moana encounters both familiar and unfamiliar threats and ultimately faces Nalo in a battle that had me on the edge of my seat. This time though, she is joined by a crew of unlikely heroes. Loto, an intelligent and quirky ship designer; Kele, a cranky farmer; and Moni, a resourceful man who also happens to be a crazed Maui fan. Every character manages to be fun and likeable, creating an entertaining atmosphere.
Even if it doesn’t reach quite the same cinematic heights as the first film, Moana 2 still provides stunning bursts of colour and set pieces that are just as immersive. There has been some scepticism as of late that the Walt Disney Animation studios are straying from their traditional colourful and vibrant style, but Moana 2 is a reminder of just how talented these animators are. The way they present the iridescent water and sandy beaches is mind-boggling and reminds me why I am so fascinated by animation. But of course, the idyllic landscapes wouldn’t mean as much without the culture at the heart of the film. It manages to maintain a beautiful celebration of Polynesian culture and respectfully showcases thousands of years of ancient storytelling; this film would not be as wonderful as it is without these people and their history. Telling their stories through song is another strength of the Moana franchise. In the first film, Lin-Manuel Miranda gave us absolute bangers like ‘How Far I’ll Go’, and ‘You’re Welcome’. But, in Moana 2, Miranda took a step back and allowed for new talent, Emily Bear and Abigail Barlow, to shine through. Best known for their Grammy award winning album ‘The Unofficial Bridgerton Musical’, this is their first time working on a blockbuster film. Their songs are catchy, with Awhimai Fraser’s ‘Get Lost’ being a highlight, but I couldn’t help but think about how much I missed that quintessential Miranda flare. I can’t imagine any of the songs in Moana 2 being on repeat in family households nearly as much as the first film.
Now, let's address the elephant in the room. This cinematic sequel was originally meant to be a Disney+ television series. It’s not overtly obvious while watching the film that this was an episodic series that they condensed, but there are moments that just don’t fit right. Firstly, Maui only makes a full entrance in the third act, before that he is just teased like he would be in the first episodes of a show before the final episodes where he shows up to save the day. This felt quite disjointed and occasionally disrupted the flow of the film, having to go back and forth to know where Maui was at any given time. Secondly, as is the case with recent Disney films the central villain is unclear and is more of a physical manifestation of evil rather than a singular, distinct being. Don’t get me wrong, the final stretch of the film was enthralling and made for some epic battle shots, but I am growing tired of vague villains. There is another character that is considered a villain, and her development is very intriguing until it falls off a cliff by not wrapping up her storyline. It’s clear that Disney is leaving this film open-ended in hopes of creating a spin off series, or another cash-grab film. In doing so, the filmmaking crew fails to create a well-rounded, complete film. It was quite frustrating, but didn’t take away from my overall enjoyment of the film
Moana 2 will no doubt be a box office hit like its predecessor. Younger children will be awe-struck, teenagers and young adults who grew up with Moana will get a pleasant wave of nostalgia, and parents will enjoy the adventure and intrinsic message. All in all, this film aims to remind its audiences to stay strong in their sense of self and never stray far from who they are. It’s a powerful message that people, regardless of age, can resonate with.
Moana 2 is in Australian cinemas on the 28th of November!
