Trigger Warning: There are several sequences involving flashing lights (especially in the climax) which may be difficult for photosensitive viewers.
One cannot deny the infectious nature of co-director John Musker and Ron Clements’s 2016 animated adventure Moana. Between the culturally-specific-yet-universal themes of Jared Bush’s (Encanto) script; the music from Mark Mancina (Bad Boys), Lin-Manuel Miranda (Hamilton; In the Heights), and Opetaia Foaʻi; and the performances from leads Auliʻi Cravalho (Mean Girls (2024)) and Dwayne Johnson (Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle) as protagonist Moana and demi-god Maui, respectively; the film would go on to be a massive critical, cultural, and box office success. Rather than plan out a proper theatrical sequel, Walt Disney Studios planned a television series, but made a pivot back to theatrical for what would become 2024’s Moana 2, a new oceanic adventure that sought to move the story forward with faces old and new. With a script by Buch and Dana Ledoux Miller (Moana) and co-directed by David Derrick Jr., Jason Hand, and Miller, Moana 2 can’t quite reach the mythical heights of its predecessor, delivering a story neither as fun or interesting, yet still possessing enough heart to carry its momentum and audience interest forward. Walt Disney Studios invites audiences to explore the making of Moana 2, now arriving on home video, via roughly 102-minutes of behind-the-scenes featurettes which dig into the culture and community that brought the tale to life.
LITTLE SIS — In Walt Disney Animation Studios’ all-new feature film “Moana 2,” Moana embarks on an expansive new voyage to the far seas of Oceania—but now that she has a little sister, Simea, the stakes are so much higher. Simea looks up to Moana and misses her terribly when she’s gone. Leaving that adorable face is hard for Moana—even if the future of their people depends on it. Featuring the voices Auli‘i Cravalho as Moana and Khaleesi Lambert-Tsuda as Simea, the all-new feature film opens in theaters on Nov. 27, 2024. © 2024 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Three years after Moana and Maui returned the heart to Te Fiti and Moana was raised to the title of chieftess and wayfinder, she continues to search the ocean for the other islands and their peoples. Though she’s founds signs of other communities, she’s yet to discover (or be discovered by) another civilization. But after receiving a warning from Tautai Vasa (voiced by Gerald Ramsey), she gathers a small crew to set sail and find the lost island of Motufetu. But its location is guarded by the power-hungry storm god Nalo (voiced by Tofiga Fepulea’i), so Moana is going to need some extra help in the form of her friend Maui if the islands are to be reconnected and disaster prevented.
A NEW ADVENTURE — Walt Disney Animation Studios’ epic animated musical “Moana 2” sends Moana (voice of Auli‘i Cravalho) on an expansive new voyage alongside her favorite demigod, Maui (voice of Dwayne Johnson), and a crew of unlikely seafarers. Moni (voice of Hualālai Chung) is the designated storyteller, Loto (voice of Rose Matafeo) is a brilliant engineer in charge of the canoe, and Kele (voice of David Fane) is a farmer who knows which plants can successfully sail the seas. Heihei, Pua and a Kakamora warrior called Kotu are along for the ride, too. “Moana 2” is directed by David Derrick Jr., Jason Hand and Dana Ledoux Miller, and produced by Christina Chen and Yvett Merino,. © 2024 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
There’s a strangeness that courses through Moana 2 and it begins with the fact that so much of it wants to recapture the magic of the first film rather than being its own thing. To that end, the new songs by Abigail Barlow (The Unofficial Bridgerton Musical) and Emily Bear (The Unofficial Bridgerton Musical) don’t so much compliment Miranda’s work as try to tonally mimic, but there’s a very noticeable difference as they lack his specific voice. This is, of course, a difficult task for anyone seeking to replace the multihyphenate creator, even for Barlow and Bear whose collective accomplishments prior to this gig are impressive (Barlow as a songwriter has collaborated with several well-known musicians and Bear as a musician was the featured pianist for Beyoncé’s Renaissance World Tour), but that doesn’t mean they can match-pitch (as it were) with Miranda. “We’re Back” functions as this film’s “Where You Are,” serving as a musical transition from the cold open that gets the audience up to speed on the islanders of Motunui, and “Can I Get a Chee Hoo?” serves as the Maui spotlight track similar to “You’re Welcome,” an attempt by Maui to bolster Moana’s confidence, except neither of these tracks hold a candle to what came before. It’s fair to say that the songs of Frozen (2013) and Frozen II (2019) are quite different, but neither is trying to replicate the other in either tone or intention whereas that appears to be the case here as the narrative within Moana 2 contains similar narrative beats to the first.
Where the film is at its most interesting is three-fold: the progression of Moana as chieftess/wayfinder, her relationship to her sister (newly-introduced Simea (voiced by Khaleesi Lambert-Tsuda)), and the subtext of Nalo’s plan as it relates to problems of today. The first film is about Moana learning that her urge to leave the island is part of her cultural heritage and returning the heart will empower herself and her people to return to who they were. Now, Moana is tackling the responsibility of chieftess and wayfinder, learning that leadership comes with risks and how working with the right team can make obstacles far easier to scale. This matters because leadership doesn’t mean doing everything on your own, even if the success or failure rests on a leader’s shoulders, it means recognizing and encouraging others to create harmony so that everyone can be their best, which, in turn, raises them all together. This is a strong counter-point to the Nalo plotline as the god seeks to control as much as possible by denying humanity connection and communication. The entire concept of destroying/blocking travel routes is as old as colonization (something which the people of Hawai’i and other Pacific Islands know all too well) because those who control travel routes control the people who use them. Want them to flourish, you allow it to flow; want them to die out, close it off. We see this happening in the Gaza-Israel War and Ukraine-Russia War occurring right now, we see it in the choices that the Trump Administration is making regarding free press and tariffs. We get about as much information on Nalo as we do Te Fiti (until the mid-credits scene teeing up a third film), but the text of Nalo’s cruelty speaks to a subtext of colonization efforts centuries old. Moana was powerful for its overt conflict resolution, using words and deeds to restore and soften hardened hearts and work toward healing; Moana 2 requires more processing of the subtext to feel the depth, but it’s there for audience members willing to do the work. Finally, there’s the storyline between Moana and Simea, which upends the expected coupling that a tale (especially a Disney one) would seek to do for its female protagonist. Rather than try to make her someone else’s companion or reduce her role to propagator of a new generation, she instead functions as the inspiration for the children of Motunui, with the audience given the focal point of Simea. Now, perhaps it’s the fact that I have two boys and the youngest one hangs on every word of his sibling, totally fine to have his own adventures, but roaring to life at the chance to do something with his brother, but the relationship between Moana and Simea is not only well-written, it’s perfectly performed, resonating within me so deeply as to bring tears at their reconnection in the conclusion in the same way that “Know Who You Are” from Moana *always* does. It’s odd that with so many beautiful moments in the initial outing that too few exist within Moana 2 and that’s largely due to its attempts to mimic rather than create their own evocative moments.
As a home release, there’s plenty to be happy about. Unlike the recent Inside Out 2 (2024) home release, which felt like a missed opportunity, Moana 2 includes more than just a sing-a-long edition, gag reel, deleted scenes, and localized song selections, it includes three in-depth featurettes that rarely overlap in their exploration of the film, its themes, the performances, the music, and more. “Call of the Wayfinder” is made in collaboration with The Polynesian Voyager Society as audiences are given real-world history on the oceanic tradition of wayfinding while listening to both experts and members of the Moana crew who joined them for a journey as a means of conducting research for the production. There’s such a focus on wayfinding in Moana 2 that spending time creating a link between the fiction and the fact empowers homeviewers to recognize that the characters within the Moana universe aren’t just animated creations, but are accessible avatars of real cultures and their traditions/myths. For those excited about seeing the return of Moana and Maui, “A New Voyage” centers Cravalho, Johnson, and the filmmakers as they discuss coming back for the sequel. Where the first featurette is more documentary short, “A New Voyage” is more promotional tool, giving audiences insight into the making of the film, its concepts, and even its creatures, but with a “sell tickets” vibe. Did you enjoy the new characters, human and mythical, that joined the ride? Head over to “Join the Crew” for glimpses of the actors in the recording booth, information from the filmmakers on their character design and development, and plenty more. For those who enjoy the songs and score of Moana 2, “Songs of the Sea” will answer some of your questions as time is spent with Barlow, Bear, Foa‘I, and Mancina, offering audiences a small glimpse into their working process and development of the main songs of the film. By the way, one of the things we learn in “A New Voyage” is how the Kakamora, as cultural figures, are not the antagonistic pirates that Moana suggested. This is stated when offering context for the shift in their presentation for the sequel and makes the Hualālai Chung-narrated “Kakamore Chronicles” featurette quite a bit of fun as we learn more about the mythical creatures via a guided tour provided by new character Moni the historian (Chung).
A NEW MISSION — In Walt Disney Animation Studios’ all-new feature film “Moana 2,” Moana (voice of Auli‘i Cravalho) must journey to the far seas of Oceania and into dangerous, long-lost waters for an adventure unlike anything she’s ever faced. The ocean comes with impossible challenges: stormy seas, complicated curses and the Kakamora. Directed by David Derrick Jr., Jason Hand and Dana Ledoux Miller, and produced by Christina Chen and Yvett Merino, “Moana 2” features music by Grammy® winners Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear, Grammy nominee Opetaia Foa‘i, and three-time Grammy winner Mark Mancina. The all-new feature film opens in theaters on Nov. 27, 2024. © 2024 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
As stated, Moana 2 is fine. It’s neither great nor horrible, it just provides a comfortable adventure that follows the well-tread path created by the initial outing. It builds nicely upon the lessons of the first film for Moana and Maui while setting up a new tale and raises more questions about Moana’s future. It’s got creepy character designs, fun with oceanic creatures (poor blobfish), and several amusing new additions, but it doesn’t push things in a way where there appears to be danger, something the first outing didn’t shy from. And that’s ok. It’s fine. There’s enough here that young audiences will still enjoy it, even if the older ones are likely to get bored with the pseudo-nostalgia that courses through it. If we’re lucky, whatever the third film ends up being (given the very clean intention that this adventure isn’t really over via the mid-credits stinger), maybe it’ll be presented in such a way that’ll demonstrate this series hasn’t fully lost its way.
Moana 2 Special Features*:
- Full Length Sing-Along – Sing along with your favorite songs while watching the movie with on-screen lyrics.
- Call of the Wayfinder – Celebrate Pacific wayfinding with the Moana 2 filmmakers as they meet real-life navigators from the Polynesian Voyaging Society. Hear from Nainoa Thompson, CEO of PVS, and other crew members as they discuss the cultural renaissance of wayfinding. (12:17)
- A New Voyage – Join the filmmakers and artistic leads for a deep dive as they reveal the development of this sequel and discuss the impact that the first film had across the globe. Auliʻi Cravalho and Dwayne Johnson talk about what it means to them to return. (15:36)
- Songs of the Sea – Sit down with songwriters Abigail Barlow & Emily Bear, Pacific Islands music legend Opetaia Foa‘i, and composer Mark Mancina as they discuss making the music. Get to know this talented team as they share insight into writing each brand-new song. (13:28)
- Join the Crew – Look behind the scenes at the casting of the new voyaging crew joining Moana for this next adventure. Filmmakers David G. Derrick Jr., Jason Hand, Dana Ledoux Miller, Yvett Merino, and Christina Chen introduce the voice actors and their characters. (11:39)
- Kakamora Chronicles – Ever wanted to know more about the Kakamora? Gather ’round while Moni, everyone’s favorite Motunui historian, tells the tales from real Solomon Island folklore surrounding the mysterious and unforgettable beings known as the Kakamora. (4:33)
- Fun in the Booth – Step inside the recording booth with the brilliant and talented actors of Moana 2 for some creative fun as they bring their characters to life. (3:08)
- Seven (7) Deleted Scenes – Overall introduction to Deleted Scenes by directors David G. Derrick Jr, Jason Hand and Dana Ledoux Miller. (14:34)
- Nine (9) Song Selection – Watch as a group or individually in English or Spanish (27:16)
*Bonus features may vary by product and retailer
Available on digital January 28th, 2025.
Available on Disney+ March 12th, 2025.
Available on 4K UHD, Blu-ray, and DVD March 18th, 2025.
For more information, head to the official Walt Disney Studios Moana 2 webpage.
Final Score: 3 out of 5.
Share this:
Categories: Home Release, Home Video, Recommendation, Reviews, streaming
Leave a Reply