On November 27, 2024, Walt Disney Pictures releases 'Moana 2', which has earned a predominantly positive reception from critics, currently holding at 70% on Rotten Tomatoes at the time of this writing. In the film, which is a sequel to the juggernaut hit animated film, "After receiving an unexpected call from her wayfinding ancestors, Moana must journey to the far seas of Oceania and into dangerous, long-lost waters for an adventure unlike anything she's ever faced." The Critics Consensus reads, "Riding high on a wave of stunning animation even when its story runs adrift, Moana 2 isn't as inspired as the original but still delights as a colorful adventure." The ensemble cast includes Auli'i Cravalho, Dwayne Johnson, Alan Tudyk, and Temuera Morrison. But what did the critics say?
Matt Oakes of Silver Screen Riot was unimpressed, stating, "A limp and uninspired sequel that lacks a reason to exist and memorable tunes, Moana 2 washes ashore with all the grace of a dazed hermit crab—a lightweight spectacle scuttling for purpose. Much ado has already been made about its metamorphosis from a Disney+ series to a full-fledged, theatrically-released tentpole for the animation arm of the studio but it’s fair to point out that this creative retooling can be felt all over the final product. It’s a tedious sequel that doesn’t seek to engage anyone over the age of 12, adrift without purpose, slogging from one unremarkable set piece to the next, unmoored by instantly forgettable musical numbers. It’s one of Disney’s most baffling creative misfires in recent memory – even if it’s not a box office miss like Disney’s previous two efforts – is remains narratively empty and as uncharted as the ocean depths it pretends to explore." Adding, "For children already enamored with Moana, this sequel will likely deliver enough colorful vistas, noisy antics, and action-packed escapades to hold their attention for its 100-minute runtime. Parents might even find themselves swept up in the vicarious joy of their children’s delight – and who can blame them? But for anyone watching Moana 2 without the buffer of a kiddo’s enthusiasm, it’s an endurance test. Those expecting the animated sequel to present as an actual movie with anything resembling actual movie weight – rather than a distraction or babysitter – will be deeply off put by Disney’s latest effort to pass replication off as innovation. One simply can’t forget that the entire endeavor was calculated as a means to extract maximum dollars from family wallets, a soulless exercise in merchandising masquerading as a movie."
Andrew Parker of The Gate notes, "Despite never reaching the emotional or musical heights of its predecessor, Moana 2 is a rousing, entertaining, and inspiring family adventure that hits all the right notes. It’s one of those sequels that gets the band back together, takes them out to accomplish a new quest, and wraps things up in a tight, ninety-ish minutes package. Moana 2 isn’t breaking a lot of new ground, but it retains the original film’s dazzling sense of visuals, consistently taps into the talents of its voice cast, and follows an entertaining current from start to finish."
Ross Bonaime of Collider says, "2016’s Moana was all about looking to the past to improve the future. This wasn't just because the title character (voiced by Auli’i Cravalho) learned from the choices of her elders to pave a new path for her people; it also felt like a step forward for Disney animation, providing a strong female character with her hopes and dreams and not motivated by a love interest. Moana certainly played in the tropes of Disney animation, but it also charted its own course, using those elements to create something much stronger. For all its strengths, Moana often kept moving forward, keeping an eye on what was next. We are introduced to the people of Montunui before Moana goes on her own adventure, leaving them behind. Or after befriending the demigod Maui (voiced by Dwayne Johnson) near the end of the film, we don’t get the opportunity to experience this new dynamic that was formed. And how do you introduce a character as adorable as the pig Pua and leave her behind?? Like Moana, its sequel, Moana 2, learns from the choices of the past to create an intriguing future that allows us to spend more time with the threads set up in the first film. In doing so, Moana 2 expands this world greatly, taking time to play around with these new relationships, and builds this into a universe that demands exploring. In the first film, we are shown Moana’s passion for freedom and the possibilities of what could lie beyond her island. With Moana 2, we finally feel that excitement about expanding beyond what we’ve already seen, making this the best animated Disney film since Encanto."
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Image Courtesy of ©Disney |
Mae Abdulbaki of Screen Rant states, "Sometimes a movie is only as strong as its villain, and Moana 2 could have used a better one. On paper, Nalo is interesting, though the fact that he doesn’t appear onscreen until the mid-credits scene (yes, really) is a glaring weakness of the film. We’re often told about Nalo — from Maui and Matangi (Awhimai Fraser), a goddess who’s also bound by Nalo’s curse — but the lack of him is strange. The characters claim he gains power by separating the islands, but we don’t see what that looks like from a visual storytelling standpoint, lessening his villainous power overall. I thought about this a lot while watching the film, which took away from the experience of enjoying it. Younger audiences may not be so worried about what Nalo is or isn’t up to and why, but it’s a hole in an otherwise decent sequel that pushes the limits of its main character and how far she’s willing to go to help her beloved island. Nalo’s absence undermines the Disney sequel as a whole. Without his appearance, Moana is left fighting a scary thunderstorm in the god’s place, which is far less effective. It’s a good sequence that ultimately falters."
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