TL;DR – While the plot might be a bit convoluted in places, and the music does not hit quite as hard. When the story, emotion, and characters collide, you can’t help but feel that joy wash over you.

Post-Credit Scene – There is a mid-credit scene.

Disclosure – I was invited to a press screening of this film.

Moana 2 Review –

This is a good day for me because I honestly believe that Moana is the best-animated film that Disney has made in their current era. I loved the world that they built, the narrative they created, and the music they crafted. Coming back into this world was always going to be a joy for me, but given how much I liked the first film, can it ever live up to what has come before?

So, to set the scene, it has been a number of years since the events of Moana, and Moana (Auliʻi Cravalho) has spent that time exploring out from Motunui to find new foods, new resources, but also to reconnect with the people that Te Fiti had cut off. However, no matter how many islands she discovers, she can’t find any people. But when Heihei (Alan Tudyk) stumbles across some pottery that shows that there are people out there, Moana puts together a team of Loto (Rose Matafeo), Kele (David Fane), and Moni (Hualālai Chung) to explore. However, there may be a god out there who does not want them to succeed, hoping she will end up like her ancestor Tautai Vasa (Gerald Ramsey), the last Wayfinder who failed to find the fabled island.

To say that this is a beautiful film does not do justice as to just how stunning it is. There are moments here that honestly took my breath away. I don’t think anyone has done water as well as this, and I am not sure anyone is even getting close. That visual style expands to every part of the film. You can feel the textures on all the clothes that they wear, the juice in the fruit they eat, and the fronds that make up every building. Worldbuilding comes in many different fashions, and these visual touches that have been informed by culture help ground every part of the film. This was important because it provided the balance the film needed with some of the more mythological aspects.  

When it comes to the story, it is a bit hit-and-miss at times. My understanding is that this was initially meant to be a long-form series that was converted into a film. Unfortunately, there are moments when you can feel that, mainly on either side of the clam. Thankfully, when Moana needed to land that story, it did so in spades. I think part of that comes from the characters who are just a delight. I don’t believe I’ve ever related to a character more than Kele. He is a mood I deeply respect. Auliʻi Cravalho is the heart of this film, and she brings all of that to the fore as Moana. It is that same power that thrust the first film into the spotlight, and you see it again here. Dwayne Johnson’s Maui is not in the movie as much as you would expect, but I didn’t mind that because it gave some space for the crew to bond.  

The drive to find people and find connections is a strong one, and that is what underpins everything that happens in the movie. When Moana 2 is focusing on that, it is better for it. Unfortunately, there are a lot of side tangents that take away from that a bit. When it comes to the music, we get some odd moments. I think this has a better musical score while also having weaker songs. When the film explores the Polynesian soundscape and choral work, it is a blast. A good example of this is Sacred Title. Of the songs, I think Get Lost was my favourite, along with the We Know the Way reprise. But given songs are such a subjective part of cinema, your mileage may differ significantly.    

In the end, do we recommend Moana 2? While it does not hit the heights of the first film, that might be more me than anything else. When it all comes together, it honestly takes your breath away, and it was all worth it for that ending. Moana 2 was an absolute joy to watch, and I hope we see more of this world. If you liked Moana 2, we would recommend to you The Wild Robot.

By Brian MacNamara: You can follow Brian on Twitter Here, when he’s not chatting about Movies and TV, he’ll be talking about International Relations, or the Solar System.

Have you watched Moana 2?, let us know what you thought in the comments below, feel free to share this review on any of the social medias and you can follow us Here. Check out all our past reviews and articles Here, and have a happy day. 


Credits – All images were created by the cast, crew, and production companies of Moana 2
Directed by – David Derrick Jr., Jason Hand & Dana Ledoux Miller
Screenplay by – Jared Bush & Dana Ledoux Miller
Story by – Jared Bush, Dana Ledoux Miller & Bek Smith with Bryson Chun
Based on – Moana by Jared Bush, Ron Clements, John Musker, Chris Williams, Don Hall, Pamela Ribon, Aaron Kandell & Jordan Kandell
Music & Lyrics by – Mark Mancina, Opetaia Foaʻi, Abigail Barlow & Emily Bear
Cinematography by –
Edited by –
Production/Distribution Companies – Walt Disney Animation Studios & Walt Disney Pictures
Starring – Auliʻi Cravalho, Dwayne Johnson, Temuera Morrison, Nicole Scherzinger, Khaleesi Lambert-Tsuda, Rose Matafeo, David Fane, Hualālai Chung, Rachel House, Awhimai Fraser, Gerald Ramsey, David Fane, Jemaine Clement & Alan Tudyk
Rating – Australia: PG; Canada: PG; Germany: na; New Zealand: PG; United Kingdom: PG; United States: PG