Movie Review: MOANA 2 Suffers From A Little Sequelitis, But Still Delivers Solid Entertainment

I love Moana. I recently rewatched the movie and felt the same warmth and excitement when first watching the initial installment. I went into this sequel hoping that this second movie would not only capture the same spirit or take this universe into more exciting levels of escapism, with much respect and adoration for the culture that inspired this franchise. Moana 2 is a solid and enjoyable sequel, but it also tries to imitate the magic that made the first film so special, with a few changes here and there. That said, Moana 2 is a fun sequel, but it never truly delivers the same highs that the first movie gives its audiences.

Since the first film’s events, Moana (Auliʻi Cravalho) has explored the ocean, seeking other people and foreign lands where her people can connect with others like them. At the beginning of the film, her discoveries are rather limited; however, during one particular expedition, she discovers on an uninhabited island proof of the existence of other civilizations. When a new curse strikes her home island, Moana decides to put together a small crew and venture farther out to stop the curse that has separated people so far.

Written by Jared Bush, Dana Ledoux, and Miller, and directed by David Derrick, Jr., Jason Hand, Dana Ledoux, and Miller, Moana 2 gives its audiences more of the same type of adventure without the same level of creativity and wonderment the first film has. Though I had a good time with this movie, I didn’t feel the same joy and enthusiasm after leaving the screening as I did with the first one.

The filmmakers do an exceptional job with the animation and editing. It really is a thrilling and beautiful visual and auditory experience. Though the songs are enjoyable, they never stand out like the songs of the first installment. The story and plot are similar to those in the first chapter. At the same time, the humor hits well, and I found myself laughing and smiling often.

The movie has a great voice cast, mainly because almost everyone in the previous film returns to reprise their roles (

I love Moana. I recently rewatched the movie and felt the same warmth and excitement when first watching the initial installment. I went into this sequel hoping that this second movie would not only capture the same spirit or take this universe into more exciting levels of escapism, with much respect and adoration for the culture that inspired this franchise. Moana 2 is a solid and enjoyable sequel, but it also tries to imitate the magic that made the first film so special, with a few changes here and there. That said, Moana 2 is a fun sequel, but it never truly delivers the same highs that the first movie gives its audiences.

Since the first film’s events, Moana (Auliʻi Cravalho) has explored the ocean, seeking other people and foreign lands where her people can connect with others like them. At the beginning of the film, her discoveries are rather limited; however, during one particular expedition, she discovers on an uninhabited island proof of the existence of other civilizations. When a new curse strikes her home island, Moana decides to put together a small crew and venture farther out to stop the curse that has separated people so far.

Written by Jared Bush, Dana Ledoux, and Miller, and directed by David Derrick, Jr., Jason Hand, Dana Ledoux, and Miller, Moana 2 gives its audiences more of the same type of adventure without the same level of creativity and wonderment the first film has. Though I had a good time with this movie, I didn’t feel the same joy and enthusiasm after leaving the screening as I did with the first one.

The filmmakers do an exceptional job with the animation and editing. It really is a thrilling and beautiful visual and auditory experience. Though the songs are enjoyable, they never stand out like the songs of the first installment. The story and plot are similar to those in the first chapter. At the same time, the humor hits well, and I found myself laughing and smiling often.

The movie has a great voice cast, mainly because almost everyone in the previous film returns to reprise their roles (Cravalho, Dwayne Johnson, Temuera Morrison, Nicole Scherzinger) . The whole affair is a fun and often thrilling experience, but I cannot promise that this movie will have the same, or better, impact that Moana has. I still recommend that Moana 2 is worth a watch at the cinema. This feature is one of those gorgeous animated movies that looks fantastic on the big screen. I just wouldn’t recommend spending top dollar to see it.

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