When Moana sailed into theatres in 2016, I was ecstatic. It felt like the big sister to my favourite Disney movie of all time: Lilo & Stitch. The movie won me over with its tender storyline about Moana finding the strength to become a Wayfinder and making her people proud. When I saw a sequel was on its way, I had high hopes. Unfortunately, Moana 2 struggles to match or even succeed the magic of its predecessor due to jarring tonal shifts, inconsistent music and scattered storytelling.
Animation & Music: Beautiful Realism and Missed Opportunity
For me, the best aspect as the animation, there was so much clarity and realism to every scene, The ocean and island designs were lush with vibrant colours and detail. Every frame looked like a painting; the underwater kingdoms in particular blew my mind, the landscapes were imaginative and the director took time to show off the skill of its creation. The animation team clearly poured their hearts into creating a visual experience that feels immersive and alive. It’s a testament to Disney’s ongoing commitment to innovation, and it might be the one aspect of the movie that rivals, or even surpasses, the original.
The music, however, totally missed the mark. In the original film, Lin-Manuel Miranda gifted audiences with songs like “How Far I’ll Go and “You’re Welcome,” both tunes that carried so much emotion and reflected the weight of Moana’s decision to become a Wayfinder for her family in the community. The music felt like a character itself. Sadly, the music of Moana 2 was soulless for me with a few of them being completely overstimulating. The few tender ballads try to match the emotional depth from the previous soundtrack but it was obvious the musical team did not have Miranda’s understanding of what this movie was meant to feel like. The whole soundtrack lacked cohesion and it was obvious early on that Miranda was not a part of the sequel.
Moana 2 Tonal Shifts: Overstimulating and Imbalanced
The biggest problem I had was how fast the movie moves in Act 1, slows down entirely in Act 2 and Act 3, and rushes the ending. What’s more, the finals also incorporates an overused trope that holds the film back. And the decision to use that trope cheapened an already rocky film and, unlike the first instalment, it felt like Disney was too scared to take risks.
The inconsistent tone was another major issue; the film oscillates between tender moments and abrupt comedic interludes at light speed. While Moana struggles to balance her desires and anxieties about failing her people as a leader, it is impossible to connect with her because those moments are often undercut by poorly timed humour or sudden action sequences.
Tender Moments: Glimpses of Greatness Yet a Story Lost at Sea
Despite its flaws, Moana 2 does have its moments that remind us why we fell in love with these characters in the first place. Her interactions with her family and her people showcase her growth as a leader and as a person. The themes of legacy, self-discovery and cultural preservation are explored with sincerity, even if they didn’t always land effectively.
Ultimately, the new plot to find more people and raise an island from a curse was overcrowded with forgettable characters and unfocused. All of the new characters, including Moana, went through Disney’s whimsification- making all of them clumsy, silly and hyper-cute. Seeing Moana turned into a bumbling, can’t-find-her-words hero akin to a 90’s Disney princess disappointed me.
Conclusion: Kids Are Smart, Talk To Them With That In Mind
This movie tried to hard to be a kids movie instead of a film about a teen girl trying to be a leader to her community. Moana felt like a shadow of the astute girl we knew in the first film. Kids don’t need to be talked down to and they don’t need to see every character be childish and whimciscal on their way to becoming a leader.
The soul and identity of this film was missing. Bring back Miranda.
Moana 2 is in theatre now.
