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Moana 2 Review: Dwayne Johnson and Auliʻi Cravalho Starrer is a Visual Treat But Lacks Depth
Find out what we think about the highly anticipated Moana sequel enriched with the best voice performances by the OG cast. Read the review below!
Name: Moana 2
Director: Dana Ledoux Miller, Jason Hand and David Derrick Jr.
Cast: Auli’i Cravalho, Dwayne Johnson, Nicole Scherzinger, Rose Matafeo, Awihimai Fraser, David Fane, Hualalai Chung, Khaleesi Lambert Tsuda
Writer: Dana Ledoux Miller and Jared Bush
Rating: 3/5
Spoiler Alert: This review contains key plot details from Moana 2
Plot:
The film’s premise tells the story of making the ancestors proud by reaching the island of Motufetu, in an attempt to bring together the civilizations across the ocean. This time Moana, who is all grown up since we all last saw her, is the official Wayfinder. She is accompanied by Maui, the demigod, Kele, Moni, and Loto, along with the adorable animal companions from the original, the chicken and the pig.
Getting to Motufetu island is tricky because it is cursed by an ill-intentioned god, Nalo. Moana’s crew faces several obstacles, which also, in a way, help them get closer to fulfilling their mission. Now, it is up to Moana and not the demigod Maui to break the curse as the island which is submerged under the ocean needs to be contacted by a human.
A moment occurs when Maui is helping the crew but in that instance, he loses his powers and falls in the ocean where the Moana’s crew is facing obstacles. But she later finds her way under the ocean and touches the island.
Because of the impact that is caused by the human touch, she loses consciousness, making the viewers think that she has died. But in a classic Disney movie, she comes back to life, gaining her own set of powers.
Performances:
Since it’s an animated movie, which is flawless in every way, we are left with judging the voice artists’s performances. The movie is a musical venture, which means that there was more responsibility on the shoulders of the voices behind the animation.
Auli’i Cravalho and Dwayne Johnson gave excellent performances, as was expected of them. Every actor was perfect in captivating the emotions of their character, including hitting those high notes while singing the songs. Awihimai Fraser truly deserves a special shoutout for her portrayal as Matangi, who was truly effortless, playing the mysterious villain in the sequel.
What works for Moana
The movie is a visual treat, the cinematography is a big win for the sequel, continuing the amazing work of the animators from the original. Whether it be the ocean, the souls of her ancestors, the obstacles, or the inside of the giant clam, it was hard to take eyes off of the screen and not give full attention to whatever was transpiring in the movie.
Apart from that, Maui’s (along with his moving tattoos) presence from the time he showed up on the screen, till the end, was refreshing. We once again got to see the amazing dynamic he and Moana shared. Building on his witty attitude from the first installment, the screenwriters did a great job keeping Dwayne Johnson’s Character’s charm intact. So much so that answering his amusing ‘Can I get a Chee Hoo’ was irresistible.
Watch the trailer below:
What Doesn't Work for Moana
The first part of Moana had a great impact on the audience. This left them with years of anticipation for the sequel. Naturally, the expectations were high. The movie started off with a sense of enthusiasm and gave the fans an adrenaline rush. However, the film needed more depth as Moana reached the final stage of conquering the island and completing the mission. It should've given the audience the same goosebumps as the original, but sadly, the pace of the big moment missed the mark, making it lackluster.
Final Verdict
The plot was successful while showcasing genuine and emotionally charged family relationships. It was also a success in making the viewers giggle and chuckle. The creators have utilized every moment they could to bring in those laughs from the audience. Not to mention the cuteness, may that be the pig or Moana’s sister Simea.
Moana 2 is worth watching, especially on the big screen to truly delve into the various emotions the story of the sequel had to offer.
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