Moana must become a wayfinder and search the expansive deep and dangerous waters of the Pacific ocean to help find life beyond her island of Motunui. But will she once again require the help of demigod Maui?
From Walt Disney Studios, who have given us some of the biggest family friendly animated movies over the last 101 years, including more recently the massively popular Frozen films and the stunning Encanto with beautiful and creative soundtracks to match. Comes the second of what may be a potential trilogy from what is becoming the much loved saga of Moana. Originally designed to be a Disney series following the first hit film it has now been stunningly upgraded to the big screen with sound to match, which is amazing in an appropriate cinema.
Set three years after the first film – which grossed an extremely impressive $680m+ in 2016 – brings us a new coming of age adventure set on the fictional island of Motunui but once again very much based upon the real Polynesian people of Tahiti and their sacred beliefs. Starring Auliʻi Cravalho, of recent hit Mean Girls (2024) as our heroine Moana – who was 14 years old when originally cast, she is now 24. Auli’i is holding Moana very much in her heart as one of the few female characters who have been allowed to age within the Disney realm since Elsa and Anna in Frozen.
Now 19 years of age Moana – who is still not a princess – once again feels the intense pressure of her people. However this time she must search for distant relatives outside of her village within the massive and often long lost waters of the treacherous Pacific ocean to ensure her people do not become a thing of the past. Also starring the hugely underrated Dwayne Johnson, as tattooed demigod Maui, from the original hit we are in familiar yet awe inspiring beautifully animated world with well told yet sometimes a little confusing storyline, which also sees the return of Moana’s loving parents, Temuera Morrison (The Book of Bobba Fett) as chief Tui with Nicole Scherzinger as Sina who once again take the back seat to let our star shine. With additional background vocalists dipping their toes onto the movie world and daughters of Dwayne, we have Jasmine Johnson and Tiana Johnson as fun ‘Moanabies’ idolising their heroine.
Being set three years on from the original has allowed Moana 2 the joyous addition of a much younger and playful sister, Simea played by the hilarious Khaleesi Lambert-Tsuda. Whose voice acting at a young age will most surely develop into something quite extraordinary in the non-too distant future.
Expanding on what was a superb and original tale, Moana 2 goes further and in this case deeper into unchartered waters of her world, and this is where the story temporarily loses its way taking its time reintroducing Maui. There are positives in amongst the chaos of the script however and in the right theatres, the Dolby Atmos sound whips around above you within the Underworld where Matangi, played by Awhimai Fraser, the enforcer of the almighty storm god Nalo, played by Tofiga Fepulea’i, leaves one feeling we are with them deep inside their mystical world. With the newer animation technology creating the huge storms, we are witness to some stunning artistic creation as well.
With obvious comparisons between this and the original Moana in 2016, it is the soundtrack that holds the biggest key to their differences. Written this time by Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear otherwise known as ‘Barlow & Bear’, they are the youngest composers in history to write for Disney and have given us some great tracks such as ‘Beyond’ performed by Auli’i Cravalho and ‘Get Lost’ performed by Awhimai Fraser of the underworld. But they do not stay in the mind the same way the biggest tracks of ‘I am Moana’ and ‘Your Welcome’ written by Lin Manuel Miranda’s earworms do from the first magical outing. Having said that this beautifully animated and often very funny sequel, which now includes both ‘boat snacks’ in the form of Hei Hei and Pua (meaning pig in Polynesian) who were sorely missed in the first. Plus Moana’s new crew give this a fuller yet sometimes bumpy ride into the big blue sea of now too many characters.
There will most definitely be a third Moana, hopefully once again in the big screen cinemas where its huge sound and vibrant colours are quite remarkable, and it too will create some of the biggest waves in the movie world with fans adoration of the characters development. What lies beyond we can only dream of, but more Moana will be a blessing from the gods.
Piers, Maidstone Store.
