REVIEW: Should You Go See ‘Moana 2’ This Weekend?

Moana 2 is about to hit theaters this week eight years after the first film debuted and anticipation is through the roof!

Moana mania has taken over Disney fans around the globe, including at Disney World! We’ve been hyped for the sequel ever since it was announced and couldn’t wait to see it. Fortunately, out in California, we were invited by Walt Disney Animation Studios to stop by for an early full screening of Moana 2!

Debuting to the general audience on November 27th, 2024, Moana 2 was initially supposed to be Moana: The Series on Disney+ before turning into a feature film that got a wide theatrical release.

The plot showcases Moana and Maui embarking on a new adventure to save Moana’s people, but this time some new friends (and a couple of familiar lovable animals) join the journey! After Moana receives a calling from her wayfinding ancestors to find the hidden island of Motufetu and break a curse, Moana and her friends set sail across Oceania. facing several threats along the way.

You’ll see some familiar names returning to the cast:  Auli’i Cravalho stars as Moana, Dwayne Johnson stars as Maui, Temuera Morrison stars as Chief Tui, Nicole Scherzinger stars as Sina, Rachel House stars as Gramma Tala, and Alan Tudyk also returns as Hei Hei.

The cast for Moana 2 features several more prominent characters, and the list of voice talent expands even further in this installment. Some newcomers include Awhimai Fraser as the secondary antagonist Matangi, Rose Matafeo, Hualalai Chung, and David Fane as Loto, Moni, and Kele (Moana’s new Wayfinder crew), Khaleesi Lambert-Tsuda as Simea (Moana’s little sister), and Gerald Ramsey as Tautai Vasa (Moana’s ancestor).

Overall, we feel that Moana 2 is a worthy sequel to Moana! The new movie is clearly made with love, honoring Polynesian culture while featuring tons of laughs and beautiful imagery. However, we’ll go over the good and the bad, as the movie isn’t without its flaws.

Starting with the positives, Moana 2 is a really solid follow-up to a fantastic film. The movie begins by establishing that the events of the previous movie have positively impacted Moana and her people. She takes on more of a leadership role and is revered by everyone.

This inclusion in the plot keeps this story fresh and shows continued character growth not only for Moana, but those close to her like her parents, as well.

In this film, Moana’s biggest challenge isn’t overcoming doubt from others or even a big bad villain, but self-doubt and the literal dangers of the journey instead. We also get touching tributes to Moana’s journey, especially with how the movie explores Moana’s relationship with Gramma Tala.

While the film certainly has heavy and tear-jerking moments, it really delivers with its humor. There’s a healthy mix of low-brow and meta jokes, and Maui stands out as being the true foundation of comedy in the film. Johnson, along with the rest of the cast, turns in a very good performance and his lines are very well-written. He breaks the fourth wall on more than one occasion and provides levity when the film starts to trend toward more serious subject matter.

Speaking of serious subject matter, Moana 2 doesn’t avoid getting a little scary. Some of the monsters you see can be a bit shocking, especially for small children. It’s also worth mentioning that the movie doesn’t shy away from the topic of death. This was a theme that was brought up in Moana that continues in its sequel.

Also bringing levity and some heart to the film are all of Moana’s friends. Loto, Moni, and Kele are seafarers from Motunui who each specialize in something while bringing a ton of personality to the voyage. While they don’t get a ton of backstory or spotlight moments, they become lovable quickly and liven up the story with plenty of humor and heart.

We also get much more time with Pua and Hei Hei in Moana 2, as well as a new Kakamora coconut character that is sure to become a fan favorite!

A major scene-stealer in Moana 2 is Simea, Moana’s little sister, who is played by Khaleesi Lambert-Tsuda. Simea is absolutely precious and her relationship with Moana can be considered the main heart of the film.

From a narrative and stylistic standpoint, Moana 2 nails it. The theme of the importance of community feels so relevant post-pandemic and it has plenty of messages of not giving up on yourself while coming together to accomplish a goal.

The film is also incredibly beautiful. Moana 2 was animated with a tremendous amount of detail. It’s that attention to detail mixed with vibrant colors that make it so pleasant to watch, especially on the big screen.

But we do have to go over some negatives. Simply put, Moana 2 isn’t as good as the first Moana, and part of that has to do with some narrative issues. The plot is kind of thin and we move through the story at a rapid pace (a character even makes a subtle joke about that at one point). The official runtime is one hour and 40 minutes but it doesn’t feel that long.

However, the fast pace could be a blessing for young children, as the movie never relaxes enough to allow for boredom.

The biggest complaint you might see pertains to the music. The soundtrack for Moana 2 is solid but doesn’t really compare to the songs of the first film.

The songs “We’re Back” (the opening number) and “Get Lost” (Matangi’s big song) are absolute standouts, but the music isn’t as catchy nor as memorable this time around.

The music was composed by Mark Mancina, Opetaia Foaʻi, Abigail Barlow, and Emily Bear, but Lin-Manuel Miranda did not return to work on Moana 2 and it kind of shows. There are callbacks to the songs from the first film and Miranda’s influence is still heard, but, for the most part, the songs in Moana 2 don’t do enough to stand out. The music is still very good, but it doesn’t clear the high bar the franchise set for itself.

Another issue Moana 2 presents is the villain. Without going into too much detail, Moana must mostly overcome her own doubts and the forces of nature along her journey. We’re teased by a big threat in Nalo, a god who REALLY dislikes humans.

The payoff can be considered underwhelming but that doesn’t mean it ruins the movie or anything like that. In fact, after watching Moana 2, we’re even more excited about these characters and their stories. We just wish more went into the villain.

The future of the franchise is teased and there is a mid-credit scene that you’ll want to stick around for. We’re talking about something similar to an MCU mid-credit/post-credit scene where the stakes get raised and a bit of the future of the world of Moana is revealed. Keep an eye out for a possible super-special cameo!

All in all, we’re very happy with how Moana 2 turned out. There’s tons of adventure, good music, plentiful laughs, and lots of love in this flick, and the majority of audiences will likely dig it. If you’re a big fan of the first movie, check it out and let us know what you think!

Moana 2 debuts in theaters nationwide on November 27th, 2024, and will also offer a Māori-language version in New Zealand simultaneously. This special release will mark the first time an English Disney animated movie is accompanied by an Indigenous language version.

A live-action movie of Moana starring Dwayne Johnson is also currently in production, so stay tuned for more updates on that film!

We’ll continue to keep you updated on all kinds of Moana news so keep it right here at AllEars for all the latest news!

EXCLUSIVE LOOK at the NEW ‘Moana’ Stage Show on the Disney Treasure

Do you plan on seeing Moana 2 in theaters? Let us know in the comments!

Disclosure: We were invited by Walt Disney Animation Studios to attend the media preview of ‘Moana 2’. This did not affect our reporting of the event — our opinions are our own.

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