moana 2

★★★★★

starring: dwayne johnson, Auli'i Cravalho, Rose Matafeo, and david fane

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REVIEWER: lyall carter

Moana journeys to the far seas of Oceania after receiving an unexpected call from her wayfinding ancestors.

I’ll never forget nearly a decade ago watching rows of Maori and Pacifica rangatahi (young people) transfixed as they saw themselves, their stories and their people, seeing up on the big screen in Moana. It was pure cinematic magic. And now that magic returns for a second time, expanding the story and world of Moana. A rip, roaring family adventure, Moana 2 beautifully builds on the previous tale with exquisite animation and great new characters. Destined to be a Disney classic.

Moana 2 reunites Moana and Maui three years later for an expansive new voyage alongside a crew of unlikely seafarers. After receiving an unexpected call from her wayfinding ancestors, Moana must journey to the far seas of Oceania and into dangerous, long-lost waters for an adventure unlike anything she’s ever faced.

While there are beats of Moana 2 that are familiar, from the narrative itself to the themes, what makes it kind of unique in the sequel realm is that it builds on and expands the world that we all know and love. Moana just doesn’t set out on her own here, she has to recruit a crew which adds to the depth of the storytelling as well as the humor which has a dry, New Zealand kinda flavour to it. 

Remember when animated films were fun, even, like in Hercules and The Emperor’s New Groove, in some perilous moments there was a zany, slapstick vibe to the whole thing? Moana 2 wonderfully captures that childlike wonder and whimsical imagining of Disney animated films from a decade or so ago. 

If you have a little one the songs will soon be played on repeat and while Maui’s Can I Get a Chee Hoo doesn’t quite hit the heights of You’re Welcome, it’s still one of Disney animations toe tapping best. The animation is utterly exquisite and is worthy of the biggest cinema screen you can find with a depth of detail and beauty that fills every frame. 

With kid’s films I always get asked by parents whether their children will be entertained, was it too scary? Well, while she closed her eyes and held my hand for a couple of sequences, our just turned three year old was transfixed throughout, excitedly pointing out Moana and Maui (she loves it when he sings)! 

A rip, roaring family adventure, Moana 2 beautifully builds on the previous tale with exquisite animation and great new characters. Destined to be a Disney classic.