“Moana 2” (2024)
“Moana 2” brought a lot of laughs, a ton of cuteness and some heartfelt moments, but the plot was very much lacking.
I loved the first “Moana,” but this follow-up feels a little hollow.
I would have been perfectly fine with the plot of “Moana 2” entirely resting on Moana’s journey as a wayfarer to reconnect her people to others in the world. That part of the story and the crew she assembles to get there make the movie worth watching.
However, in an effort to bring Maui (voiced by The Rock) back into the plot, a poorly executed supernatural element is brought into it. To make matters worse, the physical presence of the big bad villain is delayed until way to far into the film, especially for a Disney kids’ movie, where the idea is to make the plot as easy to follow as possible for the young ones watching.
The musical numbers were fun, but not as memorable as in previous Disney films. In fact, as soon as I came out of the movie, I was back to singing and humming the “Wicked” songs that have been on everyone’s lips for the last week.
Ultimately, “Moana 2” is a fun sequel that makes for a family-friendly trip to the movies this holiday season. But if you’re looking for a well thought-out plot, this is not the movie for you.