Moana 2 is the sequel that no one asked for, but for those who were kids when the first came out nearly a decade ago, or are kids now, there’s still enough entertainment there to keep you engaged. For the rest of us old fogies, it’s a pretty average film with exactly one catchy tune (and several forgettable ones).
Taking place 3 years after the first film, an older and more traveled Moana is exploring the ocean but has still yet to come across any other people/tribes. She knows they’re out there somewhere, but other inhabited lands elude her. Turns out it is because the storm god Nalo once placed a curse on a tiny island, sending it under the sea. In times past, the sea currents carried ocean travelers to this island, so they would meet each other. The only way to break the curse is for a human to touch the land of the island, but with it buried under the ocean and a perpetual storm hovering over it, that doesn’t seem likely to happen. Cue Moana’s friendly demigod, Maui. He hatches a plot to confront Nalo, lasso the island and raise it to the surface, while Moana and her friends sneak up to it. Of course, nothing goes as planned, but that’s part of the fun.
I’m going to rag on this movie a bit, but don’t get me wrong, it isn’t bad per se. It just felt unnecessary. I really liked the first Moana film, but there’s nothing wrong with a really good movie standing on its own without a sequel. But this is Disney we’re talking about, who in the last few years has churned out sequel after sequel (and remake after remake; in the previews for this one I saw live action remakes upcoming for Snow White and Lilo and Stitch, as well as Mufasa, itself a sequel-to-the-remake of The Lion King). Moana 2 is very average as an adult moviegoing experience. The House of Mouse should try for better than average. ★★½
Jons Movie Takes 