Moana 2 is not the follow-up we expected, as it was originally meant to be a Disney Plus show and instead arrived as a feature film. I must admit it was lovely seeing it on the big screen, especially during a gloomy December evening in London, but I can't help but imagine what a full series would've looked like.
Personally, I rather like the idea of an entire series dedicated to Hei Hei, a la Forky Asks a Question which centers on the much-loved toy fork character from Toy Story 4. An eight-episode series about a stupid chicken is right up my street.
I did have high hopes going into this movie, and I am happy to say that most of my expectations were met. Such bright and beautiful visuals are always a welcome treat. For example, I am fascinated by how well they seem to animate water. With this in mind, I would encourage you to see this on a big screen or at least have a great at-home setup for maximum immersion, as it's easy to find yourself swept away to the island of Motunui and what lies beyond.
Three years later...
Moana 2 picks up three years after the first movie, where Moana is still fully connected to the ocean she adores so much. When she receives an unexpected call from her ancestors, she assembles a crew as a wayfinder where she hopes to track down the hidden island of Motufetu, reconnecting the people of the ocean once again.
As ever, she is enthusiastic about the mission, perilous as it may be, and would have been quite happy going off and doing it all by herself. She is encouraged to form a crew instead, and this merry band of misfits is thoroughly entertaining to watch. So much so, I think it will be worth rewatching when it arrives on Disney Plus.
The four-person crew is made up of Moana, Moni (Hualālai Chung), who is a superfan of the demigod Maui, Loto (Rose Matafeo), who is an engineer of sorts, and Kele (David Fane), a farmer who is grumpy and not massively thrilled to be recruited. This mismatch of personalities is excellent fun, resulting in some expected chaos, especially when you throw in Hei Hei and Pua. They say to never work with animals for a reason, right?
I really loved Moana's crew and all the performances. Still, one that stood out to me the most was Moana's little sister Simea (Khaleesi Lambert-Tsuda), who stole the show despite her limited screen time thanks to her feisty, lovable personality. If Moana 3 does happen, I'd certainly like to see more of her!
Exploring familiar shores
Along the way, they do locate Maui, of course, because Moana simply would not be complete without Dwayne Johnson's cocky, reckless demigod figure. When Moni finally meets Maui, there are plenty of laugh-out-loud moments.
While the plot of Moana 2 is centered around finding a new, long-lost island, it's quite ironic that many of the beats feel similar to what we've seen before. This is a journey we have undertaken as viewers, but I didn't mind following along for a second time!
Going on a voyage with Moana is always wonderful, I adore the songs, the atmosphere, everything about it. Even though we didn't quite reach the memorable heights of "You're Welcome", I have had some of the songs stuck in my head this week, especially "What Could Be Better Than This?", so it's not like any of the songs were complete duds.
While predictable in places, there is plenty of action, especially when it comes to the third act, where I did actually start crying, the mark of any good Disney movie, in my opinion. If I'm not sobbing into my popcorn, I do find myself kind of disappointed. There is also more than room for a follow-up movie, and I sincerely hope it happens.
Just give me more Hei Hei next time, please, I really do love him!
