Moana 2 is about to be released to the general public and we were invited by Disney to get an early look at the film!

The highly anticipated sequel to Walt Disney Animation Studios’ 2016 hit Moana has been near the top of my most anticipated 2024 movies list for quite some time. Despite the stiff competition it will face at the box office this weekend, especially from Wicked, it’s safe to say many agree with me and will flock to theaters to go on another adventure with Moana. Reviews are starting to roll in and they’ve been mostly positive, but it hasn’t been all smooth sailing for Moana 2.  If you’re on the fence about taking your family to see this new movie, read below to see what I thought about Disney’s latest epic!

Originally, the next chapter of Moana was supposed to be Moana: The Series on Disney+, but plans changed and Disney instead opted to release a feature film in theaters. Moana 2 once again sees Moana and Maui embark on an adventure to save Moana’s people, however, this time alongside some new unlikely seafarers. After the titular character receives a calling from her wayfinding ancestors to brave the seas of Oceania in an effort to break a curse and connect the people of the ocean, Moana and her friends face several obstacles on the path to finding the hidden island of Motufetu.

The film features several stars returning to the world of Moana, such as Auli’i Cravalho as Moana, Dwayne Johnson as Maui, Temuera Morrison as Chief Tui, Nicole Scherzinger as Sina, Rachel House as Gramma Tala, and Alan Tudyk as Hei Hei.

Several newcomers also join the fray. Standouts include Awhimai Fraser as the secondary antagonist Matangi, Rose Matafeo as Loto, Hualalai Chung as Moni, David Fane as Kele, Khaleesi Lambert-Tsuda as Simea (Moana’s little sister), and Gerald Ramsey as Tautai Vasa.

In my opinion, Moana 2 is a worthy sequel to Moana that aptly honors the Polynesian culture, delivers a stunning piece of cinematic art, and provides tons of entertainment…but that doesn’t mean it’s a perfect film.

While avoiding spoilers, there’s a ton to talk about regarding this movie. Right off the bat, I can honestly say I don’t think this movie is quite as good as the first Moana, but living up to a Best Animated Feature Film winner, two-time-Oscar-nominee, and cultural phenomenon is a tough ask. However, it is a sequel installment in a beloved franchise, so comparisons come with the territory.

The plot of the sequel was a bit thinner than I would have liked and the pacing was way too fast. The movie is an hour and 40 minutes long and it definitely feels shorter than that. We don’t get to really linger in a moment before racing off to the next plot point. However, I acknowledge that as an adult who likes exposition, kids will likely prefer the pacing style of Moana 2, as it never really allows opportunities for boredom. This film is “go-go-go” from the first few minutes on.

A major complaint that I have that you’ll likely see from other viewers is about the music. Let me be clear, the music in Moana 2 is pretty good as a standalone soundtrack. The music was composed by Mark Mancina, Opetaia Foaʻi, Abigail Barlow, and Emily Bear, but there is a notable absence from Lin-Manuel Miranda, who worked on the songs in the first film.

The song “We’re Back” will likely be the film’s most popular track and I personally believe “Get Lost” (Matangi’s big musical number) was the best song in the film, further contributing to Disney Animation’s long list of amazing songs.

However, the music overall wasn’t as memorable or catchy in Moana 2. There are plenty of callbacks to the songs in the first film and some more mature themes in the sequel’s music, but it takes inspiration from Lin-Manuel Miranda’s music in the first film without doing enough differently to stand out. This doesn’t mean the music is bad — far from it, actually — but even writing this now it’s tough to recall several bops the way I am able to with Moana.

Another criticism I have is the villain payoff. The movie immediately establishes that the major villain of the film is the god Nalo, who has a serious disdain for humans. If you’re expecting something like Te Kā in Moana, you’ll be a bit surprised. Nalo’s presence is mostly felt in the second half of the third act and the payoff isn’t as satisfying as it was in the first film. In fact (and this is slightly spoiler-y), Nalo’s tactics create the illusion of a battle between Moana and the elements more than of Moana versus Nalo.

We’ve focussed enough on the negatives, but now let’s get to the many positives! 

Moana returns home at the beginning of the movie with the full support of her people, including her parents, and so we find her not facing much blowback when she needs to make tough decisions. She also takes on the role of a heroic figure and is idolized by her people. Moana is a force to be reckoned with throughout and not a single character takes her lightly.

I really loved this choice as it cements character progression. Moana earned trust in the first movie and that trust carries into this one, as Moana’s biggest obstacles become self-doubt and the dangers of the journey itself. I really liked that the audience’s trust in this character is now reflected in her own people’s behavior towards her. It’s a really great way to avoid rehashing the same plot.

The way the movie also handles the events of the first film, especially Moana’s relationship with Gramma Tala, is wonderfully done and often tugs at the heartstrings.

One thing I think this movie does a bit better than the first film is its humor. I found myself laughing out loud quite a bit. Sure, there is some potty humor here, but there are plenty of funny slapstick moments and smart jokes as well. Maui is constantly the source of meta-humor that breaks the fourth wall and I thought almost all of his jokes landed.

The side characters — Loto, Moni, and Kele — don’t really have enough time to be fleshed out, but I thought the film did a good job of amplifying their prominent characteristics to not only enhance humorous moments but to bring the heart, as well. We FINALLY get more Pua the pig in this movie and, without going into spoilers, one of the Kakamora coconut people steals every scene they’re in.

Speaking of scene-stealing, Simea, Moana’s little sister, becomes the focal point in every scene she’s featured. The character is incredibly adorable and her relationship with Moana is the true heart of the film.

Another huge plus of this movie is the theme. It’s all about the importance of community, and that’s a message that especially rings true post-pandemic.

Moana 2 also deserves a ton of praise for being GORGEOUS. The animators put so much detail into this film that when matched with the talented voice performances, it’s easy to forget you’re watching something that was visually created with computers. It’s a beautiful film that looks amazing on the big screen with plenty of vibrant colors and careful attention to detail. Moana 2 was clearly made with lots of love.

Another thing I can say is that this won’t be the last we see of Moana. The film does set the franchise up for at least one more sequel or series, especially in a mid-credit scene that I believe is a MUST-WATCH if you’re curious to see how the series will continue.

This mid-credits scene is very much like something you’d see out of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and teases some BIG things coming to the world of Moana, including what is sure to be a fan-favorite cameo — so stick around once the movie ends!

Moana 2 mostly lives up to the hype and I was very happy with the end result. While it’s not as good as the first or a flawless movie, I still think most audiences will enjoy this regardless of age and gender, and if you’re a big fan of the first one like me, you need to check this new Disney animated movie out!

Moana 2 officially debuts in theaters nationwide on November 27th, 2024, and will make history by releasing a Māori-language version simultaneously! This will be the first time a wide-release movie offers an Indigenous language version alongside an English version.

We’ll continue to bring you any and all Moana 2 updates as they develop so stay tuned right here at DFB for all the latest!

There’s Something DIFFERENT About Moana at Disney World (and We Think You’ll Love It)

Are you planning on seeing Moana 2 this week? Let us know in the comments!

Disclosure: In nearly all circumstances, Disney Food Blog writers and photographers pay full price for their own travel, hotel, food, beverage, and event tickets. We do this because it’s important to us as journalists to ensure not only that we give you unbiased opinions, but also that you can trust us to do so since we’re paying our own way. On rare occasions, when we are invited by a company to attend a preview as media, and when we choose to accept that invitation, we will always make you, our readers, aware of that situation. Today, we were invited by Walt Disney Animation Studios to attend their media preview of Moana 2. Note that when we attend events as media we are 1) Not required to review that event/food on any of our channels, and 2) Not required to review that event/food favorably. You can always count on DFB to give you a 100% unbiased and honest review of any event that we attend, food that we eat, or beverage that we drink. You can see more in our Disclosure Policy. Thank you for reading. — AJ

The post NO SPOILERS: Moana 2 Delivers Great Family Fun, But Has One Glaring Issue first appeared on the disney food blog.