Moana 2 has officially arrived, and it’s just . . . fine. The characters from the beloved first film, Moana (Auli’i Cravalho) and demigod Maui (Dwayne Johnson), are back for another adventure that builds on the heroine’s still relatively newfound exploration skills. The chemistry is also still there, as are the songs, and there’s an intriguing plot that finds the duo taking on new sidekicks (including Moana’s adorable younger sister) as they go up against a god bent on sabotaging humanity’s attempts to reconnect from across the ocean.
So what’s not to love? An absence of Lin-Manuel Miranda, for one, who—in spite of protests regarding his omnipresence—is still so good at his job that he can only be missed. Plus, there’s a lack of time and attention given to promising characters who feel like a collection of trending traits that will sell well at the retail outlets or make a far too brief appearance before being sidelined so the plot can continue on its merry, colorful way.
And continue it does, with some of the same beats and a few new ones, including a villain who stays offscreen until mid-credits, where the baffling decision to keep him out of sight is explained by mere sequel baiting. Much like the hermit crab who kicks things off by attempting to trade in his new shell for an ill-fitting larger one, there’s simply not enough to fill out Moana 2. Unable to stand completely on its own, it’s a movie that ends up as a transitory point for another, bigger story that’s clearly in the works—at least until the live-action remake hits theaters in 2026. PG, 100 min.
Wide release in theaters
Reader Recommends: FILM & TV
Our critics review the best on the big and small screens and in the media.
Oh, Canada contends with writer-director Paul Schrader’s bleeding heart.
A Traveler’s Needs is effervescent, mysterious, and somewhat mystical.
Amy Adams is a real beast in Nightbitch, Marielle Heller’s latest dive into feminine imperfection.
An interview with Bill Morrison, director of the short film Incident, which documents the 2018 killing of Harith “Snoop” Augustus by Chicago police
Interior Chinatown takes an ambitious, meta approach to satire of racism and police procedurals.
Wicked is a fantastic movie musical epic that hits all the right notes and stays true to its source material.