Moana 2, the long-awaited sequel to Disney’s hit 2016 movie, has been getting mixed reviews from critics.
The original Moana introduced us to Moana, a brave young girl from Polynesia, and Maui, a shape-shifting demigod. It was a big hit, with catchy songs written by Lin-Manuel Miranda, the creator of Hamilton. Now, Moana is being remade as a live-action film.
In the new animated sequel, we pick up the story three years later. Moana, voiced again by Auli’i Cravalho, is back, and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson returns as Maui. The songs are written by Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear, creators of the Unofficial Bridgerton Musical.
The movie originally started as a TV series, and some critics think it shows. They feel like the story feels a bit like a random episode from a TV show, rather than a full, exciting movie. William Bibbiani from The Wrap said it felt like “an episode of a mediocre Moana TV series,” with characters not changing much and just reacting to whatever problem comes their way.
Kevin Maher from The Times agreed, saying the story drags and feels like it’s just filling time, without really moving the plot forward. He said, “It’s a shame that the film, unlike the first Moana, never really finds its way.”
On the other hand, India Block from the Evening Standard gave the movie five stars and praised the new songwriters. She said Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear did a great job keeping the same style as Lin-Manuel Miranda, while making their own mark. She also loved the animation, calling it stunning. The visuals are so good that she questioned why Disney even needs a live-action remake.
David Fear from Rolling Stone said the movie is better than some of the straight-to-video sequels Disney used to make, but still suggested people lower their expectations. If you liked the first Moana, you’ll probably like this one too, but if you’re expecting something totally new, you might be disappointed. It’s still a fun movie, though, running at just over an hour and a half.
So, if you’re a big fan of the first movie, Moana 2 might be worth a watch. But if you’re expecting something that blows you away, you might want to keep your expectations in check!