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The initial reactions to Moana 2 (2024) have landed, and the response from audiences appears lukewarm at best.
Set three years after the first film, Moana 2 picks up with the titular heroine (Auli’i Cravalho) answering an ancestral call that leads her back to Maui (Dwayne Johnson). Together, they face the challenge of undoing a curse placed by the god Nalo on the hidden island of Motufetu.
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While the premise seemed promising, early reviews suggest the execution leaves much to be desired.
As everyone knows by this point, this sequel wasn’t initially envisioned as a film. Disney originally planned a series follow-up to Moana, but that direction shifted after Disney executives were reportedly impressed by test footage. This change has sparked concerns that Moana 2 might suffer from its origins as a TV project reworked for theaters, evoking memories of Disney’s direct-to-video sequel era in the 2000s.
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Now that the film has arrived in cinemas, critics and audiences alike seem to agree on one thing: Moana 2 doesn’t quite measure up to its predecessor.
Reactions suggest a lack of cohesion, with some lamenting its rushed feel and others pointing to its uninspired storytelling. X, formerly known as Twitter, user @EzraCubero described it as “a patchwork of underdeveloped ideas, bland music, and callbacks that feel more hollow than nostalgic.” The sentiment was echoed by Dave Lee Down Under, who called it “a messy, low-stakes sequel reminiscent of Disney’s weaker efforts from the past.”
Credit: Disney
Critics have also noted the sequel’s tendency to retread old ground without offering anything new. Flickering Myth’s EJ Moreno characterized it as “a shallow rehash aimed at fans who’ll tolerate its shortcomings,” while Looper’s Alistair Ryder bluntly dubbed it “Meh-oana.”
The soundtrack, a highlight of the original film, has also drawn mixed reviews. With Lin-Manuel Miranda absent from the project, Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear have stepped in to compose new songs. While some tracks have been labeled “catchy,” others have been dismissed as forgettable. Grace Randolph summed up the consensus by calling the songs “fine but far from memorable.”
Credit: Disney
On a brighter note, the film’s animation has earned widespread praise. Reviewers have applauded its visual splendor, with Discussing Film hailing it as “stunningly detailed,” and Mashable commending its “textured and vibrant” aesthetic. However, the general sentiment remains that visual beauty alone cannot compensate for a weak narrative.
Are you excited to see Moana 2 for yourself, or will you be skipping this voyage?
