MOANA 2 Reviewed by GREG KING
Directors: David G Derrick jr, Jason Hand, Dana Leydoux Miller
Stars: voices of Auli’i Cravalho, Dwayne Johnson, Rose Matafeo, Hualalai Chung, David Fane, Alan Tudyk, Tofiga Fepulea’i, Awhimai Fraser, Jemaine Clement, Rachel House, Temuera Morrison, Nicole Scherzinger.
Moana 2 is a largely unnecessary sequel to the 2016 animated film, which has become one of Disney’s highest grossing movies. But despite an eager and readymade audience, Moana 2 is something of a disappointment even though it does pay respect to the original in its early scenes. Moana 2 is symptomatic of Disney’s approach to filmmaking at the moment which seems to focus on sequels and live action remakes of their animated back catalogue rather than concentrating on original stories.
Auli’i Cravalho reprises her role as the feisty, strong-willed seafaring Polynesian heroine who was chosen by an ancient prophecy to become a way-finder for her people. She navigates the oceans in search of adventure. In the first film she was mainly searching for her own identity and learning to accept who she was, and the film paid tribute to the customs of the Pacific dwellers. This film picks up three years after the events of the original but it lacks the rich introspective quality of the original.
Moana sets out on a journey to find the mystical island called Motufetu. She follows the path of a meteor across the ocean. Moana is accompanied by a motley crew of explorers including Loto (comedienne Rose Matafeo), Moni (Hualalai Chung, from tv series Rescue: HI-Surf, etc), Kele (David Fane), along with her pet chicken Heihei (voiced by Alan Tudyk) and Pua (a pig), who provide plenty of comic relief.
She faces a number of challenges along the way including the Kakamora, a savage tribe of coconuts with attitude; the evil storm god Nalo (Tofiga Fepulea’i) and Nalo’s enforcer Matangi (Awhimai Fraser). She also encounters some unusual island dwellers who have become disconnected from their home islands. Eventually Moana is reunited with Maui (Dwayne Johnson) the demigod who is also her protector. But Maui is also in danger as he has been captured and help prisoner by Matangi.
Moana 2 has been directed by a trio of filmmakers including David G Derrick jr and Jason Hand (both former animators making their feature film directorial debuts here) and co-writer Dana Ledoux Miller. The script from original writer Jared Bush, Miller and Bek Smith (Maleficent: Mistress Of Evil, etc) deals with universal themes of family, tradition, culture, community, identity and female empowerment and expands on some of the ideas explored in the original. While the spectacular animation is certainly colourful and rich, the story is a little dull and unoriginal and the film itself is overlong for what it has to say. Moana 2’s narrative is also a little confusing as it explores myths and cultural ideas that will be lost on a younger audience. There are also some scary moments that are unsuitable for younger audiences. Some of the songs are a little bland, as Lin Manuel Miranda, who composed the songs for the first film, did not return for the sequel.
Cravalho once again gives the material a strong central focus as the feisty Moana, and her singing voice is rich. It takes a while for Johnson’s Maui to turn up, but he lends his usually gruff but affable style to the material. His personal connection to the material and the Pacific islands lore is obvious as he is credited as one of the producers. Further adding authenticity to the film is the supporting vocal cast, which features a number of New Zealand actors, including Jemaine Clement, Rachel House, and Temuera Morrison who reprises his role as Moana’s father Tui.
During the final credits sequence there is a teaser which suggests that a third film in the series could be underway.
★★☆
