Estimated read time: 4-5 minutes
I remember sitting in the theater in 2016 with two of my young kids and watching "Moana" for the first time. I was moved by the music, enthralled by the story, connected to the characters and amused at the comedy. It was a home run; I knew it would be a Clyde family favorite.
It's eight years later, and "Moana 2" is now in theaters. I wasn't expecting to be as surprised and delighted with this sequel as I was with the original, but I was optimistic and excited.
However, before I jump into what I thought of the movie, I want to veer off on a little bit of a tangent.
There was a time when Disney made sequels that never make it to the theater. Those sequels to the studio's big, animated features were lesser offerings saved for VHS. These were titles like "Lion King II: Simba's Pride," "Aladdin and the King of Thieves" and "The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea." These were not great movies, but they were fine to throw in the VCR on a Wednesday afternoon to entertain a toddler after lunchtime.
Now, back to "Moana 2." I'm not saying it is "Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas" quality, but it does not come close to reaching the heights of the first film. Unfortunately, the sequel feels like a cash grab, not a well-executed, fully fledged film.
Here are some reasons "Moana 2" was a disappointment.
The songs missed the mark
There was a lot to like about "Moana," but one of the hallmarks was undoubtedly the music. Lin-Manuel Miranda brought his A-game when writing for that film. There is a reason we're still humming "You're Welcome" on a weekly basis and why "How Far I'll Go" still puts a lump in our throats. The songs and music of the original are powerful, moving, catchy and memorable. The songs in "Moana 2" are not those things.
It's not that the new music is terrible, but it lacks that special something. Some of the songs were fun, but overall, I just found myself longing for the songs of the original. Some of that may be linked to the fact that Miranda did not return to offer his talents for "Moana 2." There is a song from Maui that is fun and another from a new character that has its moments, but ultimately, they fall a little flat when compared to their predecessors.
The story and new characters felt rushed
The first "Moana" introduced us to Maui and Moana. It took us on a magical adventure that included faulty characters on a journey to better themselves as they strived to save an entire island. This new movie has plenty of new characters, but not the interest.
We meet about four new characters that are supposed to be integral to the story and the eventual outcome. However, by the time the credits rolled, I couldn't remember any of their names and didn't care that much if I saw them again. It's clear what the filmmakers were trying to accomplish with each new character, but none were terribly interesting. I found one incredibly obnoxious, and another was important until she wasn't, and we didn't see her again.
Moana and her crew have a goal to accomplish, but the stakes are introduced and then never really raised. Suddenly, we're at the climax and we've missed the interesting journey along the way.
Conclusion
Maybe I'm being a little harsh about "Moana 2," but when you do something as well as the original, you have a high expectation for a follow-up. It's disappointing when you fall as short, as this film did for me. It's not a terrible movie, but it's certainly not what I was hoping for as a sequel to one of the best animated films of the last decade.
With its mediocre musical numbers, flat characters and truncated narrative, "Moana 2" is missing the magic that made the first film so special.
That said, I have no doubt my kids will still have fun with the movie. My older two may not love it, but the baby, who is now 8, is going to have a good time. In fact, when your child is singing one of these new songs incessantly in your home, you'll probably think, "John Clyde was so wrong," and that's OK. I love that millions of kids will see a movie with characters they adore, but I'll stick with the original.
"Moana 2" is rated PG for action/peril.
