MOANA 2 Can’t Capture the Original’s Magic But It’s Not Without Charm

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As a seasoned gamer with over two decades of Disney animation experience under my belt, I must say that Moana 2 is like a familiar friend you meet after a long time, but they’ve grown and changed just enough to leave you scratching your head. The animation is as stunning as ever, the characters are lovable, and the story is… well, it’s a bit of a journey, isn’t it?

Moana 2 offers a visually appealing and charming 95-minute experience in the cinema for both kids and parents alike. However, for more critical viewers, the film lacks the exceptional or great aspects that one might expect. The humor is amusing but not side-splitting, the themes are intriguing yet not fully explored, and the original songs are pleasing to the ear without being particularly memorable. Essentially, while Moana 2 captures the essence of what made the first film endearing, it falls short in replicating the unique charm that set it apart.

In the sequel to Moana and Maui’s big-screen debut, you can expect even more of these beloved characters! Auli’i Cravalho continues to shine as a remarkably gifted actress, while Dwayne Johnson remains an ideal pick for the charming, self-assured demigod. However, their screen time together is significantly reduced in this new adventure. This is because Moana embarks on a mission to reconnect the scattered sea people and save her own, while Maui takes up the role of protector, ensuring she steers clear of an ancient curse cast by the malevolent deity Nalo, who mostly serves as a sinister presence in name rather than action.

In the sequel to Moana, titled Moana 2, I found it intriguing how they chose to separate Moana from her companion for parts of the film. This decision added an exciting twist by introducing a diverse crew that accompanies Moana on this critical journey. Each character possesses unique traits, including strengths, weaknesses, and aspirations, which enriches the story and gives it depth.

“The issue with Moana 2 is that it seems incomplete, as if a few essential scenes are missing which would have amplified some of its more impactful moments. Despite having some stunning ideas and touching emotional sequences, these moments could have been even more powerful if the movie had delved deeper into its narrative and themes. The film isn’t hasty; rather, it appears that the story had space to develop further but chose not to.

In a more concise way: The second installment of Moana could have been enhanced by creating stronger original tunes, as Lin-Manuel Miranda was not involved. Instead, a new musical team was brought on board for the movie’s songs, and their tracks convey an underwhelming vibe throughout. While there are no truly bad songs, most fall short of being memorable or impactful. However, the film’s instrumental score is impressive, making the soundtrack even more frustrating because it highlights the potential that was left untapped in the lyrics.

In the movie “Moana 2”, there’s an exceptional song titled “Get Lost” sung by Awhimai Fraser. She portrays the character Matangi, a servant of Nalo and once Maui’s love interest. Matangi is one of the standout aspects in the film. Each time she appears on screen, thanks to Fraser’s performance, she brings an electrifying burst of energy and excitement.

Sometimes, it’s challenging to pinpoint precisely what makes two movies starring beloved characters and boasting engaging plots with stunning animation feel so disparate, despite their similarities. (And I must admit, endless jokes about the possibility of a pet pig becoming bacon don’t contribute to understanding this difference!) The enchanting quality of the original Moana is hard to replicate in Moana 2, even though it seems to understand why audiences adore the first one. But that’s what we call “magic” when referring to the unique charm that sets many pieces apart. Sometimes, there’s an ineffable quality that we can’t always quantify or clarify. In this case, it might not be too much of a puzzle as to what went wrong.

In simpler terms, the movie titled “Moana 2” seems more preoccupied with the prospect of a sequel, “Moana 3”, than it does with its own story. The narrative is complete on its own, but there’s an underlying impression that this tale serves as a stepping stone for something grander. This emphasis on future installments detracts from the current film, giving the impression that “Moana 2” doesn’t value itself enough to create a unique and memorable experience for its audience.

During the movie, I had a particular sensation that persisted, and the conclusion seemed to validate my intuition. A scene post-credits further solidified this. It’s possible (though uncertain) that this was due to Moana 2 initially being planned as a Disney+ series. However, I’m not concerned with the reasons behind it; instead, I focus on the film I experienced. Despite its original intentions, Moana and Maui’s team-up again ended up being an acceptable film. If you approach it for what it offers rather than what it wasn’t intended to be, you’ll enjoy watching Moana and Maui together more. Acceptable can be satisfying if you allow it to be.

Moana 2 ⭐ (3 of 5)

Moana 2 sails into theaters on November 27, 2024.

Mikey Walsh is a staff writer at TopMob. You can follow him on Bluesky at @burgermike. And also anywhere someone is ranking the Targaryen kings.

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2024-11-26 20:02