As everyone probably knows by now I am a huge Disney fan (check out The Disney Bulletin here on the site and on BlueSky by the way). I love Moana, I keep her pop figure on my desk. My mini me loves her too so we were stoked for the sequel and announcement of the live action movie coming soon. Unfortunately, we left the theatre feeling a bit disappointed with the followup to this Princess’ amazing story. There was nothing different about the plot for the second one. While there were more characters and expanded friendships, the villain fell flat - even after a post credits scene. Even Moana’s little sister couldn’t save this film.
Moana 2 tries to raise the stakes by sending Moana on a new mission: to reunite island communities scattered by an angry deity. However, instead of building on the world established in the original, the sequel feels like a predictable retread of the first film, following a familiar structure with only slight variations. Moana sets sail, encounters a few familiar faces (both good and bad), and faces off with a natural force in a final showdown. While the return of Auli'i Cravalho, Dwayne Johnson, and writer Jared Bush might seem like a good sign, the absence of the original directing and songwriting teams leaves the film feeling stale, lacking the energy and freshness that made the first Moana such a standout.
The plot revolves around Moana reuniting with the shapeshifting demigod Maui and sailing off to the ancient island of Motufetu, joined by a crew of her fellow islanders. At home, her younger sister Simea waits for her return, adding a sense of emotional weight to Moana's journey. But rather than taking us to new places, the filmmakers recycle the original's blueprint with only a few tweaks. And visually, Moana 2 doesn’t offer much we haven’t already seen. The stunning water effects and lush landscapes that made the first film so breathtaking are still present, but there’s no real evolution or risk-taking in the animation. The action sequences—like the one where Moana and her crew face a storm—are thrilling, but they don’t feel groundbreaking.
One of the few moments that stood out to me was a brief, dreamlike sequence early in the film, where Moana has a haunting vision of the future. It was a welcome moment of something different, something that hinted at what this sequel could have been. Sadly, it wasn’t enough to offset the sense of repetition throughout the rest of the film.
The return of Moana’s pet pig, Pua, is a nice touch, but it’s hard not to feel disappointed that he doesn’t play a bigger role this time around. Hei Hei, the lovable but dim-witted chicken, also makes a return, but his comedic antics don’t have the same impact as they did in the original. This time, the film introduces a group of new human sidekicks—an expert builder, a farmer, and a muscle-bound Maui enthusiast who enjoys painting—but none of them stand out. They all stay on the periphery, contributing the occasional one-liner but failing to add anything significant to the story.
And then there’s the music, which for me, was the biggest letdown. I was really hoping the soundtrack would live up to the magic of the original, with songs like “How Far I’ll Go” and “You’re Welcome” that became instant classics. Unfortunately, Moana 2 doesn’t come close. The songs feel flat, and even the emotional core of the film, “Beyond,” doesn’t pack the punch it should. Lin-Manuel Miranda’s absence is strongly felt here, as his ear for catchy tunes that stick with you seems to be missing. I also found it odd how the film tries to force nostalgia through dialogue, with characters repeatedly referencing the original songs. It almost felt like the filmmakers were trying to recapture past glory, but it just didn’t land.
At its heart, Moana 2 feels like it was conceived as something else. The plot’s pacing feels off, and it’s clear that there wasn’t a strong, cohesive vision guiding the story. This is most evident in the character of Matangi, a villain who is introduced and then quickly discarded. She had potential, especially with her mysterious past with Maui and a quirky musical number featuring bat backup dancers, but she’s gone just as quickly as she arrived, leaving behind an unfulfilled storyline. With hints at future sequels, I’m left wondering if we’ll ever see her again, but it feels like a missed opportunity.
What frustrates me most about Moana 2 is its failure to deliver a fresh story with the characters and world we’ve come to love. The film doesn’t feel like it’s taking any risks, and instead of expanding Moana’s journey, it rehashes the same beats we’ve already seen. There’s no denying that the original Moana was a revelation—it felt like Disney was pushing boundaries, both in terms of storytelling and animation. Unfortunately, Moana 2 doesn’t come close to recapturing that magic.
With a live-action Moana remake already in the works, it’s hard to shake the feeling that Moana 2 is a product of Hollywood’s reluctance to take risks. Instead of taking the story somewhere new, it feels like a retread—more of the same, but without the spark that made the original such a triumph. There are moments of enjoyment, and some scenes are genuinely fun, but overall, Moana 2 doesn’t make the world of Moana feel any richer or more exciting. Instead of being a thrilling continuation of her odyssey, it feels more like a missed opportunity, and that’s what’s most disappointing.
What did you think?
Loved it
Hated it
So/So
i agree it did not hold up to the first movie. great review.