Moana 2 Review: Solid, but Hard to Top

Moana in films clip

The follow-up to Moana delivers an exciting, fast-paced adventure, but it falls short of the joy and originality that made the first film a Disney classic.

Moana remains one of the studio’s best animated films, ranking #6 on Rotten Tomatoes’ list of all Disney animated features, just behind The Lion King. The movie’s success was partly due to its refreshing originality—breaking from the European fairy tale tradition to explore Polynesian mythology, a vibrant and underrepresented cultural world. Add to that dazzling animation, unforgettable songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda, and standout characters like Moana (voiced by Auli'i Cravalho) and the mischievous demigod Maui (voiced by Dwayne Johnson), and it’s no surprise that the film resonated so strongly with audiences.

Following in the footsteps of such a beloved film is no easy feat, and Moana 2 finds itself facing the daunting task of living up to a high bar. The premise feels natural: after the first film’s conclusion, where Moana leads her people into the open sea as wayfarers, she embarks on another solo voyage. This time, she’s searching for the legendary island of Motofetu, a place that once connected civilizations across the ocean but was cursed by a vengeful god. To find it, Moana must first reunite with Maui, who’s her best bet for survival—and possibly the future of her people.

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While the set-up is ripe for an adventurous quest, Moana 2 lacks the excitement and emotional resonance that made the first film so special. The humor is broader and more slapstick, and the stakes of Moana’s mission never feel as urgent. The songs, though they echo the first film’s musical style, fail to capture the same spark. Unlike the catchy, character-driven numbers like How Far I'll Go or You're Welcome, the new tracks feel more like obligatory additions rather than meaningful contributions to the story. At the screening I attended, the audience was humming the older songs long after the credits rolled—never a good sign for a sequel.

The film’s episodic nature also weakens its impact. It feels more like a series of loosely connected adventures rather than a cohesive narrative. Each new twist or obstacle is more outlandish than the last, but none of them have the emotional depth or surprising payoff of the original. Adding to the feeling of disjointedness is the film’s development history: Moana 2 was initially conceived as a TV series before being reworked into a feature film. This shift is evident in the film's structure and in the presence of Moana’s quirky new sidekicks—an oddball scientist (voiced by Rose Matafeo) and a gang of goblin-like creatures. These characters might have worked well in a series, but in the context of a 90-minute film, they feel more like filler than assets.

The animation, too, feels a bit too polished and artificial compared to the first movie’s rich, vibrant style. The characters look smoother, almost waxy, as though they’ve stepped off a shelf of action figures, which detracts from the film’s immersive quality. And while the sidekicks may provide some comic relief, they often seem out of place—why would Moana, embarking on a perilous voyage, choose to bring along a bumbling vegetable farmer and a pig?

Ultimately, Moana 2 is a fun, fast-paced movie that may entertain younger audiences, but it doesn’t capture the magic or the cultural significance of its predecessor. It’s a solid sequel, but one that reminds us just how hard it is to follow up a classic.

Then there's the structure. While the plot works as a cohesive, action-packed narrative, it feels more like a series of episodic adventures stitched together, each one more extravagant than the last. At one point, there’s even a magical trans-dimensional portal involved—but with the whirlwind of gods, ghosts, spirits, and giant fish monsters Moana encounters, I have to admit I lost track of what was happening. Unlike its predecessor, this film lacks focus. Strangely, the main villain is barely seen, represented only by the bolts of lightning he hurls at Moana and Maui. Yet, in a post-credits scene, he finally appears, swearing revenge alongside a pair of supernatural allies. It’s hard not to see this as Disney borrowing Marvel's strategy of using one sequel to tease another, which dilutes the sense of Moana 2 being a distinctive or standalone experience.

That said, despite these criticisms, Moana 2 remains a high-quality production—a fast-paced Disneyland rollercoaster that’s sure to delight younger audiences. Ironically, had it been released as a television series, it might have been lauded for its spectacle. But as a feature film, it struggles to stand among Disney’s finest offerings.