For most of the country it feels as though Winter is finally settling in (though it’s officially a few weeks away), so why not indulge in a cinematic virtual island getaway for a couple of hours? To make it a tad more enticing it’s also a reunion with some dear movie friends you first met eight years ago. Since that first animated romp, the popularity of the characters and setting seems to be growing, with several reports saying that it was the most streamed feature film during the pandemic “lockdown” way back in 2020. Now, according to some other articles, this movie’s plot was originally developed as a Disney+ series, but can any home entertainment system ever match the big multiplex screens? That’s the only way to cruise the waves and bask in the sun with that plucky princess (in the film she denies that, but her bud and many others disagree) of the seas in MOANA 2.
When we catch up with that “Wayfinder” Moana (voice of Auli’i Cravalho) is exploring a tiny island of Oceania, looking for clues to other island natives. Surprisingly her pet rooster Heihei (Alan Tudyk) stumbles into a bit of pottery with an image etched on its surface. They rush back to Motunui Island where Moana’s papa chief Tui (Temera Morrison) explains that this is a relic of the lost island of Motufetu, which their ancestor Tautai Vasa tried to locate in order to unite all the people of the far-flung islands of Oceania. Moana decides to take on this quest, but she’s not going alone, though her pig and rooster will be at her side. She’ll need a bigger vessel and a crew: brainy designer Loto (Rose Matafeo), brawny demi-god “fanboy” Moni (Hualalai Chung), and grumpy elderly farmer Kele (David Fane). Moana’s confident, though she hopes that they’ll get a hand from her old pal, the shape-shifting demigod Maui (Dwayne Johnson). Ah, but he’s been captured by the angry god Nalo along with his prisoner/aide the “bat lady” Matangi (Awhimai Fraser). After a raucous encounter with the small but fierce “coconut warriors” of a floating island/ship, Moana and her friends are swallowed by a giant clam, which also holds Maui. He joins their mission since he must raise the sunken island of Motufetu from the sea floor in order for the human crew to embark and facilitate the uniting of the many different island natives. But can they thwart the efforts of the angry Nalo, who hates people and wants to destroy another such gathering?
You’d never think that eight years have passed since the talented vocal ensemble jumps right back into their roles as if only a day or two has passed. And Cravalho is still a powerhouse singer bringing an energetic optimistic spirit to the title character. Sure, Moana can feel down but she’s soon back at the ship’s helm. Of course, she’s still an excellent teammate with the bombastic Johnson who imbues Maui with a charming swagger as we can hear his growing affection for the “humans”, though he’s a tad “creeped” by “super-fan” Moni, who is given an endearing goofy sweetness by Chung. But nobody is as sweet, or just darned adorable, as the film’s new addition, Khaleesi Lambert-Tsuda as Moana’s precious kid sister Simea, who just makes your heart ache as she tries to get sis’ to stay home. On the other end of the spectrum, Fane is also compelling, and very funny, as the often sour, but semi-sweet Kele. Another “newbie” is Fraser who gives Matangi a sultry slinky vocal “vamp”. It’s a nice counterpart to the warm, nurturing tone of Rachel House as Tula, Moan’s ghostly (really a manta ray spirit) grandmother.
As I hinted earlier, this sequel is, like its predecessor, a feast for the eyes with its perfect ocean waves and smooth sand buffeted by lush green foliage. It is dazzling, much like the character designs, I’m still a fan of the stocky Maui who somehow has a real graceful lilt to his movements. The real “kicker” for him is the terrific line animation that brings his tattoos to life, thanks to Disney drawing titan Eric Goldberg and his “mini-Maui” crew. But the animation “acting” and body language of all the principals is “top-notch” particularly as Moana and her team are flung around the ship’s bow via the sail and ropes. Most impressive as this is the first feature for the Vancouver branch of Walt Disney Animation, which made the slick transition from the TV series. Surprisingly, the movie doesn’t feel like it was “stitched” from several episodes, although I could imagine a half-hour focused on those tough lil’ coconut critters (tailor-made for shelves and work cubicles). So, it looks great, but there’s little of the emotional “heft” of that first flick, though it suffers like many follow-ups as there’s no “discovery’ as we meet these new characters and backdrops. Plus, none of the new tunes are “grabbers’ with Maui’s solo (as forgettable as the other songs) here falling short of the bouncy “You’re Welcome”. Fans of the 2016 original will enjoy diving back into that world, but those looking for a story just as engaging may have their expectations become “water-logged” after the drawn-out climax of MOANA 2.
3 Out of 4
MOANA 2 is now playing in theatres everywhere
