Moana 2

When Disney released "Moana" back in 2016, I'm sure they never realized the hit they had in their midst. And since it brought in a truckload of money, Disney started developing a sequel appropriately titled "Moana 2". Disney, always the company that imitates itself, has been working on a live version of "Moana" due to release in 2026. Hey, why develop something original when copying a project you've already produced will due nicely?

3 years on from the events of the first film, this film takes audiences on an expansive new voyage with Moana (Auli'i Cravalho), Maui (Dwayne Johnson) and a brand-new crew of unlikely seafarers including Loto (Rose Matafeo), Moni (Hualalai Chung) and Keke (David Fane) alongside her pig, Pua and Rooster Heihei. After receiving an unexpected call from her wayfinding ancestors, Moana must journey to the far seas of Oceania and to dangerous lost waters for an adventure unlike anything she's ever faced. Moana's ancestor tells her that there is a storm god called Nalo (Tofiga Fepulea'i) who desires to have power over all mortals and so people have since grown detached from the ocean. Nalo then sinks a magic island called Motufetu to the bottom of the ocean. Then, realizing that that was a mistake, so tells Moana that she needs to find a way to raise the island which then enters Maui. So he and others are in search of Motufetu.

Others to round out the cast are Awhimai Fraser as Matangi, Khaleesi Lambert Tsuda as Simea, Temuera Morrison as Chief Tui, Nicole Scherzinger as Sina, Rachel House as Gramma Tala, Alan Tudyk as Heihei, Jermaine Clement as Tamatoa and Gerald Faitala Ramsey as Tautai Vasa.

This was steadily directed by not one, not two, but three directors namely Jason Hand (Animation and Art Dept.), Dana Ledoux Miller (TV) and David G.Derrick (Animation and Art Dept,). Considering each and every one of these directors have no feature film experience behind the camera, I am amazed that this was helmed and sequenced as well as it was. There were a couple of small places that jumped a bit, but overall, the effort paid off. Certainly their combined experience didn't hurt. And if you liked this brand of directing, Miller's "Moana" (live version) has a 2026 release date. It was executed well by Jared Bush ("Zootopia" '16, "Moana" '16, "Encanto" '21) plus TV and a video game and Dana Ledoux Miller (TV), based on a story by Jared Bush, Dana Ledoux Miller and Bek Smith. Also additional screenplay material was provided by Bryson Chun. The main issue I felt this film experienced was that it started feeling like a rehash of the original "Moana"--just a different sea, but fraught with peril and Moana and Maui, of course, saved the day. Sound familiar? However, after approximately when the film reached about midway, the story did in fact pick up and truly became the film they and we were looking for. Certainly, the more experience these writers handle, the more talented I believe they will become--just have patience. Of course, after 2026, we will probably be Moanaed out since the live version will be released in that year with Dwayne Johnson reprising his role as Maui, and if you wait through this film's end credits, it provides a small snippet of the sheer possibility of yet a Moana 3? Can you say Ca-Ching?

If you like this franchise, you'll revel with this. And as aforementioned, if you want more than animation, not to worry; Disney will provide a live version as well--anything to add to the Disney coffers. If you want that up, close and personal feeling, this is also presented in an IMAX format as well. Have fun!

Out of 4 Stars: 3                                       Rated: PG                                             99mins.