Moana 2, the highly anticipated sequel to the adored 2016 animated film Moana, delivers a heartwarming story with a visually stunning adventure that resonates with people of all ages.
It maintains a compelling story of self-discovery and finding one’s true path. Moana now faces a new challenge: the mysterious disappearance of her grandmother, Tala. Moana, guided by a mystical conch shell, begins a treacherous journey to the heart of Te Fiti, the mother island that gives life to the sea and surrounding islands.
Here, she hopes to find answers about her grandmother’s disappearance. She weathers enormous storms, encounters mythical creatures and faces her biggest fears. Along the way, she teams up with Maui, who helps her harness her powers and understand the meaning of leadership.
Yet, despite the high expectations set by viewers, the movie fell short in several areas, which led to a slightly disappointing movie experience for many. One major issue with the sequel is its lack of character development; Moana’s character seems stagnant in the second film. Her character barely, if at all, experiences growth. This stands in stark contrast to the original film, which showed her growth throughout her journey of self-discovery.
The supporting characters, including Maui, the demigod who helped Moana along her journey, did not receive the same depth as he did in the first movie. This may have resulted in a lack of emotional connection with the audience, as they aren’t able to see the characters grow and relate to them.
Another primary issue with the second film is its complete lack of originality. It reiterates many of the same plot points from the first film, creating a redundant and repetitive feel. Rather than introducing new innovative ideas, the second film relies heavily on the success and plot of the first movie.
Lastly, the movie did not maintain consistent pacing. Some scenes felt extremely rushed and left viewers with questions while other parts of the film were dragged on unnecessarily.
The uneven pacing disrupted the flow of the narrative, which makes it difficult for people to stay engaged with the movie.
Moana 2, while not as satisfactory as the original, was still able to create some enjoyable moments. But ultimately, it does not capture the same charm the first film left.
