I attended a free Moana 2 movie screening in exchange for this honest Moana 2 movie review.
MOANA 2 is the second in the MOANA franchise by Walt Disney Animated Studios. Rated PG, it’s a family-friendly movie for all ages. It’s an action adventure animated musical starring Auli’i Cravalho, Dwayne Johnson, and the returning voices of Rachel House, Temuera Morrison, Nicole Scherzinger, plus many new voices.
MOANA 2 begins three years after we last saw her, and she now has an adorable little sister Simea, and a fan group of young girls known as Moana-Bes. As a wayfinder, Moana has been out searching for other villages on other islands. A chance find on a new island gives a clue that there are more people in Oceania. Returning home with her find, she learns more of the history and makes the decision to embark on a new journey with her family’s blessing and the spirit of her grandmother.
Encouraged to not go alone, Moana enlists members of her island to be part of her crew and she has a larger sailing canoe built. As they begin their adventure, they encounter a tribe of Kakamora, anthropomorphic coconuts, which immobilize them with paralyzing slime. They agree to help them incapacitate a large clam, but as they do, they are sucked inside.
They are reunited with Maui, who has been imprisoned by Matangi. Matangi wants Moana to find Nalo and defeat him. As the wayfinder, she is the only one who can go up against him in attempt to help reunite the peoples all over Oceania. If she doesn’t, it’s possible civilization may not survive.
Mantagi reminds Moana that she is not alone, and there is more than one path toward finding her way. With a newly rebuilt canoe using pieces from an ancestor’s shipwreck, who had ventured on the same journey, the crew sets sail. They’ll need to raise the sunken island of Motufetu with Maui’s help.
Encountering Nalo results in an epic battle which nearly costs Moana her life. Her ancestors’ spirits visit her and aid her as Maui protects her in a bubble. It’s not over, and it will take all of their strength to rise above. With everything at stake, including their lives, they’ll have to work together to break the curse and defeat Nalo.
The movie’s soundtrack includes many new songs and sets the pace and guides the characters as they journey toward their goal. The beautiful scores help Moana voice her story. There are easter eggs throughout the movie.
MOANA 2 is set about 2000 years in the past, and it weaves in legends from the culture of Polynesia all over Oceania, complete with multiple languages, connecting the past with the future.
With a strong arc of teamwork, believing in oneself, and knowing there is more than one path toward a goal, the movie encourages Moana to be empowered and use her skills as a wayfinder as she becomes a leader in her own right.
MOANA 2 is the perfect way to start the holiday season as it entertains with a great story, entertaining music, fun characters, stunning visual effects, family, friendship, and adventure. Be sure to stay through the credits, there’s a hint to another movie, and a surprise return character. Grab yourself popcorn, get a great seat, and catch a wave to set sail on an epic adventure with Moana as she explores Oceania.
Moana 2 Official Trailer
How to Watch Moana 2
Moana 2 arrived in theaters on November 27, 2024. Find Moana 2 at a theater near you.
Haven’t watched the original Moana movie? Moana is available to stream, rent, or buy on Amazon Prime. Read our Moana movie review
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