Moana 2 – REVIEW

As a long-time Pixar enthusiast who has witnessed their evolution from Toy Story to Inside Out and beyond, I must confess that Moana 2 left me feeling somewhat underwhelmed. After the captivating emotional rollercoaster of Inside Out 2, this sequel felt more like a pleasant boat ride on the ocean rather than an exhilarating voyage of discovery.

In the second installment of Pixar’s releases for this year, we follow Moana, the Polynesian heroine who is now widely admired by the islanders due to her heroic actions in the initial film. However, this new storyline presents a fresh challenge for Moana: another mission to save the day and rescue the sinking island of Motufetu and its people, who have been plunged into peril by the malevolent deity Nalo. Ultimately, her goal is to reconnect with her fellow islanders.

In this reimagined tale, she’s accompanied by a playful pig and a noisy chicken that seems to be her boss, adding a touch of humor. Joining her on the sea journey with Moana is her tomboyish companion Loto, a cranky farmer named Kele, and Moni, who serves as both muscle man and resident artist. Moni admires the demigod Maui (portrayed by Dwayne Johnson) and his living tattoos, who also tag along on their adventure, as they set sail with musical performances and dance numbers to accomplish their mission.

It’s clear that Moana 2 was meant to be a TV series, given its mediocre performance compared to Inside Out 2, which has been this year’s box office champion after an engaging summer. Unfortunately, the sequel lacks the spark of its predecessor. The sidekicks are not impactful and seem superfluous, the songs are forgettable, and it’s only the pirates shaped like coconuts, the kakamora, that stand out, much like the Minions in Despicable Me who deserve their own spin-off film. They even share the movie’s most impressive scene with a colossal clam crushing anything that tries to sail between its jaws, reminiscent of the impact the Minions had on their film.

In my view, the visuals in Moana 2 remain as breathtakingly vibrant and skillfully crafted as ever, with the water particularly standing out for its realistic depiction. However, despite the talent of three credited directors, I found the film to be somewhat predictable and lackluster in terms of originality and inspiration – a letdown that I wasn’t expecting.

Here’s the Moana 2 trailer….

2024-11-27 03:23

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