When Moana premiered back in 2016, it made an instant seismic splash and became a true contemporary Disney classic. Its gorgeous visuals, unavoidably catchy tunes, and captivating heroine proved to be a winning combination. Despite this success, many are going into the franchise’s second installment, Moana 2, with notable trepidation. Most of this wariness stems from this sequel being originally developed as a Disney+ series before it was announced at the beginning of this year that the material from the show would be reworked into a feature.

The fact that the follow-up to such a hit project would be bound entirely to streaming was cause for concern in and of itself. After all, this practice has become the modern equivalent of the straight-to-VHS sequels from the late 90s and early 00s. That’s not to say that a couple of those films weren’t my most rewound tapes as a child, but they were undoubtedly more hit or miss. Moana 2 is one of those few exceptions where it doesn’t quite soar to the heights achieved by the first story but still stands tall in its own right.

Since her previous adventure, which saw her restore the heart of Te Fiti and consequently revive the natural vitality of her Island, Moana has rightfully become hailed as a hero and is seen as somewhat of a celebrity by her people. She continues to embark on solo excursions attempting to find islands inhabited by other humans, but tends to keep them brief as she has yet another new title back home, big sister. Her three-year-old sister Simea relishes in the rays of Moana’s attention and, like all the other young girls in their community, aspires to be her when they grow up.

When the spirit of her people’s last great Wayfinder bestows the duty of reuniting the people of the ocean onto Moana, she initially hesitates. With three years of additional wisdom and a heightened understanding of what is at stake, she now finds the prospect of leaving far more difficult. Life on the island of Motunui is pretty perfect and she could remain complacent, but ultimately knows she would be malcontented living that way. Considering the length of her impending excursion, she puts together a crew of three eccentric individuals; Moni, Loto, and Kele, each who has a specific craft or skill. With the late addition of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s Maui, the crew must learn to work together as a team to preserve their safety and complete their mission.

Moana 2 possesses the vast majority of elements that would be desired of this film; between grand action set pieces, comedic chemistry between characters, and callbacks that continue to expand on the mythology and lore of these islanders, there is much to be amused by. On a more profound level, this story remains true to the essence of the first journey we embarked on with Moana in highlighting that there is always more to uncover about our cultures and that our livelihood is physically and spiritually funnelled into us by our ancestors.

It’s no surprise that Auli’i Cravalho is once again the clear standout, who is utterly compelling and endlessly endearing as she reprises the role of this beloved princess who jump-started her entire career. Even though the musical aspect will likely be what disappoints audiences the most, Cravalho’s vocals are undeniably goosebump-raising. The lack of Lin Manuel Miranda’s infectious melodious touch can be felt, with only one song, titled ‘Beyond’, being nearly as catchy as the soundtrack from the first film.

There is no denying that sequels are tricky and this one has a handful of flaws, but it also replicates the deep passion and care that makes the world of Moana so remarkable. The delicately crafted visual spectacle and deeply authentic representation deserve the same big screen rollout as its predecessor. Following Inside Out 2 becoming the highest-grossing film of 2024 so far, it is a relief to see Disney encouraging families to share a theatrical experience rather than sentencing Moana to a lifetime of being watched exclusively through an iPad screen.

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