Without much in the song department or much useful story tension, “Moana 2” does its job just well enough to get by on looks. The open-air, open-water expanse of the rousing 2016 animated “Moana” was a big part of its success, and that much is handled with photorealistic panache in the follow-up, which is directed by David Derrick Jr., Jason Hand and Dana Ledoux Miller.
Memorable, though? No. “Moana 2” feels like a corporate mission accomplished, rather than a really good idea for a sequel. It was first conceived as a Disney+ streaming series, then rejiggered as a conventional, old-school theatrical feature, because no matter how hard major studios try to phase out theatrical in favor of their ever-ravenous streaming platforms, the right movie in theaters can still make a bundle. We’ll see on this one, but the goodwill towards Moana’s world, and its sparkling azure ocean spray, remains a legit selling point.
The sequel begins like every other musical sequel in existence: Five minutes of joy and serenity, followed immediately by disruption and danger. This time, Moana (voiced once again by Auli’i Cravalho) must put her wayfinding skills to the test, with the help of demigod Maui (Dwayne Johnson again), and bring together the various, far-flung Pacific Islanders so that it’s not all “Samoa first!” isolationism. “Moana 2” comes down firmly in favor of the collective over the individual, as well in favor of the environmental protection of the oceans.
Following the stars, Moana and her crew embark on their voyage from Motunui to the mysterious lost island of Motufetū. It has been hidden away, you see, by the power-hungry control freak of a storm god Nalo, who envisions a world easier to control without the various human factions getting to know one another. En route, “Moana 2” introduces a fearsomely ridiculous island tribe of coconuts.
Hectic in its pacing, the screenplay follows its own navigational stars: the blueprints of the original, plus a new set of songs written not by Lin-Manuel Miranda, but by Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear, the team behind the “Unofficial Bridgerton Musical” concept album. Clearly, Miranda can’t write everything Disney makes. His “Moana” score had real wit in its lyrics and the songs very nearly made the first film move and sing like a real musical. “Moana 2” is more of an action movie with a few accidental musical numbers of varying quality.
The day after seeing the film, you remember the little things the sequel gets right, along with the inviting water, of which there is much. The sibling banter between Moana and her younger sister is delightful and, yes, realistic. The chicken Hei Hei remains an panicky, adorable dope of a bird indeed, treated like a demigod by the coconut tribe. Will kids care whether they’re getting a real, juicy story this time? Who knows? We’re getting a so-called live-action “Moana” movie in the summer of 2026, for the record. I hope that one truly takes us somewhere other than where we’ve already been, scenic wonders notwithstanding.
“Moana 2” — 2.5 stars (out of 4)
MPA rating: PG (for action/peril)
Running time: 1:40
How to watch: Premieres in theaters Nov. 27
Michael Phillips is a Tribune critic.
