“Moana 2” was released on Nov. 27 in theaters worldwide, giving young adults a chance to reconnect with the story of a Disney princess who came to fame in our childhoods. The film follows Moana and her fellow characters as they search for the island of Motufetu, believed to lie at the center of the ocean currents and to be the key to connecting the peoples of the ocean.

This article contains spoilers for “Moana 2.”

Plot

The original “Moana” tied up all loose ends, making the sequel’s plot feel like a forced attempt to capitalize on its success rather than an organic continuation. That said, the transition between the two films feels surprisingly seamless. The original ends with Moana reteaching her people the voyager tradition of their ancestors. The sequel picks up three years later, with the transition complete and Moana beginning her journey to unite the peoples of the ocean, which we know to be a goal of the ancestors from the first movie. 

Although the desire for reunification provides a strong connection between the two films, the core elements of the sequel’s plot — finding Motufetu and introducing the character of Nalo — feel fabricated. Neither Motufetu nor Nalo were mentioned in the original, making them seem like additions created solely to manufacture a quest and a villain for the sequel.

With a clear end goal in sight, Moana and her friends set off on a quest that maintains a consistent destination but becomes confusing at times. Many elements of the plot are poorly explained. For example, at the beginning of the movie Maui is individually searching for Motufetu. While the film briefly mentions that he had a previous quarrel with Nalo, it never properly explains what it was or why he is looking for the island. 

The movie’s climax occurs as Maui fights Nalo to raise Motufetu from the sea, while Moana attempts to swim to it and touch it, reviving the island. Moana is struck by Nalo’s lighting, dies and in a touching sequence, is revived by her ancestors. Although powerful, parts of this sequence remain confusing. While fighting Nalo, Maui is stripped of his tattoos, suggesting that he becomes human. Later, while being revived, Moana gains a tattoo. The intended interpretation is that Moana is turned into a demigod by her ancestors, although this was somewhat unclear because we do not see her using superhuman powers during the movie’s conclusion. 

Additionally, Maui regains his tattoos and demigod status during the revival. This felt like a fumble of what could have been an interesting character moment for Maui. We know from the original that Maui’s motivation for being “demigod of the wind and sea, hero to all” is to receive love and acceptance from the humans who rejected him as a child. His permanent conversion into a human would have been a perfect ending to his journey. 

Protagonists

“Moana 2” introduces many new characters. Moana’s crew on her second voyage consists of Moni, a storyteller and Maui fanboy, Loto, a brainy and quirky canoe craftswoman, and Kele, a grumpy elderly farmer. These characters are mostly comic relief but they each have their moment of fame in saving the mission, such as Loto’s on-the-spot idea to turn the canoe’s sail into a parachute so the crew can outrun Nalo. 

Another new character is Moana’s three-year-old sister Simea. She is adorably sassy and smart and serves as a reminder of the importance of the home Moana is so desperate to return to. As an eldest sister myself, the relationship between Moana and Simea is an emotional one that adds greatly to the movie. While these new characters are all lovable, I appreciate that the movie does not introduce a love interest for Moana.

Moana has less of an arc in this movie, as her character does not seem to change. In the first movie, she was a relatable girl who doesn’t know what she’s doing. In the second she is larger than life. Moana is already a master wayfinder at the start of the movie. She then becomes a demigod by the end, making her less relatable because she is less human. 

Villains

The primary villain in “Moana 2” is Nalo, a sky god who cursed Motufetu by burying it under the sea because he wants to separate the people of the ocean and stop them from challenging him. He currently has no character traits other than being evil and self-interested.

A much more interesting villain is Matangi, a shapeshifter who controls bats. She is essentially a rehash of Megara from “Hercules” — a woman enslaved to the villain to pay off a debt who ends up helping the heroes in hopes of her freedom. Her slow introduction to the movie as a tangle of bats with a sultry voice is compelling as it builds her as evil and loyal to Nalo. 

However, Matangi soon switches to being helpful to the protagonists, a transition that confused me. She decides to assist Moana because she knows if Moana succeeds she could be released from her enslavement. However, it is unclear if she is truly helping Moana or tricking her. It is only when her suggestion that “there’s always another way” ends up working that I understood that she is not evil and actually wants to help. 

Music

The music is the most disappointing element of “Moana 2.” Lin Manuel Miranda did not participate in the soundtrack and his absence is felt strongly. Except for one track, the songs are much weaker than the original. The best music is the shorter tracks sung in Polynesian languages, incorporating motifs from the original. 

The movie’s leading song is “Beyond,” Moana’s ballad that parallels “How Far I’ll Go” and discusses Moana’s internal debate between embarking on a quest to save her people and not wanting to leave her home and family. Although Auliʻi Cravalho’s vocals remain incredible, the song itself is not as gorgeous and memorable as the original. 

Although topping “You’re Welcome” is impossible, Maui’s song “Can I Get a Chee Hoo?” is very weak. It lacks the humor and witty wordplay that makes Maui so lovable, does not fully employ Dwayne Johnson’s talents and is not particularly catchy. 

By far the best song in the movie is Matangi’s “Get Lost,” in which Matangi encourages Moana to break the rules and pursue another way to achieve her goals. It is an upbeat and morally gray anthem by a character who shares those traits. 

Visuals

Just like the original, the visuals of “Moana 2” are stunningly beautiful and one of the best elements of the movie. The turquoise ocean and lush landscape shots are striking. Moana’s new outfit is also a visual highlight. 

The most memorable shot for me is when Moana is swimming to the bottom of the sea and being chased by a bolt of purple lightning. Time seems to freeze in this moment as the movie reaches its climax. Another beautiful sequence is when the ancestors revive Moana by circling her in the iconic koru spiral and flooding her with light.

Nostalgia 

As someone who loved “Moana” as a kid and watched it countless times, this movie was very nostalgic. The sequel brings back many iconic original characters, such as Moana’s grandma, Pua the pig, HeiHei the chicken and of course, the ocean. It also brings back some unexpected characters, namely the Kakamora (coconut warriors), Tomatoa (the giant crab) and that one awkward dancing kid. 

One of my favorite comedic elements of the movie was Maui’s fourth wall breaking. He makes jokes that reference the original, such as the line, “I kinda miss the lava monster.” He also references his debate with Moana in the original about whether she is a princess. When Moana says she’s the daughter of the chief and not a princess, he says, “Well a lot of people think you are,” referencing Moana’s addition to the Disney princess lineup by fans. Perhaps my favorite Maui moment is his line, “Maybe it was a butt dial. That’ll make sense in 2000 years.” 

Overall, “Moana 2” is an enjoyable watch full of Disney magic and stunning animation. Although parts of it fell short, I was left feeling entertained and nostalgic rather than disappointed.