It was never going to be an easy task following up a cultural phenomenon like Moana, which remains Walt Disney Animation’s finest offering of the past 10 years. 

Originally conceived as a long-form streaming series for Disney+, Moana 2 doesn’t quite have the narrative poignancy or thematic sophistication of its predecessor. Where that film felt like it was actually trying to speak to a teenage audience, this sequel brings things more in the kid-friendly range with easy laughs and an easier-to-follow plot. 

The fact remains that this lush and vibrant setting is nothing short of enchanting, and any excuse to revisit the world of Moana is worthwhile, no matter how it compares to the original. Perhaps I’ll change my tune once Moana 5 is released, but until that time, I intend to stay on the boat of this franchise.

Following her transition to chieftess of the Motunui people, Moana (Auli‘i Cravalho) also acts as their lead wayfinder, voyaging to other nearby islands in search of inhabitants. In her exploration, she learns of the sunken island Motufetu, which once served as a connecting point for the nearby isles but was pushed to the bottom of the ocean by the storm god Nalo (Tofiga Fepulea’i). Emboldened by visions from her ancestors, Moana recruits a team to raise Motufetu from its watery depths and restore the channels to the separated sea. Accompanied once again by haughty demigod Maui (Dwayne Johnson) and joined by Moni (Hualālai Chung), Loto (Rose Matafeo) and Kele (David Fane), the crew ventures across the treacherous ocean to break Nalo’s curse.

If Moana was a journey of self-discovery and independence, then Moana 2 is about the next step into maturity, wherein our heroine takes on the responsibility of looking after others. She now has a much younger sister, Simea (Khaleesi Lambert-Tsuda), who acts like Moana walks on water and who misses her dearly when she leaves for her expeditions. Her tribe looks to her for guidance on issues big and small as they crop up on Motunui, and she even has a fan club of adoring “MOANA-BEs” who idolize the young trailblazer. 

During the story’s main quest, Moana doesn’t always have the right answers, but like any good leader, she considers the capabilities and commitments of her people when making decisions about what to do next. The storms are always easier to ride out when you have the right people by your side.

Like its predecessor, Moana 2’s adventure storyline is supplemented by new original songs, although Lin-Manuel Miranda did not return as lead songwriter this time around. While this sequel doesn’t quite have instant classics like “How Far I’ll Go” and “You’re Welcome,” new tunes like “Beyond” and “We’re Back,” penned by Opetaia Foa’i, Abigail Barlow, and Emily Bear, are welcome additions to this series’ songbook. 

Cravalho’s singing was, of course, lovely in the original, but her voice seems even more powerful and assured this time around. Once the crew gets sailing, “What Could Be Better Than This?” finds the four main performers trading humorous lines, with Matafeo as a standout among them. The rousing ensemble number “We Know the Way” is also reprised here, and Maui gets another cheeky up-tempo anthem with “Can I Get A Chee Hoo?”

Also returning from the first movie are the sentient coconut pirates from the Kakamora tribe, who get even more screen time and remain a cute concoction within this magical universe. Their antics certainly play a role in the narrative, but also seem to play double-duty as a way to keep kids entertained. The Kakamora have aboard a gelatinous, bug-eyed creature whose noises seem pitched to emulate the “goat scream” fad from several years ago. 

Moana 2 has several moments like that where it feels like it’s dumbing itself down just to hit the marks with everyone, and I wish it didn’t. But the animation and craft in this sequel is just as impressive as it was the first time around, and the color palette is always a wonder to behold. 

Just because the waves aren’t quite as high in this sequel doesn’t mean it’s not worth the trip back out to the dazzling blue.

New movies coming this weekend

• Playing only in theaters is Y2K, a disaster comedy starring Jaeden Martell and Rachel Zegler, set at a high school party on New Year’s Eve 1999 which imagines if the millennium bug actually caused all technology to come to life and turn against humanity.
• Also coming to theaters is Werewolves, a horror thriller starring Frank Grillo and Katrina Law, following two scientists who try to stop a mutation that turns people into werewolves after being touched by a supermoon event the year before.
• Streaming on Netflix is Mary, a biblical epic starring Noa Cohen and Anthony Hopkins, telling the story after the birth of Jesus wherein Mary is forced to flee when Herod’s insatiable thirst for power ignites a murderous pursuit for the newborn.