Dir: David G.,Derrick JR., Jason Hand, Dana Ledoux Miller US, 2024, 100 mins.
Cast (all voice): Auli’i Cravalho, Dwayne Johnson, Hualalai Chung, Rose Matafeo, David Fane, Awhimai Fraser, Khaleesi Lambert-Tsuda, Nicole Scherzinger
Review by Carlie Newman
The songs are very ordinary, though well sung, in this movie and Lin-Manuel Miranda is much missed. Altogether the film is like an underdone sequel to the original.
It’s three years after the end of the first film and Moana (voiced again by Auli’i Cravalho) goes looking for the lost Islands, including the island called Motufetu. Bidding goodbye to her father Tui (Temuera), mother Sina (Nicole Scherzinger) and sweet little sister, Simea (Khaleesi Lambert-Tsuda) she sets off with her crew: her pig, rooster and a farmer called Kele (David Fane), an architect called Loto (Rose Matafeo) and a warrior named Moni (Hualalai Chung).
Moana meets up with tattooed Maui (once again played impressively by Dwayne Johnson), who has been imprisoned by the witch, Matangi (Awhimai Fraser).
There are lots of adventures on the high seas and exciting near disasters to watch in this Walt Disney animated sequel. Try to see it on a large screen.
Apart from Moana, the best character in my opinion was the gorgeous child, sister to Moana.
With great photography, showing lovely scenery, and superb animation, there is lots to enjoy here but for those who really loved the first movie, it is somewhat disappointing.
