Disney’s wishy-washy sequel has leaked

Disney’s wishy-washy sequel has leaked

Film review

MOANA 2

Running time: 90 minutes. Rated PG (Action/Danger). In cinemas from November 27th.

At least it’s not “Wish.”

“Moana 2,” the sequel to the 2016 animated film about an oceanic adventurer, is 20,000 miles better than Disney’s congealed Thanksgiving leftovers from last year.

But that’s a very low bar.

The studio’s latest pleasant musical is beautifully animated, has nice characters and some nice songs. At the risk of repeating myself: it’s beautiful.

In fact, it’s so nice that the fast-paced film can be annoying at times, like a 90-minute “It’s A Small World After All.”

But I’m 34 – not six. More than any Disney animated film in recent years, “Moana 2” is aimed directly at very young children.

And his menagerie of cute creatures that make funny faces – Heihei the scared rooster, several cuddly pigs, little Minion-like warriors carrying coconut shells – will tickle little ones.

But be careful: “for all ages” in this case does not mean “appealing to everyone,” but rather “offending to no one.” The well-known story runs smoothly from start to finish.

Moana leaves her village in search of a mythical island that holds the key to saving her home. AP

The world is far too small for Moana (Auliʻi Cravalho), now an experienced hiker who is adored by her village after her courageous deeds in the original.

Still staring longingly at her “friend,” the water, to whom she high-fives, she dedicates herself to the search for the lost island of Motufetu—a mythical place that connects the seven channels of the ocean and its far-flung peoples.

During a ritual ceremony, Moana is struck by lightning and has an eerie vision of the future. Blurily, she sees her home deserted and deserted because her tribe has been wiped out by isolation.

Moana learns that if she takes her boat and follows a fire in the sky, she will eventually reach Motufetu, reunite the separated people and spare her village from vague, child-friendly doom.

Moana puts together a motley crew to embark on the dangerous journey. AP

As she prepares to set sail, her family and friends inadvertently remind us that the sequel isn’t quite as unique or engaging as the 2016 flick.

“Just show us… how far we’ll go,” says her father, Chef Tui (Temuera Morrison), nodding to Lin-Manuel Miranda’s memorable Oscar-nominated song.

The creator of “Hamilton” isn’t actually involved in “2.” Instead, a quartet of new composers (Mark Mancina, Opetaia Foa’i, Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear) approach his specific style as much as one – or four – can.

With so many contributors, the soundtrack seems to be written by committee. The uniqueness goes over the top.

Lin-Manuel Miranda did not return to write songs for the sequel. AP

Loto (Rose Matafeo), a butterfingered genius in Moana’s crew of misfits, gets to do a few awkward, bumbling raps in a Polynesian story that doesn’t exactly scream it.

The bat-covered Matangi, a villain who isn’t actually a villain and disappears after one song, sings “Get Lost” – a watered-down, girl-power version of Jennifer Lopez’s “Let’s Get Loud.”

Do you remember when Ursula raved about “living courageously and freely”? No. Nowadays, villains are just misunderstood loners who happily encourage people.

The best tune in the film is the main theme: “Beyond,” the driving counterpart to “How Far I’ll Go.”

Much like Frozen’s transition from “Let It Go” to “Into The Unknown,” “Beyond” is a darker number that’s less about innocent self-discovery and more about the scary pressures of adulthood. It’s catchy and repeatable.

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is back as Maui, the demigod. AP

Two other quirky sailors join Moana’s journey, which ends with an impressive storm finale. There is the handsome historian Moni (Hualālai Chung), with whom directors David Derrick Jr., Jason Hand and Dana Ledoux Miller stubbornly ensure that there is no romantic chemistry between her, and the cranky farmer Kele (David Fane).

But the only truly notable voice is the return of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson as Maui, the wisecracking demigod.

Johnson, a wannabe Genie from “Aladdin,” stammers serviceable contemporary jokes. One is about “butt voting.” “We will find out what that is in 2,000 years,” he says.

Maui and Johnson will be back in the live-action remake of 2016’s Moana. Oy. Disney may want to think about how far they will go.

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