When Moana first released in 2016, it easily became one of the best films Disney had released post-2009 (otherwise known as Disney’s Revival) thanks to its catchy music, jaw-dropping visuals, its captivating story, and its thoughtful exploration of Polynesian culture. News of a sequel should have excited me, but discovering that this sequel was originally a series on Disney+ and finding out that Lin-Manuel Miranda wouldn’t be returning to write the music definitely had me concerned. After finally watching the film, even though most of my fears regarding the film’s decline in quality due to the aforementioned factors were realized for the most part, the film still had redeeming qualities. Anyone looking for a new adventure featuring Moana, Maui, a cast of new characters, fun songs, creative visuals, and a host of new mythological threats for our protagonists to face shouldn’t be too disappointed. However, those looking for a sequel that is on par with the first film in terms of music, emotional depth, and character-driven storytelling might not find it here. Score: 6/10
Noah Robinson 