Jeri Jacquin

Coming to theatres to start the holiday weekend from directors David Derrick Jr., Jason Hand, Dana Miller and Walt Disney Animation Studios come the next big adventure with MOANA 2.

Moana (Auli’I Cravalho) is keeping busy once again on the island of Motunui with her family and friends. Trying to find other people on different islands, she has become quite a wayfinder. As she’s about to be given an honor by the village, a blinding light hits her and visions of the most famous wayfinder tells her she must find the hidden island of Motufetu. Once she does, it will connect the island people.

Making sure father Tui (Temuera Morrison) and mother Sina (Nicole Scherzinger) understand why she must take on this adventure, she enlists Moni (Jualalai Chung), Loto (Rose Matafeo) and the elderly farmer Kele (David Fane) and takes Pua and Heihei along as well. Upset by the trip is Moana’s baby sister Simea (Khaleesi Lambert-Tsuda). When Moana and friends head out in a bigger boat, she follows the fire in the sky that she saw in her dream.

Along the way, Moana finds a friends with Kakamora and discovers something about them she didn’t know before. What Moana didn’t expect was to see Maui (Dwayne Johnson) who tells them that the god Nalo isn’t going to let them find the island because he hates humans! That is confirmed by Matangi (Awhimai Fraser), a mysterious woman who finds herself trapped by Nalo as well.

Yet, Moana knows that she must now rely on others to help her reach the hidden island of Motofetu which is something new for her. They come together and with the help of a charming demi-god, it is time to confront find an island that helps more than Moana could have ever realized.

Cravalho as Moana has returned to sing her way, Beyond, through the story as we would expect. She may be a little older but the problems of being a leader are the same. This time, she has the support of her parents and the entire village that she didn’t have before. The monster she faces this time doesn’t bother taking time to monologue, but instead packs a powerful punch and challenges Cravalho’s character to realize she is stronger than she ever imagined.

Johnson as Maui also returns with charm, fun, and even more protective of Moana. Knowing that he has his own reason’s for going after Nalo, when Moana is in the picture, he grabs his hook and knows what he needs to do. Having his share of time singing, Can I get a Chee Hoo?, Johnson get the opportunity again to prove he can have as much fun as he did the first time. He is a bit softer towards people and it his care for humanity is sweet.

Chung as Moni seems to be Motunui’s historian and that is why Moana needs him. After discovering that Moana had actually been up against danger, it is meeting Maui that gives him strength. Matafeo as Loto is the brainy builder who knows what will make Moana’s boats do what she needs them to do. Her strength is being able to adapt just as easily on water as on land. Fane as Kele is the elder and has a bit of a grumpy side wondering why he agreed to come along on the sea.

Fraser as Matangi is a mysterious woman who enjoyed toying with Maui but who she really wants is Moana. If you don’t mind mudskippers and creature boogers, as I assume she doesn’t, Matangi keeps focused on her own agenda. Lambert-Tsuda as the adorable baby sister of Moana, Simea loves her sister and wants her to be there always and not go on ocean adventures but starts to understand.

Shout out to House as Tala for continuing to be there for Moana when she needs her the most. Still feisty and still amazing, House absolutely needed to be in the film.

Other cast include Tofiga Fepulea’l as Nalo, Gerald Ramsey as Tautai Vasa and Rachel House as Tala.

Disney has won 135 Academy Awards and has produced some of the greatest films of all time including the 1934 feature-length animated film Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Other amazing films include Fantasia, Dumbo, Cinderella, Snow White, Alice in Wonderland, and the more recent films such as Encanto.

MOANA hit theatres in 2016 and left such a last impression on audiences that MOANA 2 had to happen. It is a story of a young girl trying to discover who she is and where she fits in and a demi-god that also can’t seem to find his place that isn’t full of trouble. Putting these two characters together to go on an adventure was a stroke of Disney genius. Continuing with that theme. MOANA 2 picks up fairly quickly and although Moana feels she knows who she is, there is something more.

That also meant that she would have to rely on the help of others which she hadn’t done before. There are also a few surprises and even more secrets uncovered and that’s what makes the film so much fun. Of course, coming from Disney Animation, the colors are vivid, stunning and so very cool. The music fits every emotion that comes their way and a few memorable lines that find their way into the new story.

As the holidays start and the kids are wanting to do something as a family, pack up for a trip back to the island. The film is an adventure of family, love, loyalty, friendship and discovering who you are.

In the end – find the way!

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