Ivan Radford | On 06, Apr 2025

Director: Dana Ledoux Miller
Cast: Auliʻi Cravalho, Dwayne Johnson, Rose Matafeo, David Fane, Awhimai Fraser, Temuera Morrison
Certificate: PG

How far will she go? That was the inspiring question left at the end of the brilliant Moana, which saw the ocean-faring adventurer of Motunui stepping up into a position of leadership on the island. Moana 2 is the uplifting answer.

We pick things up three years after the events of the first film, as Moana seeks out other island communities connected to the ocean. What soon becomes clear is that connecting all the islands together again will require another quest: raising the sunken island of Motufetu. But that will require going up against the grumpy storm god Nalo, and rescuing demigod Maui, who’s captured by Nalo’s right-hand-woman, Matangi (the enjoyably playful and enigmatic Awhimai Fraser).

The result is a retread of similar waters, which is underwhelming on the surface. Nalo is a largely absent and abstract villain, only popping up in the end credits – something that is perhaps the biggest trace of the film’s origins as a TV series for Disney+, before it became reshaped as a feature-length outing. The lack of Lin-Manuel Miranda in the songwriting camp is also a disappointment.

But Moana has never been about what’s on the surface: Disney’s most unique and intrepid princess has always soared on the current of her steely depths. Auliʻi Cravalho, reprising her role as the Polynesian teen, is a delight once more, bringing energy and passion to her determined and bold heroine, whether it’s encouraging her crew to brave new challenges – including manic boat engineer Loto (Rose Matafeo), water-sceptic farmer Kele (David Fane) and fanboying sidekick Moni (Hualālai Chung), plus of course the amusing chicken Heihei (Alan Tudyk) – or singing the gorgeous showstopper Beyond.

Dwayne Johnson also brings his usual charm to proceedings as Maui, adding a renewed sense of loyalty to his previously self-centred demigod – and clearly enjoying himself in his flagship number, Can I Get A Chee Hoo. There are also more complicated emotions at play, as Moana is separated from her little sister, Simea (the adorable Khaleesi Lambert-Tsuda). And, while the visuals are stunning in their escalating watery spectacle, it’s also satisfying to see and hear a notable additional commitment to celebrating Māori culture as authentically as possible.

Perhaps the best thing about the film is the surprise return of the Kakamora, the coconut-like pirates. Still wielding their kamikaze warrior approach to fighting, and causing chaos to unfold with an inspired mix of slapstick and clacking sound design, they’re one of the funniest – and here, unexpectedly sweetest – Disney creations in recent memory. Even an inventively designed giant clam is overshadowed by the Kakamora’s expanded mythology and backstory.

But there’s no doubting the star of the show. Not unlike Frozen 2, Moana’s second chapter delves into what it means to embrace fully one’s identity and purpose, and Cravalho’s vivid curiosity is matched here with an increasingly grounded certainty that makes for a heartfelt voyage. How far will Moana go? Here’s hoping at least one more story, to give her a trilogy worthy of her.

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