Moana 2 (PG)
Cast: Dwayne Johnson, Auli'i Cravalho, Rachel House, Alan Tudyk, Temuera Morrison, Rose Matafeo, Nicole ScherzingerGenre: Musical
Author(s): Jared Bush, Dana Ledoux Miller
Director: David G Derrick Jr, Dana Ledoux Miller, Jason Hand
Release Date: 29/11/2024
Running Time: 100mins
Country: US
Year: 2024
During an excursion with Pua the pig and Heihei the rooster, Moana discovers a broken earthenware pot that proves the existence of other communities beyond the island of Motunui. Wayfaring ancestors call to her to break a curse on the island of Motufetu by defeating angry storm god Nalo. The young heroine bids tearful farewell to younger sister Simea and ventures out to sea with a three-strong crew comprising farmer Kele, inventor Loto and storyteller Moni.
LondonNet Film Review
Moana 2 (PG) Film Review from LondonNet
At the musical crescendo of the first Moana, the plucky seafaring heroine voiced by Auliʻi Cravalho trills, “One day I’ll know how far I’ll go.” Thanks to this eagerly anticipated sequel directed by David G Derrick Jr, Jason Hand and Dana Ledoux Miller, we now know the answer to soaring her cri de coeur. Not far enough. Originally intended as a TV series for Disney+, the deftly reworked Moana 2 replicates the narrative structure of its predecessor with a gentle opening on the verdant paradise of Motunui, where the eponymous adventurer treads water before an urgent call from her ancestors to undertake an epic quest far from home…
Scriptwriters Jared Bush and Ledoux Miller introduce two new antagonists, who pale next to fiery demon Te Ka and deranged coconut crab Tamatoa. An additional scene shipwrecked in the end credits indicates we may have unknowingly charted a course into the Moana Cinematic Universe with an overarching otherworldly supervillain. The MoCU, if you will.
The first film gently poked fun at the Disney princess archetype through Dwayne Johnson’s adorably self-obsessed and posturing Maui. “If you wear a dress and have an animal sidekick, you’re a princess,” he memorably quipped. The sequel doubles down on the misconception when the strapping demigod again attributes royal heritage to the seafaring heroine. “Still not a princess,” she sighs wearily. “Well, a lot of people think you are,” counters Maui, speaking for himself and millions of heavily merchandised fans.
During an excursion with Pua the pig and Heihei the rooster (Alan Tudyk), Moana discovers a broken earthenware pot that proves the existence of other communities beyond the island of Motunui. Wayfaring ancestors call to her to break a curse on the island of Motufetu by defeating angry storm god Nalo. The young heroine bids tearful farewell to younger sister Simea (Khaleesi Lambert-Tsuda) and ventures out to sea with a three-strong crew comprising farmer Kele (David Fane), inventor Loto (Rose Matafeo) and storyteller Moni (Hualalai Chung). Their adventure intersects with demigod Maui (Johnson), who has his hands full with batty underworld goddess Matangi (Awhimai Fraser).
Moana 2 makes a smaller splash but visuals are resplendent, the returning Kakamora pirates are gifted a satisfying emotional payoff and jokes generally hit large targets. The episodic plot belies the project’s origins, resulting in a gentle trickle of action and suspense for the first hour. Sisterly bonds between Moana and cherubic Simea are milked for every tear and coo in the human body, building to a wondrous final 15 minutes that recaptures the sweeping grandeur of the first film. Lin-Manuel Miranda is noticeably absent from songwriting credits and the sequel lacks his lyrical dexterity. Fittingly, the centrepiece anthem Beyond, written by Grammy winners Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear, doesn’t go far enough.
– Jo Planter
Popular on LondonNet
London Cinemas Showing Moana 2
From: Friday 15th August
To: Thursday 21st August
Fri/Sat/Mon-Thu 10:20; Sun 10:00
10:00
Fri-Tue 10:20; Wed/Thu 10:30
10:30
Sat/Sun 10:00
Fri-Tue 10:30; Wed/Thu 10:00
Fri-Sun/Tue 10:10; Mon/Thu 10:00; Wed 11:00
10:00
From: Friday 22nd August
To: Thursday 28th August
No cinema infomation at the moment
UK and Irish Cinemas Showing Moana 2
From: Friday 15th August
To: Thursday 21st August
10:00
Fri-Sun 10:00; Thu 10:10
10:00
10:00
Fri-Mon 10:20; Tue 10:30; Wed/Thu 10:40
Fri-Sun/Wed 10:45; Mon/Tue 10:00; Thu 10:15
Fri-Sun 09:50; Mon-Thu 10:10
Fri-Tue 10:10; Wed/Thu 10:30
Fri-Sun 10:00
Fri-Tue/Thu 10:00; Wed 10:15
Fri/Sat/Wed/Thu 10:50; Sun 09:50; Mon 11:10; Tue 10:00
10:00
10:20
Fri-Wed 10:10
10:00
Fri/Sat/Tue/Wed 10:10; Sun/Mon/Thu 10:00
10:00
Fri/Sat/Wed 10:15; Sun-Tue/Thu 10:45
10:00
10:00
10:30
Fri-Tue 10:00
Sat/Sun 10:00
09:50
10:00
Fri-Mon/Thu 10:00
09:45
Fri-Tue 10:30; Wed/Thu 09:45
10:00
Fri-Mon 10:00; Tue-Thu 10:30
Fri-Tue 10:00
10:10
10:00
Fri-Tue/Thu 10:10 10:30 (Fri); Wed 10:15
Fri-Mon 10:00; Tue-Thu 10:10
10:00
Fri/Sat/Mon-Thu 10:00; Sun 10:15
10:00
Odeon Luxe Birmingham Broadway Plaza
Fri 10:20; Sat-Thu 10:30
Fri/Sun/Tue 09:50; Sat 10:00; Mon 10:30; Wed/Thu 09:45
Fri-Mon/Wed/Thu 10:00; Tue 10:10
Fri-Tue 10:10; Wed/Thu 10:30
Fri-Sun 10:00
10:15
Sat/Sun 10:00
Odeon Luxe Edinburgh Wester Hailes
Sat/Sun 10:00
10:00
Odeon Luxe Glasgow Springfield Quay
Sat/Sun 10:30
Fri 10:30; Sat/Mon/Tue 10:20; Sun/Wed/Thu 10:10
Fri-Tue 10:10; Wed/Thu 10:00
10:00
Fri/Mon/Wed/Thu 10:00
10:00
10:00
10:30
Fri 10:10; Sat-Thu 10:30
Fri-Tue 10:10; Wed/Thu 10:30
10:30
10:30
Odeon Manchester Great Northern
Fri-Wed 11:00; Thu 11:15
10:20
10:00
10:00
10:00
10:00
10:30
Fri-Mon 10:30; Tue-Thu 10:00
Fri-Tue 10:00; Wed/Thu 10:30
11:00
Fri-Sun 10:00; Mon-Thu 10:15
10:00
10:15
10:30
10:20
10:00
10:00
Fri-Wed 10:10; Thu 10:00
10:00
Fri-Sun 10:00; Mon 10:30; Tue 10:50; Wed/Thu 10:15
Fri/Sat/Mon-Thu 10:00; Sun 10:15
Fri/Sat/Wed/Thu 10:15; Sun-Tue 10:00
10:00
10:00
10:10
10:30
10:30
10:00
10:00
10:20
Fri-Wed 10:30; Thu 10:00
From: Friday 22nd August
To: Thursday 28th August
No cinema infomation at the moment
