Film Friday: "Moana 2," is a Fun and Serviceable Sequel

"Moana," is a fantastic movie. The plot is great, the songs are superb, and the animation is a treat with the water effects being a feast for the eyes. The sequel, "Moana 2," looks just as beautiful...and has a solid enough plot with forgettable tunes. It's fun and serviceable as a sequel, in other words. It has an amazing foundation with the first flick and gives us something pleasant even if it isn't amazing.

The biggest element missing in, "Moana 2," is without a doubt Lin-Manuel Miranda. He made a number of insanely catchy tunes for the first flick and does not return for this one. Instead, we get Barlow and Bear who have on offer songs that are by no means bad, but besides maybe, "We're Back," I struggle to remember any songs in, "Moana 2," as compared to the original film with a number of great tunes. Miranda is a tough act to follow, without a doubt. The plot is intriguing, with more Gods involved and the idea of finding other cultures out on the ocean. The movie also introduces a younger sister to Moana, Simea, who seems to serve almost no purpose within the story and was created for little reason other than to sell toys (or maybe serve a bigger role in the inevitable, "Moana 3," I imagine we'll be getting).

Everything in, "Moana 2," continues to look gorgeous. From the wave effects to an imposing sea monster, and more. Even if you find yourself zoning out a bit during some of the songs you'll snap back once an assortment of exciting set pieces occur. There are some good zingers as well, with Dwayne Johnson (Maui) well-versed in telling one-liners at this point in his career and Auli'i Cravalho's return as Moana being most welcome as she excels in her portrayal of the character's mix of grit, determination, and a dash of self-doubt (as we all have to some degree). Everyone is doing a stellar job acting and the visuals match, making this an enjoyable sequel overall even if it doesn't amaze as much as the debut film. In summary, if you adored, "Moana," you'll like, "Moana 2."

3.5 out of 5 Stars.