A Stormy Return with New Adventures, Spirit Guides, and Missed Opportunities

It has been 8 years since the release of Moana, and many people are excited about the return of Moana and Maui in the new movie Moana 2. However, I was ambivalent about seeing this long-awaited sequel. It should be noted that I pay for 99% of the films I see and review, so I don’t feel the need to promote one film over another. In this Moana 2 Christian Movie Review & Parent Guide, I give you the information you need before viewing this movie with your children.

Moana 2 Christian Movie Review

Studio Synopsis:

​Moana 2 reunites Moana and Maui three years later for an expansive new voyage alongside a crew of unlikely seafarers. After receiving an unexpected call from her wayfinding ancestors, Moana must journey to the far seas of Oceania and into dangerous, long-lost waters for an adventure unlike anything she’s ever faced. Directed by David Derrick Jr., Jason Hand, and Dana Ledoux Miller, and produced by Christina Chen and Yvett Merino, Moana 2 features music by Grammy® winners Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear, Grammy nominee Opetaia Foaʻi, and three-time Grammy winner Mark Mancina.

My Synopsis:

Moana is called by her ancestors to find the hidden island of Motufetu, which holds a key to saving her people. She teams up with her old sidekicks, Hei Hei the Rooster and Pua, plus three others from the island. Along the way, she encounters the mischievous Kakamora and, of course, Maui, (Dwayne Johnson) who joins her on this treacherous journey.

Moana 2 Christian Movie Review – What Parents Want to Know

Language:

There is no foul language in this film in English. I do not know if there is any foul language in the Polynesian language that is sung or spoken throughout the film, and there were no subtitles for those portions.

Violence:

Moana 2 has more “violent and intense” moments than the original film. Moana is struck by lightning, falls off a cliff, and gets hit on the head. There are intense scenes with storms, lightning, thunder, huge waves, and whirlpools as Moana braves the seas to find the hidden mountain.

The Kakamora (coconut people) use tranquilizing darts to paralyze Moana and her crew. They encounter a giant clam that attempts to swallow them and face other sea monsters along the journey. At one point, it appears that someone has died, but the ancestors come and help bring the person back to life.

Spiritual Content:

​Maui is depicted as a demi-god, and a new god, Nalo, is introduced, who curses Motufetu, causing it to sink into the sea. The film is rich in spiritual elements: Moana’s deceased grandmother and other ancestors appear to her as “spirit guides,” and someone in the film says, “May the ancestors continue to guide us.” Moana’s ancestors’ spirits are a prominent part of her journey.

Maui’s tattoos disappear and reappear magically, and Moana herself gains a glowing tattoo. Her oar even becomes imbued with powers similar to Maui’s magical fishing hook. Moana has visions of the future when struck by lightning, and a comet (referred to as “fire in the sky”) guides her to the island she seeks. Additionally, there’s a “Portal of the Gods” that opens during the story.

Adult Content:

​There is some mild humor, including a scene where a man exposes his backside when he falls. Maui also comments humorously that he’s the only one still “rocking leaves on my cheeks,” since everyone else is wearing more modern clothing.

Positive Content:

​Moana remembers the advice, “There’s always another way,” encouraging her to persevere and find new solutions even in hopeless situations. Her resilience and commitment to her people shine through as positive attributes.

Christian Movie Review of Moana 2 – My Viewing Recommendations

I am not one to mince words. This is probably the worst movie I have seen on the big screen this year. While it is a visually attractive movie, and Moana has a cute little sister, the film lacked the great storytelling of the first installment. Not only was Moana 2 disjointed, but it was missing the catchy songs and charm of the first film. The flair of Lin-Manuel Miranda is absent. He was not involved in this film, and the best song in Moana 2 was from the first movie. Furthermore, while I didn’t love the giant crab in the first film, the song definitely was a plus, and the crab has a very small part in this film. 

It’s been said that Bob Iger wanted Moana 2, initially set to go straight to streaming, to be released in theaters. I’ve mentioned before that Bob Iger doesn’t share Walt Disney’s vision, and Moana 2 reinforces that impression. 

However, the film currently stands at 69% on Rotten Tomatoes. (I am usually the opposite of the critics on Rotten Tomatoes, but I do agree with the assessment of the critics who didn’t like this film.)

There is significantly more emphasis on gods and the spirits of ancestors, which may concern some Christian parents. This could, however, serve as a teaching moment about different beliefs of the Polynesian culture. What I found most off-putting was the lack of subtitles for dialogue and songs in another language; it would be nice to know exactly what was being said or sung.

Keep this one for when it hits streaming.

About the Movie Moana 2:

Rating: PG for action/peril
Theatrical Release Date: November 27, 2024
Runtime: 1 hour, 40 minutes
Genre: Musical Adventure
Style: Animation
Studio: Walt Disney Animation Studios

Directed by: David G Derrick Jr., Jason Hand, Dana Ledoux Miller
Produced by: Christina Chen, Yvett Merino
Screenplay by: Jared Bush, Dana Ledoux Miller
Music by: Abigail Barlow, Emily Bear, Opetaia Foaʻi, Mark Mancina
Distributed by: ​Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

The Cast of Moana 2:

Moana voiced by Auliʻi Cravalho

Demigod Maui voiced by Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson

Chief Tui (Moana’s Father) voiced by Temuera Morrison

Sina (Moana’s Mother) voiced by Nicole Scherzinger

Smiea (Moana’s little sister) voiced by Khaleesi Lambert-Tsuda

Loto voiced by Rose Matafeo

Kele voiced by David Fane

Moni voiced by Hualālai Chung

Tala voiced by Rachel House

Matangi voiced by Awhimai Fraser

Tautai Vasa voiced by Gerald Ramsey

HeiHei voiced by Alan Tudyk

Frequently Asked Questions:

​Where can I watch Moana 2?

Moana 2 releases into movie theaters on November 27, 2024. It will eventually stream on Disney+ and other pay-to-watch streaming services.

Is there an end-credit scene for Moana 2?

No, there is not an end credit scene. However, there is a short mid-credit scene that implies there will be either another movie or a streaming series.

What was the budget for Moana 2?

The budget for this feature film was $150 million. Obviously, Disney hopes to make at least $300 million at the box office. Disney is hoping this Thanksgiving weekend will propel this film to that $300 million mark.