Corriente Latina 
Beautiful, Bold, But Safe
Moana 2 dives back into the shimmering Pacific, bringing Moana (Auli’i Cravalho) on another oceanic adventure—this time with her sister Hina (Sofia Wylie) in tow. The visuals are, predictably, stunning, with ocean waves so pristine you’ll want to drink them and tropical islands that look straight out of a postcard. But don’t expect the same magic as the first film. Instead, the story takes a more predictable path, with plenty of social commentary packed in for good measure. It’s a lot like trying to follow up a delicious luau with leftovers—still good, but not quite as exciting.
Hina, Moana’s spunky little sister, is here to shake things up, and Sofia Wylie’s energetic performance delivers. Hina challenges the status quo and makes Moana question whether she’s running her island like a leader or like someone who’s had too much coconut juice. Meanwhile, fan-favorites Maui (Dwayne Johnson) and Heihei (Alan Tudyk) show up, but they’re less involved this time—Maui’s mostly cracking jokes on the sidelines, and Heihei… well, he’s still aggressively stupid. As for new characters, we get Vai, a sea sprite voiced by Stephanie Hsu, who’s fun but about as plot-relevant as a pineapple on a deserted beach.
The movie also dives headfirst into social commentary. Climate change? Check. Environmental teamwork? Double check. But it sometimes feels like Disney is holding up a neon sign that says, “THIS IS IMPORTANT.” Sure, the message is relevant, but it occasionally takes over the emotional storytelling. The music, composed by Lin-Manuel Miranda and others, tries its best to deliver meaningful bops, but none come close to the earworms from the first movie. Let’s just say you probably won’t be singing these songs in the shower anytime soon.
In the end, Moana 2 is a fun, visually gorgeous movie that feels like it’s trying a little too hard to make a point. Kids will love the vibrant colors and action, and fans of the original will enjoy revisiting familiar faces. But let’s be real—this one doesn’t quite recapture the magic of the first film. It’s more like a pleasant boat ride than a thrilling ocean voyage. If nothing else, it’s worth watching just to see Heihei be as useless as ever.
