Set against a beautiful Polynesian backdrop where everyone seems to speak with deliberate slowness, this film follows Moana (Catherine Laga’aia), who finds herself torn between her father’s insistence that she stay within the protective reef and the influence of her grandmother, a figure deeply connected to their tribe's history and traditions and unafraid of the ocean's mysteries. When their food supply begins to fail, the legend of Maui (Dwayne Johnson), who stole a sacred stone from a life-giving goddess, resurfaces, prompting Moana to seek him out with his magical hook in an attempt to return the stone and hopefully restore balance. It’s been ten years since the initial animated film, but this installment doesn't offer substantial new material to what was already a somewhat predictable and lightweight narrative. The movie takes at least forty-five minutes to find its momentum, and even after Dwayne Johnson appears, it adheres too closely to established patterns. He seems to be having fun with his role, though Laga’aia lacks the same captivating presence, and characters I particularly enjoyed—those dart-shooting creatures who travel by sea and use coconuts—are scarcely present this time around. The two featured songs are familiar now, but the rest of the soundtrack feels rather uninspired, and by the rushed ending, I couldn't help but wonder if they were already dismantling the sets from "The Lion King" stage production in preparation for a “Moana” musical adaptation. It’s visually appealing, certainly, but ultimately little more than lavishly produced decoration; it’s easy to watch, but destined to be quickly forgotten.

Source on TMDB