The good news: we were in at theater filled with, what sounded like, young children. It sounded like they were engaged with the movie throughout. There is plenty of action and funny antics, and a good amount of song and dance. Young kids will eat it up. But, if you're the parent tasked with taking your young children to see this movie you may have trouble staying awake.

Moral Theme

A good children's movie needs two things:

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1. Keep the kiddies entertained/engaged.
2. Provide a distinct moral theme.

As I mentioned, the children in the theater seemed engaged, but the moral theme might be hard to pinpoint. The story is all over the place. The characters are trying to get to a specific island while the writers are trying to tell a story that goes everywhere and nowhere.

The writers provide a quick synopsis of the first movie through the actions of the storytelling character in this movie; then they assume we watched the first Moana a few days ago and remember it perfectly.

I have no idea who the villains are. The only explanation for the isolation is that some god thinks he's more powerful if people can't join together. I have no idea why Maui (Dwayne Johnson's character) is introduced in this story in chains, similar to the opening of Thor: Ragnarok. I have no idea who this bat-goddess woman is and what her relationship is with Maui. Was she in the first movie? I don't know because that was years ago.

I don't have kids myself, but when I see a kids movie I think about what I would talk to them about on the drive home. With most kid's movies, there's a central moral theme that can be explored. Pixar is exceptionally consistent at providing distinct moral themes in their movies. Disney, not so much.

Grade: C-

Plot 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.