Vaiana 2

For a story that so prizes how far its heroine will go, Moana spends so much of this sequel stuck in a rut.

In a story that brings in a literal boatload of new characters, it's hard to shake the feeling that "Moana 2" got caught in the crosswinds -- too blown between shifting studio imperatives to really find its own way.

a worthy sequel, with gorgeous animation, a thoughtful representation of Polynesian culture and another exciting adventure for our inspiring Moana. Does it go beyond the first film? No, but that would have been a tall order.

"Moana 2" is more of an action movie with a few accidental musical numbers of varying quality.

Moana's musical numbers were its greatest strength; Moana 2's musical numbers are its biggest weakness.

"Moana 2" touts the power of human (and non-human) connection, and the film will certainly connect with its target audience. But it doesn't trust viewers enough to feel for themselves.

I kept wishing for a better balance between story and action. Also, it takes much too long to reunite Maui and Moana. So, this is not top-level Disney, but if Moana gets a bit lost in this chapter, we will wait for her to find her way.

The overall sentiment seems to be something like Sequel 101: You loved the first movie, so here's a second movie that's a lot like the first movie. This is the good news if that's what you're after. If not, well: It's one hour and 40 minutes.

The songs aren't the problem. Rather, it's the muddled story, which takes way too long to give Moana her mission.

She is Moana! And, frankly, she deserves a little more respect than this.

Much like the hermit crab who kicks things off by attempting to trade in his new shell for an ill-fitting larger one, there's simply not enough to fill out Moana 2.

While the lingering goodwill of the beloved 2016 original could be enough to make this worth the price of admission, even the most Disney-fied family members will have trouble remembering much about it by the time the credits are done rolling.

I'd be less aggravated if this film were more than mediocre. While the animation is often stunning, the overall result is a throwback to those inferior direct-to-video sequels Disney used to churn out for "The Lion King" and "Aladdin."

As in the first film, Moana won't use her might to vanquish a foe. Instead, she'll use her wits to solve a problem.

Moana 2 seems more like a consumer product, in some subtle but unmistakable way, than the first film did.

Onscreen, the details of this fabricated, composite mythology get a little murky. But squint your eyes against the specifics, and the odyssey tends to deliver a mood that fluctuates along a scale of benign to bright.

... One of the most ill-conceived sequels in Disney history.

Moana 2 is hardly smooth sailing, but it does have its charms.

The TV roots are hard to ignore and you can just see the commercial breaks when they pop up. But it's hard not to be swept away by the songs and beauty.

If children of a certain age like this kind of kinetic fare, they're going to like this movie. It never stops, not for one second.