Disney continues its animated hit: “Moana 2”, however, is as tiring as a CD with shallow ocean noise.
“It really can’t be better,” sing Moana and her companions on the open sea. At this point, they have left their home behind to sail off to their next adventure. But the lyrics could hardly be a bigger lie. “Moana 2” is one of those animated films that constantly make you feel good and constantly feel great in order to cover up their own creative lack of imagination. Now it’s no big news that Disney has had significant artistic dry spells in recent years, apart from bright spots like “Frozen”, “Zoomania” or some titles from Searchlight and 20th Century Studios.
Not only, but especially in the animated segment, the group has been relying on recycling, secondary and third-party recycling for a long time. Previous successes are continued, classics are remade in a template-like way. Although classic is too big a word. Even younger films like “Moana” from 2016 are set to get a live-action remake. At the same time, they wanted to include the animated material as a series Disney+ tell others. Until they changed their mind and quickly developed this now released film from the series in question. So the story about the Polynesian chief’s daughter is squeezed further, even if there is nothing significantly new to show.
A Disney+ series becomes a movie
With its bright colors and shots of an exotic fair-weather world, “Moana 2” at least exudes a lot of summer feeling in the cool season. The family film also once again presents the customs of the traditionally living islanders alongside all sorts of natural kitsch, living waves, competing gods and fabulous sea creatures. Some critics who were able to see the film before it opened in theaters praised the animation and the power of the images in their texts and videos. This promise doesn’t quite seem to be fulfilled. Yes, there are impressive scenes in this film. For example, when an island emerges from the mist and turns out to be the huge mouth of a monster. Moana’s maritime odyssey harbors many dangers.
However, the animation itself is quite poor and unimaginative. The images rarely contain anything miraculous or surprising. What is fascinating is her sculptural technique, which once again brings hair, wet wood or lush green leaves in the jungle amazingly close to realism. So these are computer animations that, due to a lack of imagination, can only imitate reality.
This is what “Moana 2” is about
What awaits at the end of this odyssey? Have you survived the flat dramaturgy, the rehashed gags (a screaming chicken, failed transformations, a cute pig) and the quickly forgotten musical numbers? It can’t be tension. The film is far too repetitive, long-winded and told in clichés for that. Moana moves out because she fears the end of her civilization. A vision overtook her. Their loved ones cannot survive without outside help, without cooperation with other peoples. So she and her companions and the demigod Maui want to recover the sunken “Motufetu”, which will reunite the people and islands with each other and, above all, with the ocean. The aim is to stop a nasty thunderstorm god and break an old curse.
If you want to interpret the film positively, you could say: “Moana 2” tells of a rediscovery and a symbolic recovery of universalism. Everyone recognizes themselves in each other and knows the value of natural resources. People understand that humanity can only exist and shape a future through cooperation and shared rights. It’s about uncovering connecting lines, which are presented here with all sorts of mystical mumbo-jumbo. One could say more critically: “Moana 2” also turns out to be a fundamentally reactionary work.
Salvaging a sunken island
Old, buried knowledge can’t do any harm, of course. It’s necessary! In this respect, the message of this film fits into a time that has forgotten history. But his benevolent message tastes just as sour because it exaggerates and glorifies the ancestors, who are constantly honored and haunted as ghosts, to such an extent that she puts herself almost slavishly at their service. Almost as if contact with one’s ancestors was a value in itself. If it were to be applied to certain societies in the world, it would be possible to conduct extremely despicable politics! “Moana 2” is a deeply nostalgic film that longs for reconciliation with the past and at the same time for its rebirth in order to give support to the current social structure.
The philosopher Barbara Cassin describes homesickness and longing as expressions of Nostalgia. This film demonstrates both. “Moana” constantly longs for her family, for a return home to her little sister. At the same time, the characters dream of a newly composed, natural and nature-connected identity. Something has been torn apart that needs to be repaired as a civilizing project. The rubble and relics of yesteryear show the way. Here it is initially an old clay vessel and soon heavenly spheres turn on. Other societies should also find out who they “really are”. The aim is to link today to yesterday in order to restore a severed bond between man and nature, between man and man and between man and cult tradition.
“Moana” shows the longing for originality
In other words, “Moana 2” fantasizes about a return to cultural authenticity and wholeness. All of this comes to completion with the return of the title heroine. These are unsettled fantasies as a contrast to a pluralistic present. In this respect, “Moana” shows in its traditional practices a naively childlike utopia in which skepticism is warranted. Mechanisms of historiography that Barbara Cassin also deals with in her „Nostalgie“-Essay are not at issue here at all. It’s just a matter of transforming the ghostly, supposedly predestined thing that appears in dreams at night into a reality. It even manifests itself as a tattoo under one’s skin. Referring to some ominous roots, even in a religious sense, already played a part Part 1 a central role. In the second part it is now repeated excessively. And, as the final song says, the ancestors will be sung forever.
Perhaps a little more critical reflection would be good for this island paradise! But Disney doesn’t want to bother its audience with such gloomy thoughts. So it remains with small highlights. The folkloristic world is said to still be intact here. Here the people sing happily right from the start about how they are growing and working and happily expanding. “It would be smarter to retire,” sings an old gentleman during the arduous physical work. But of course that’s just a gag, because the motto is to be efficient and get involved. Perhaps conservatives in Germany will soon be singing and dancing when they consider raising the retirement age to 70 again.
“Moana 2” has been running in German cinemas since November 28, 2024. The first part is up DVD and Blu-ray as well as with a streaming subscription Disney+ available.
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Source: www.digitalfernsehen.de
