Moana 2 is not the follow-up we expected and while it's not quite as brilliant as the first, it's still a lovely, heartwarming movie.

Original voice cast members Auliʻi Cravalho and Dwayne Johnson return, as does the first film's laudable commitment to repping Polynesian culture and empowerment.

Moana 2 uses a joke to cleverly address its protagonist status as part of the controversial Disney Princesses lineup.

Disney’s highly anticipated Moana 2 set a record for Thanksgiving previews with $13.8 million in its debut over preview showings on Nov. 26. The animated sequel to the 2016 hit… The post Disney’s Moana 2 Makes Waves with $13.

Moana may have taken on the ocean virtually alone in "Moana" — at least, until she dragged Maui along — but that isn't the case in Disney's latest sequel. In "Moana 2," our wayfinding hero sets out on another voyage.

“Moana 2” reunites the demigod Maui with fellow wayfinder Moana in Disney’s animated sequel. (Disney Enterprises, Inc.) Hectic in its pacing, the screenplay follows its own navigational stars: the blueprints of the original, plus a new set of songs ...

A number of years have passed between Moana and its sequel, allowing audiences to miss the title character, Maui and the rest of the group (although now fans can visit an attraction at Disney Parks).

And who can blame them: catchy songs, colorful settings, and one heck of a plucky heroine (do not call her a princess), all of it adds up to an enduring Disney animated classic that's fun for the whole family.

The animation is still strong and the character beats are affecting, but the villain and his motivations stand in the film's way of true greatness.