Moana 2

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.

It's great fun for girls and boys, and the animation is really sweeping.

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.

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.

The animation is impressive. This is an easy film to watch.

It's difficult to discern any creative or story-driven purpose behind the sequel. Like a high-priced DTV release, Moana 2 is all tarted up for no good reason except Disney's bottom line, and has precious little to recommend for adult viewers.

... "Moana 2" is fine. It’s neither great nor horrible, it just provides a comfortable adventure that follows the well-tread path created by the initial outing.

The animation is lush and textured, and the characters overall are lively, but some characters and threads feel underdeveloped... youngsters will be satisfied with MOANA 2, but those young-at-heart might consider some parts more meh than Moana deserves.

Moana 2 inspires passable acceptance tinged slightly with disappointment. I wouldn’t steer anyone away from the movie, but it’d be wise to keep expectations in check.