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Moana 2 feels like a natural extension to the first. Better yet, the the storyline is even more focused on Moana because Maui is tied up again (literally and figuratively) in a trap keeping him from seeing his precious humans for the first half-ish of the film. While I love his personality, the charm and comedic timing he adds to the narrative, he should (and is) a supporting role to help our lead find her way.
Disney’s original animated feature of the same story, released in 1953, is one of their seminal films with countless spinoffs, retellings and re-imaginings. Let’s be real, Hook, Sony’s Picture’s version of the story from a slightly more Captain Hook-centric view is a classic in its own right. So I asked myself, what more could they do? What’s so special and interesting about this version that hasn’t already been done to death a la The Incredible Hulk (oh come on, you were thinking it too)?
kid… sort of. He’s just as normal as everyone else except his family can’t afford the shiny new toy that’s taking over, Bebot. All he wants for his birthday is to “be like everyone else” and join the Bebot family. In some kind of kismet moment, his family manages to get one that fell of the truck. That’s not a euphemism, it literally did; so Barney’s new best friend Ron is just a little bit off, but that’s what makes him special. He can’t connect to the rest of the world (through wifi) like everyone else’s so they just get a chance to have fun. Through this new friendship and their somewhat ridiculous adventures Barney discovers what’s really important and it’s not being the most liked picture on the web or having the most virtual friends.
Jungle Cruise, based on the Disney World amusement park ride of the same name, begins in the early 1800’s with Lily (Emily Blunt) and MacGregor (Jack Whitehall) McHughton attempting to convince a bunch of stuffed shirts to allow them to borrow an artifact that they believe will lead the two to a tree with healing powers beyond anything the world could imagine. Lily manages to nab the artifact without permission thoroughly pissing off an ominous German military man who desires the same magical healing only to help the German army in WWI. He then pursues them throughout the film as the perpetual baddy causing havoc. After a number of mishaps and deceptions Frank (Dwayne Johnson), a gruff yet charming riverboat captain, agrees to take the siblings through treacherous terrain to find the ancient tree, hinting at designs of his own. A lot of dad jokes, some love/hate chemistry between Lily and Frank, and a bit of danger leads us to their final destination where they face off with several enemies while attempting to gain their prize.
More than two decades since Disney made a smash hit with The Little Mermaid, Pixar is taking their swing at a tale of lonely undersea youth with dreams of exploring life on the other side of the water’s edge.
