Although I was one of the only people above the age of five, I think I was anticipating “Moana 2” more than anyone else in the movie theater. With me being self-titled “Moana’s Biggest Fan,” this sequel had high standards to meet, and I am so happy to say that I walked out with a smile on my face.

I was skeptical about a few things going into the movie, but my main concern came from knowing the movie was originally intended to be a show on Disney+, not in theaters. This concern was valid, but it didn’t take away from the movie in my opinion.

There were a few times where it seemed obvious that the plotline was meant to be spread across a few episodes rather than in a unified movie, but it was subtle enough that everything still flowed. I honestly feel like if I didn’t know it was supposed to be a TV show, it wouldn’t have bothered me as much. My main critique with the sequel, however, is that the soundtrack didn’t evoke the same feelings as the original. The main reason I connected so much with the first movie was because the musical production brought the movie to life, but the music in the sequel didn’t have the same depth.

The first movie had the classics like “How Far I’ll Go” and “You’re Welcome,” but my favorites were the more melodic and cultural ones like “Tulou Tagaloa” and “Know Who You Are”. These stood out to me in the original because they helped highlight Moana’s emotions and helped viewers feel what that the movie was trying to emulate, but the sequel lacked the hard-hitters.

Many of the musical scenes in the second movie seemed kind of forced for popularity, like the scene with “Can I Get A Chee Hoo?”, which was essential to progress the plot but didn’t fit the severity of the scene. The best songs, in my opinion, were “Beyond” and “Mana Vavau” which sounded beautiful and matched the importance of their moments.

With all of these critiques, it sounds like the movie was a flop for me, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. The faults of the movie were outweighed by the aspects of the movie that I absolutely loved.

My favorite part of “Moana 2” was the familial and tribal relationships. This movie focused more on comradery rather than solidarity, and the new characters introduced made the movie special.

Without spoiling anything, Moana initially set off on a voyage with beloved Hei Hei, worrisome Pua, an inquisitive architect named Loto, a historian and Maui superfan named Moni, and an elderly farmer named Kele. These characters each gave something special and brought their unique humor to the movie.

Speaking of humor, this movie had many one-liners that provided a comedic side. Many of the jokes came from Maui, and it was so nice to see him reference the first movie with his jokes like calling Hei Hei a “boat snack.” There were also appearances from the treasured loved ones in the first movie, including, my favorite, Gramma Tala.

There was a specific moment in the end where many fallen ancestors were present, and that was one of the best scenes from the entire movie.

The movie had the same magical coloration and animation that appeals to younger audiences, but, to me, it seemed like it would be better suited for teenagers and older. I feel like younger kids wouldn’t appreciate the deeper meanings and underlying subplots that made this movie unique, such as Moana having to leave her little sister, Simea, for a while.

Overall, I don’t think this sequel surpassed my love for the first Moana movie, but it definitely didn’t let me down. It had the same endearing storylines, my favorite characters, and set-up the perfect opportunity to continue the movie with “Moana 3.”