Back in 2016, Disney animation gave us the tale of Moana (Auli’i Cravalho), a young explorer, and Maui (Dwayne Johnson), a demi-god. They came together to form an unlikely partnership in saving the ocean, her island home, and restoring balance.

Over the past eight years, Moana and its rich story, characters, and music has remained popular with fans, in Disney theme parks, and one streaming. Now, we’re finally getting a return to those characters and world timed for the Thanksgiving weekend holiday.

We pick up a few years later and Moana is a way finder, but she’s struggling to achieve her goal of finding other tribes and people. She knows others are out there, but she can’t make a connection. Still, she is revered by her people and has never lost the wanderlust that makes her the ideal candidate to head to new waters.

Maui, meanwhile, is in a jam of his own as he tries to confront a god and restore an island that holds the key to reuniting the people of the ocean. He’s in a jam and in need of his old friend Moana. At the same time, she gets a sign to head back out on the water. She has a new boat, an expanded crew, and a mission that is tied to the future of her people.

When Moana and Maui reunite, they have to find a way to overcome their biggest obstacle yet to safeguard the future for all the people of the world.

This is a beautifully crafted film. The look is strong, the characters are fun, and the music works well. It transports you back to this world and brings you back into another adventure. It feels familiar and engaging, with lavish musical numbers that capture your heart.

Cravalho and Johnson are having fun with these characters. The action sequences work well and there is enough humor to keep you engaged and entertained. This will do well with viewers who’ve missed Moana and want to go on another adventure.

It doesn’t have the originality of the first film and doesn’t quite have as much depth of story. In fact, it feels a lot like a repetition of the plot beats, albeit with more characters to share the journey. That’s not a bad thing, but it keeps Moana 2 from reaching new heights.

This is a solid and enjoyable film, one that will delight audiences who fell in love with the original eight years ago. It’s a fun time for the family at the theater and should be a delightful holiday diversion.

Moana 2 is now playing in theaters nationwide.

Matthew Fox is a graduate of the Radio, Television and Film program at Biola University, and a giant nerd. He spends his free time watching movies, TV, and obsessing about football. He is a member of the FSWA. You can find him @knighthawk7734 on Twitter and as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast.