Moana (2026)

Disney, 2026

Starring Catherine Laga'aia, Dwayne Johnson, Rena Owen, and John Tui

Directed by Thomas Kail

Music and Lyrics by Opetaia Foa'i, Mark Mancina, and Lin-Manuel Miranda

Unlike Snow White, there was no hostility or controversy when Disney announced they were remaking this in April 2023. It was based on one of Disney's most beloved animated films of the last decade, one that continued to be popular on Disney Plus and in the theme parks and had a sequel that debuted just two years ago. After the relatively recent Lilo & Stitch was a smash hit last summer, Disney must have thought they had another blockbuster on their hands. Considering it currently stands to be one of the biggest flops of the year so far...what happened? To figure that out, we begin in much the same way as the original, as young Moana's (Amasa Masoli) grandmother Tala (Owen) tells the story of how Maui (Johnson) stole the stone heart of the goddess island Te Fiti and how that began to destroy the life on every island...

The Story: Moana (Laga'aia) has heard the call of the sea all her life. Her parents, especially her father Chief Tui (Tui), want her to stay on the island and focus on becoming Chief. No one's ventured past the island for three thousand years. Only her eccentric grandmother Tala (House) encourages her love of the ocean and desire to explore. It's her grandmother who reveals ancient boats hidden in a cave. Her people were once explorers, searching for new islands across the Pacific. 

When the villagers discover that the foliage of the island is dying and fish are disappearing, Moana finally takes off in one of the camacaus from the cave. She's determined to find Maui and restore the goddess island, but it's not easy. Not only does Maui refuse to help at first, but she has to deal with rough seas, wild little coconut-like scavengers, treasure-loving giant crabs, and her own lack of sailing abilities. Nothing, however, will stop Moana from saving her people and proving that being a leader sometimes means going outside the box and what others deem "safe."

The Song and Dance: For all the problems, some things do work. The songs have always been a delight, and the end credits number "Along the Way" is a lovely addition. Johnson is still having a lot of fun as Maui, and his hand-animated tattoos retelling his adventures are still hilarious. Laga'aia makes a lovely, determined, and very funny Moana, especially when dealing with Maui and his ego that dwarfs the entire Pacific Ocean, and Owen is a wonderfully wise and eccentric grandmother. (And I still appreciate that Moana and Maui are more pupil and mentor than romantic.) 

The Numbers: Our first flat-out number is the chorus routine "Where You Are." Chief Tui introduces us to the culture and people of Motunui as Moana grows up...and still hears the call of the sea. Moana's first attempt to leave the island is underscored by her big "I want" song and the hit from the original film, "How Far I'll Go." "We Know the Way" is the second chorus number as we see Moana's ancestors charting the Pacific. Moana reprises "How Far" when she finally makes it out to the ocean on one of the ancestors' boats. "You're Welcome" says Maui when Moana washes up on an island where he too is stranded. After all, he created (or claims her created) everything. 

Moana has to dodge the enormous coconut crab Tamatoa (Jermaine Clement), who loves all things "Shiny," and grab the stone heart and Maui's magical fish hook. Moana performs the brief "I am Moana" with her grandmother when she thinks she'll never be able to restore Te Fiti. The chorus reminds her to "Know Who You Are." We end back at Motunni with a reprise of "We Know the Way" as Moana, Maui, and everyone on the island are now wayfarers searching the seas. Lin-Manuel Miranda is joined by Laga'aia and original Moana Auli'i Cravaho for the end credits song "Along the Way." 

What I Don't Like: This has the opposite problem from Snow White. They tried to change and update too much there, but this...has no reason to exist. They changed and updated almost nothing. It's pretty much exactly the same as the animated film people can buy on disc or watch on Disney Plus except for a few additional gags and the one new end credits song. Not to mention, this movie was overlong when it was fully animated, and it's not any less in live-action. Some of Moana and Maui's antics in the middle of the film could still be trimmed. There's also the complaints of all the CGI and AI used. There's so much animation used, it practically still is an animated film, and it looks horrendously fake compared to the big action and horror films in theaters right now. 

The Big Finale: If your kids are huge Moana fans who can't get enough of the character, they'll probably want to see it. Everyone else is fine looking up "Along the Way" and taking their money elsewhere.

Home Media: It's home release date hasn't been announced yet, but the vinyl soundtrack is available at Target and elsewhere

Vinyl Soundtrack (Target)

Animation Celebration Saturday - Moana

Disney, 2016

Voices of Auli'i Cravahalo, Dwayne Johnson, Rachel House, and Temura Morrison

Directed by John Musker and Ron Clements

Music and Lyrics by Opetaia Foa'i, Mark Mancina, and Lin-Manuel Miranda

In honor of Asian American and Pacific Island Heritage Month, I'm finally taking a look at one of the most recent Disney princess films. Moana came out of Musker and Clements reading about Polynesian mythology and finding many of its stories fascinating, including that of trickster demi-god Maui and the fact that Pacific Islanders once explored many miles away from their homes, finding their way back via their own knowledge rather than European direction systems. They stopped exploring for three thousand years, then returned to it over a thousand years ago. Their own explorations of the real-life Pacific Islands inspired the story of the chief's daughter who breaks with tradition to save her home. How does this tropical fable look now? We begin with two-dimensional animation telling the story of how Maui (Johnson) stole the stone heart of the goddess island Te Fiti and find out...

The Story: Moana (Cravahalo) has heard the call of the sea all her life. Her parents, especially her father Chief Tui (Morrison), want her to stay on the island and focus on becoming Chief. No one's ventured past the island for three thousand years. Only her eccentric grandmother Tala (House) encourages her love of the ocean and desire to explore. It's her grandmother who reveals ancient boats hidden in a cave. Her people were once explorers, searching for new islands across the Pacific. 

When the villagers discover that the foliage of the island is dying and fish are disappearing, Moana finally takes off in one of the camacaus from the cave. She's determined to find Maui and restore the goddess island Te Fiti, but it's not easy. Not only does Maui refuse to help, but she has to deal with rough seas, treasure-loving giant crabs, and her own lack of sailing abilities.

The Animation: Among the most gorgeous from any recent Disney movie. The brilliant colors bring life to Moana's village and the blue waters of the Pacific alike. With the ocean as much of a character as the humans and animals, it was important for the animators to really render it realistically. They did a mostly fantastic job. You can see every splash and wave crashing like it would on the real ocean. The stormy seas are particularly realistic (and realistically scary). There's also the neon colors and glittering splashes of Tamatoa the Coconut Crab's hoard in his cave.

The ocean isn't the only well-rendered non-human character in the film. Maui's living tattoos are done in the same 2-D animation as the opening sequence, and they're as expressive and funny as any of the humans. For many critics, the tattoos and their very funny gags stole the show.  

The Song and Dance: Disney did everything possible to make sure this was faithful to Pacific Islander culture and heritage. The movie's worth seeing for the rich details alone, from the colorful outfits and feather and shell headdresses worn in Moana's village to the sweeping designs of the camacaus boats to Maui's tattoos that represent every adventure he ever went on and act as his conscience. 

Hawaiian teen Cravalho is a delight as Moana. She's smart, brave, and determined, but also a rebellious teenager with a temper who is just finding her place in the world. Johnson's even funnier, spoofing his action-hero image as the cocky trickster demi-god more interested in remaining popular with humans than in Moana or her village. House and Morrison also do well as Moana's encouraging grandmother who acts as her guide and mentor and her stubborn father who wants no one from his village to get hurt, including his daughter.

(I also appreciate that, despite some mild hinting towards the end, they didn't go for the obvious love interest route with Maui and Moana. He's more of a mentor and a big brother to her than a lover, putting the focus on her story where it should be.)

Favorite Number: "Where You Are" is the big opening chorus number, as Tui shows his young daughter the delights and traditions of their village and watches her grow into a young woman. "You're Welcome" is Maui's big number as he shows off those expressive tattoos, brags about his adventures, and tries to get rid of Moana. "Shiny" spoofs the glam rock stars of the 1970's with brilliant neon colors, sparkling treasure on Tamatoa. Jermaine Clement has a great time with his slinky, jangly routine, even as Moana tries her hardest to distract him.

The big one here is the Oscar-nominated "How Far I'll Go," Moana's defining song. She first performs it after her father tells her that she has to stay on the island. She wants so badly to heed that call of the sea...but she also wants to be a good daughter. We hear it again when she finally hears that call and heads out on the ocean for good. She also gets "Know Who You Are" as she realizes why evil lava island Te Ka attacks them and what it truly is.

What I Don't Like: For all the tropical trappings, Moana and her core plot aren't that far removed from other recent Disney action heroines like Mulan, Pocahontas, and Merida whose culture form the basis of their stories. I suspect the derivative story was one of the big reasons the somewhat more original Zootopia walked off with most of the awards and reviews in 2016 and early 2017. 

The Big Finale: If your daughter loves those other take-charge Disney princesses, or you're interested in seeing a musical immersed in a unique and colorful culture, you'll want to heed the call of the sea and head out on an adventure with Moana, too.

Home Media: As one of Disney's most recent and popular films, it goes without saying that this is easily found everywhere and in every format.

DVD

Blu-Ray

Disney Plus

Animation Celebration Saturday - Moana 2

Disney, 2024

Voices of Auli'i Cravalho, Dwayne Johnson, Hualalai Chung, and Rose Matafeo

Directed by David Derrick Jr, Dana Ledoux Miller, and Jason Hand

Music by Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear

Apparently, this one had a bit of a convoluted trip to the big screen. It began as a limited series for Disney Plus, but Disney was so impressed with the animation, they strung the episodes into a full-length movie in February. It's done wildly well against heavy Thanksgiving competition in theaters, but critics aren't as impressed. How does Moana's second adventure in the South Seas come off? Let's begin, not with Moana, but with demi-god Maui (Johnson) in trouble and find out...

The Story: Moana (Cravalho) returns to her beloved island home and her little sister Simesa (Khaleesi Lambert-Tsuda) who adores her. She's about to receive the title of Wayfinder when there's a massive lighting storm. During the storm, she sees a vision of her ancestor Tataui Vasa (Gerald Ramsay) revealing why she's found no other people traveling the seas. Storm god Nalo (Tofiga Fepulea'i) pulled the island Motufetu that connected all islands into the sea, and the people of her island will go extinct if she can't find it. 

Deciding that this adventure is too big for just her, she corrals a crew that includes historian, artist, and Maui fan boy Moni (Chung), craftswoman Loto (Matafeo), and grumpy farmer Kele (David Fane), and sets off across the Pacific to find the island. They're first captured by the coconut pirates from the first film, then by a giant monster clam. They rescue Maui from the clam, and Moana is aided by goddess Matangi (Awhimi Fraser) and encouraged to think outside the box. When Maui insists he can raise the island and Moana should be the first to touch it, she'll need every ounce of intelligence and strength to get to that island...and remember that we're all connected to our past and to other people on their own journeys.

The Animation: This was made for streaming? No wonder Disney wanted to push this on the big screen. It's gorgeous. Every wave glows, every hair and blade of grass looks stunningly real. Everyone moves well, including the gods and other fantasy characters. Maui's famously funny moving tattoo has somewhat less off a role this time, but it's still animated well and has a few good moments.

The Song and Dance: That lovely animation really carries the day here, along with some decent performances and the glimpses of South Seas culture. Cravalho and Johnson have just as much fun this time around. They do especially well in the sequence after they're stranded on the island and Maui finds himself having to cheer up a despairing Moana. Of the newcomers, Matafeo and Fraser come off the best as the quirky boat designer who is constantly trying to take everything apart and the vengeful goddess who is willing to help Moana in order to get out of that clam.

The Numbers: We open with "We're Back" as the villagers await Moana's arrival. Moana describes the world "Beyond" for her little sister before the storm. She insists "What Could Be Better Than This?" to her squabbling crew as they begin their journey. Matangi encourages Moana to "Get Lost" in the center of the clam and not be afraid to make mistakes. "Can I Get a Chee-Hoo?" insists Maui as he attempts to put a smile on Moana's face. "Beyond" is heard again when she finds the island and in the end credits.

What I Don't Like: At times, it's too obvious that this is six episodes of a streaming mini-series strung together. Most of the plot is even more meandering than the first film, and the incidents with the coconut pirates and the clam pop up with no rhyme or reason. Moana's crew doesn't really have all that much to do, either, nor do we get to know them that well. 

It feels like a far more advanced version of the "movies" Disney put direct-to-home-media in the 90's and early 2000's that were episodes of canceled series strung together. While I appreciate Disney using their first all-female songwriting team, I'm afraid the songs they came up with are only so-so, and not nearly as memorable as Lin-Manuel Miranda's music for the first film. 

The Big Finale: Even with the meandering plot and so-so music, it's still worth seeing on the big screen for the stunning animation and some terrific performances, particularly for fans of the first film or those with young girls who are looking for female-oriented action.

Home Media: No listings for the actual film yet, but the soundtrack will be released on physical media in January. 

CD soundtrack

Animation Celebration Saturday - Encanto

Disney, 2021

Voices of Stephanie Beatriz, Maria Cecilla Botero, John Leguiziamo, and Mauro Castillo

Directed by Jared Bush and Byron Howard

Music and Lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda

This is one of two major non-Pixar animated movies Disney put out last year, the other being the princess action film Raya and the Last Dragon. Miranda had wanted to do another Disney film since his previous collaboration with the studio, Moana, was a huge hit in 2016. Bush and Howard were scouting around for another project after Zootopia and hit on this fairy tale set in Columbia. As with Moana, there was extensive research into Columbia culture, including their music and architecture. How well did they do with this unique South American fairy tale? Let's begin with Alma Madrigal (Botero) as she explains to a young Mirabel (Noemi Josefina Flores) about how her family came to their "miracle" and find out...

The Story: Alma and her husband Pedro fled a revolution with others residents of their town. She lost her husband to the raiders, but saved her triplet children with the help of a magical candle. The candle produced a miracle that destroyed the raiders and created a safe tropical "encanto," environment surrounded by mountains and a living Casita, home, where she could raise her children. The children are each blessed with magical gifts by the candle, and their children are blessed with gifts...except for Mirabel (Beatriz), who has no gift. 

The day her little cousin Antonio (Ravi Cabot-Conyers) receives his ability to speak with animals, Mirabel sees the Casita break apart and crack. No one else sees it, and they disregard it as Mirabel being jealous of their gifts. Searching for answers, Mirabel tries to find traces of her uncle Bruno (Leguziamo), a psychic whose readings of the future were so hated, he disappeared a decade before. He may be the only one who can help her reveal all the secrets of the Madigals and their miracle candle, before the light goes out and they all lose their amazing gifts permanently. 

The Animation: Absolutely stunning. The lush tropical forests of Columbia teem with rainbow colors that burst from every frame. The characters flow like the waters where Alma finds her miracle, and every single one looks unique, yet obviously related. The backgrounds are where this really stand out. The Casita is its own character, with its moving stairs for Mirabel to slide down and brilliant walls that can be ominous or welcoming, sometimes in the same shot. 

The Song and Dance: Touching and unique fairy tale about family, expectations, making use of our unique gifts, and how it's better to talk about the past than avoid it for the sake of unattainable perfection. Columbians were mostly delighted at how their beleaguered country is depicted. Most portrayals of Columbia in North America tend to focus on the violence that's wracked their country or exotic romanticism. "The Violence" that drove out Alma and Pedro has apparently wrecked many similar Colombian families for centuries. Just the fact that the family is portrayed with such joy and happiness - and they're still together in the end - is special in and of itself. 

As someone who also comes from a family where she feels like an outsider, I absolutely love Mirabel. She's quirky, clumsy, and a bit insecure, but she's also determined, loving, and extremely empathic. She will do anything to find out the truth and keep her family together, even if it alienates the rest of her family. Beatriz is perfect, just as quirky-cute sounding as her character. I also like Leguziamo as the family's other black sheep Bruno, Botero as the seemingly rigid and controlling Alma, and Jessica Darrow and Diana Guerrero as Mirabel's sisters Luisa and and Isabela who aren't as perfect as Mirabel thinks.

I also appreciate that, unlike almost every other Disney film in animation and live-action, there's no flat-out villain. Alma is to a degree, but the real "villain" here is more her outdated ideas of strength and ignoring problems, rather than her being a typical bad person. There's many other types of adversity a person can overcome besides an antagonist. 

Favorite Number: Mirabel explains her family's gifts, how they help their community, and her place (or lack of place) in it in the opening number "The Family Madrigal." She's tired of "Waiting On a Miracle" after she sees the cracks in the Casita but no one believes her. Lusia reveals how "Surface Pressure" and the need to always be on call for everyone is giving her anxiety and making her doubt her gift. Her fun-loving Uncle Felix (Castillo) and emotional weather-controlling Aunt Pepa (Carolina Gaitan) explain why "We Don't Talk About Bruno" and how he became the black sheep of the family. Isabela wonders "What Else Can I Do?" as she shows off her other plant-creating abilities to Mirabel and reveals how tired she is of always looking perfect, to Alma's horror. 

What I Don't Like: The story isn't quite as different as it's protagonist at times. It occasionally feels more like a Marvel superhero movie set in Columbia and with Latin American overtones. I commend Disney for trying to move outside the princess tales, but at the same time, the story meanders during the middle and sometimes gets a little dull before they find Bruno. The songs are lovely but not quite as memorable as Miranda's score for Moana (or even Hamilton). 

It's also a bit dark for a family movie, with its talk of "the Violence" and family dysfunction. It's probably best for older kids and teens who are starting to ask questions in their own families 

The Big Finale: It may not be perfect, but it's a fun ride with a sweet protagonist, enjoyable characters, and a gorgeously rendered world not often explored outside of South America. 

Home Media: Right now, it's streaming only. It can be found at Disney Plus for free with a subscription.

Amazon Prime (Buy Only)

Disney Plus

Animation Celebration Double Feature - Pocahontas & Pocahontas II: Journey to the New World

On this Saturday before Thanksgiving in the US, we're doing another Disney animated classic from the 90's and it's direct-to-video sequel. These are a bit more controversial, with their themes of racial and environmental insensitivity, colonialism, and duty weighed against personal freedom. Not to mention, like Anastasia, they take a rather inaccurate and romanticized view of historical facts and figures. Why don't we take a ride around the river bend to see whether they're worthy of being presented at court, or if they should be knocked overboard?

Pocahontas
Disney, 1995
Voices of Irene Bedard, Mel Gibson, Christian Bale, and Russell Means
Directed by Mike Gabriel and Eric Goldberg
Music by Alan Menken; Lyrics by Steven Schwartz

The Story: Pocahontas (Bedard) is the strong-willed daughter of Chief Powhatan (Means), of the Powahatan tribe in what we now know as Virginia. The Chief wants her to marry his bravest warrior Kocoum (James Apaumut Fall), but she sees him as much too serious. She visits the wise tree spirit Grandmother Willow (Linda Hunt) to discuss a dream about a spinning arrow. It's Grandmother who warns her of an approaching ship filled with strangers. These rough and ready sailors are lead by greedy Governor Radcliffe (David Ogden Stiers), who is desperate to find gold, and John Smith (Gibson), who just wants adventure. Ever-curious Pocahontas follows Smith, and after she explains her culture to him, they find themselves falling for each other.

Meanwhile, two of Radcliffe's men have attacked Powhatan warriors, leading to both Radcliffe and Powahatan to forbid either group from speaking to one another. As they learn more about each other's worlds, the Powahatan princess and the explorer realize how much they have in common. Pocahontas' friend Nakoma (Michelle St. John) sees her with Smith and, worried, tells Kocoum. Smith's young sailor friend Thomas (Bale) kills the warrior before he can harm Smith. Now both sides are ready for war, unless these star-crossed lovers can show that there's a better way

The Animation: This is some of Disney's most fluid and vibrant work of the 90's. The use of color here is truly outstanding, especially during the sequences with Grandmother Willow and the "Color of the Wind" number. The character animation is also quite fluid and as graceful as that wind that dances around Pocahontas throughout the film. The rainbow of colors in the forest and corn fields make for a stark and startling contrast to the darker colors of the sailors and Radcliffe's extravagant jewel tones.

The Song and Dance: I can see what Disney was trying to do here. This is a genuine epic, and almost as dark at times as The Hunchback of Notre Dame. At the very least, they didn't go for the intrusive comedy relief that marred that film. Pocahontas' animal friends Meeko the hungry raccoon and Flit the Hummingbird and Radcliffe's pampered pooch Percy are normal, silent animals, who not only fit in a tad better than the gargoyles did in Hunchback, but have some bearing on the plot.

Along with the music, the best thing about this movie is the title character. Pocahontas remains one of Disney's strongest princesses to date. She's determined, independent, bold, and quick-thinking. Nothing stops her from following her heart, including two groups threatening war. Several later adventurous Disney lasses owe a great deal to her, including Moana, Mulan, and Merida.

If nothing else, I give Disney credit for trying something entirely different. The movie is unique in its depiction of early American history. I don't know of many other musicals that have tackled the Native American experience and how it was impacted by the arrival of Europeans in the US. Not to mention, there aren't too many musicals out there with an unhappy or bittersweet ending, either.

Favorite Number: For all the film's problems, it does have a genuinely good score. I love Pocahontas' "I want" song "Just Around the River Bend," which flows and ebbs like the body of water in the title. "Mine, Mine, Mine" and the brutal "Savages" are the best of the chorus numbers. "Colors of the Wind" won an Oscar, likely for the gorgeously animated sequence where Pocahontas introduces John Smith to the wonders of the New World.

What I Don't Like: Let's discuss those historical inaccuracies, starting with the real Pocahontas was a child when she met John Smith and saved him from death. Neither she nor Smith were said to be the most gorgeous or pleasant people in existence, either. Executives at Disney, including Jeffery Katzenberg, wanted to go the Beauty and the Beast route and place emphasis on the romance, hence Pocahontas being aged-up into an older teen. Radcliffe was a captain with royal connections, but he's played more as a combination of several real-life sea captains (one of whom did genuinely dislike Smith).

My bigger problem with Radcliffe is he's a really dull villain. All he cares about is gold, gold, and more gold. Stiers does give him a certain gravity, but he mostly comes off as an annoying and pompous windbag. Most of the other characters barely register. I would have loved to have seen more of Thomas, Nakoma, and even Grandmother Willow. The animals' antics are cute and work better with the plot than the chattier sidekicks in some other Disney movies, but they still can come off as too goofy at times.

The Big Finale: I first saw this movie when it debuted on TV as part of The Wonderful World of Disney in the late 90's. It was the only Disney movie from that decade that I didn't like then. The historical fudging was annoying, the characters were boring, and only the music redeemed anything.

Having seen it again for the first time in over 20 years, I can say that I enjoyed it a little bit more this time around (especially its heroine), but it's still not one of my favorites. This might be interesting for older kids and young teens...but do talk with them beforehand to explain the historical fudging.

Home Media: The solo DVD is out of print, but it's on Amazon Prime. My recommendation would be to grab it in the recent release with its sequel Journey to the New World, which we'll get into shortly.

DVD
Amazon Prime
Pocahontas/Pocahontas II 2-Pack Blu-Ray

Pocahontas II: Journey to the New World
Disney, 1998
Voices of Irene Bedard, Billy Zane, Donal Gibson, and Jean Stapleton
Directed by Tom Ellery and Bradley Raymond
Music Larry Grossman; Lyrics by Marty Panzer

The Story: Pocahontas (Bedard) is grieving for John Smith (Gibson), who was announced dead in England, when a ship arrives from London with diplomat John Rolfe (Zane). He's supposed to bring the Chief to meet King James (Jim Cummings), a personal friend of Governor Radcliffe (David Ogden Stiers). Radcliffe lied to the King about what happened in the New World and ordered Smith arrested. Rolfe is hoping that bringing the Chief to England will allow for peaceful negotiations. Powhatan won't leave his tribe, so Pocahontas and her bodyguard Ulti (Brad Garrett) go in his place.
She's delighted by the sights, sounds, and smells of the Old World at first, at least until the King insists on her coming to the Hunt Ball to prove she can be "civilized." John and his sight-challenged maid Mrs. Jenkins (Stapleton) try to teach her the ways of the royal court. It all goes well, until Radcliffe orders a bear-baiting hunt. Pocahontas can't stand such animal cruelty and angrily protests.

She and Ulti are locked up in the Tower of London, but are rescued by Rolfe and, to their surprise, Smith. Turns out Radcliffe set up the entire incident in order to send an armada to destroy the tribes and get his hands on the non-existent "gold." Smith wants her to run, but she can't let her people down. She finally confronts the king...and proves to him who the real savage is.

The Animation: While it's just as colorful as the previous film, it's otherwise a comedown. The designs and the backgrounds aren't nearly as fluid or as interesting, although some of the sequences that show a bustling London have some decent character animation. Otherwise, it's pretty obvious this was done by a studio that mostly specialized in TV productions.

The Song and Dance: The first half sneaks into "retread" territory, as we pretty much have the same set-up as last time, with Pocahontas meeting and starting a forbidden romance with a good-looking but otherwise bland white guy. It's the second half where things get interesting. Her fish-out-of-water story is actually kind of fun, especially in London and during the ball. In some ways, I enjoyed it more than the first film, with it's commentary on animal rights and just how "savage" supposedly civilized people can be.

At least they tried to be slightly more historically accurate this time. The older Pocahontas did go to London as a diplomat for her people, was received by King James at court, and ultimately married a man named John Rolfe.

Favorite Number: Alas, the music is only slightly more memorable than the score for Little Mermaid II. The chorus number "What a Day In London" as Pocahontas explores the bustling streets, is the best of a boring lot. Her solo "Where Do I Go From Here?" is supposed to be "Just Around the River Bend," but lacks the emotional core and flowing melody.

What I Didn't Like: They couldn't have found a better villain? Radcliffe isn't any less annoying this time around. He's such a contemptible idiot, one wonders why King James even listens to him. The King doesn't come off much better. He's mostly an easily manipulated clod. Zane's character is a boring generic "Disney prince," and the running gag with Mrs. Jenkins and her bad eyesight gets ridiculous after a while. I'm not sure why they even had Meeko, Percy, and Flit accompany Pocahontas, other than to fill the cute animal quotient.

The Big Finale: This one was actually a rather pleasant surprise. While not great, it is one of the better made-for-home-media sequels and is certainly an improvement on Little Mermaid II. Once again, if you have older kids and young teens who love American history or the first film, they may want to give this one a try.

Home Media: This one has only seen a solo DVD release as part of the old Golden Collection, but it's since been re-released as part of a 2-pack with Pocahontas (see above), and it's available for streaming.

DVD
Amazon Prime

Musicals on Streaming - Vivo

Netflix/Sony, 2021

Voices of Lin-Manuel Miranda, Ynairaly Simo, Zoe Saldana, and Juan de Marcos Gonzales

Directed by Kirk DiMicco

Music and Lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda

We make a cross-country journey to Cuba and south Florida for our next vacation. This one goes back to 2010, when Miranda first pitched it to Dreamworks. They dropped it in 2015, but Sony picked it up a year later after the success of Moana. It was originally intended to be released in theaters, but after the pandemic hit, it was moved to Netflix in August 2021 (though it apparently did make it into a few theaters in July). It did well enough then, but how does it look now that people can hit the theaters again? Let's begin in Cuba and learn more about the title character and his friend and find out...

The Story: Vivo (Miranda) is a kinkajou living in Havana, Cuba with elderly musician Andre Hernandez (Gonzales). Vivo is upset when Andre reveals that his former partner Marta (Gloria Estefan) has invited him to Miami to see her in concert at the Mambo Cabana. He's even written a song for her. Vivo tries to dissuade him, but finally understands how important it is to Andre, who loved Marta but wasn't able to tell her before she went on to have a big career on her own.

Sadly, Andre dies in his sleep before he can make the trip. His niece-in-law Rosa (Saldana) and her daughter Gabi (Simo) come from Key West to attend their funeral. Vivo stows away in Gabi's luggage, hoping to get Andre's song to Miami. Gabi finds him after his attempt to get on the bus fails. Gabi loves music and is determined to show her mother that she can do a lot more than sell cookies with a troop of rather obnoxious Sand Dollar scouts. She and Vivo dodge the overly rigid Sand Dollars and help two lovesick rosate spoonbills in the Everglades as they make their way to Miami and to remind Marta how much Andre really cared about her.

The Animation: While not as elaborate as Sony Animation's Into the Spider Verse films, there's still a lot to like here. The crisp, brilliant colors beautifully reflect their tropical setting, from the brilliant golds and reds of Havana to the deep purples and emerald greens of the Everglades. Vivo himself is utterly adorable and moves very well. There's some nice set pieces, too, especially in the jungle, with that wild and well-animated storm and the chase with Lutador (Michael Rooker) the Burmese python. Look for some nifty 2-D animated sequences during the numbers "Mambo Cabana" and "Inside Your Heart" that function as flashbacks to Marta and Andre's relationship. 

The Song and Dance: Some great performances, colorful animation, and Miranda's music carry the day here. This was Simo's debut, and she was wonderful as energetic Gabi, especially in her solo "My Own Drum." There aren't many pre-teens who can keep up with Lin-Manuel Miranda. Miranda for his part is charming and lively as Gonzales is heartbreaking in his brief role early in the film as the kindly musician who wants to see his true love and sing with her one more time. Saldana does equally well as the mother who just wants her music-crazy daughter to make friends her own age.

Favorite Number: We open and close with "One of a Kind," as Vivo explains his life and how he and Andre work in perfect harmony to entertain the people of the plaza...and then show how he now has even more fun entertaining Key West with Gabi. "Mambo Cabana" is Andre's explanation of how he lost Marta and now wants to write her "One Last Song." Vivo wishes he wouldn't and tries to sabotage his efforts at first. Gabi's music may not be the most harmonious, but it's certainly energetic as she explains to Vivo that she marches to the beat of "My Own Drum." 

She and Vivo "Keep the Beat" as they turn their raft through the Everglades into their own home-made drum set. Vivo's less happy to be caught between the Spoonbills' duet "Love's Gonna Pick You Up." Not to mention, that snake is a "Tough Crowd." "Running Out of Time" is the montage that brings everyone to the Mambo Cabana, while Marta's heartfelt and heartbreaking "Inside Your Heart" is Andre's confession of love as Vivo imagines the two young and together forever onstage.  

What I Don't Like: For all the great music and charming characters, the plot is older than the Everglades, and the movie doesn't really do much that's new with it. We've seen all of this before, in animation and live-action, with music and without it. While the characters are cute and the beginning and end are touching and even heartbreaking, the generic middle section is far less interesting. A lot of the segment in the Everglades in particular seems more like padding than anything. 

The Big Finale: Not the greatest animated movie ever, but adorable fun if you or your pre-teen are fans of Miranda, Spider-Verse, or tropical adventures. 

Home Media: A Netflix exclusive when it came out, it's now easily found on disc and streaming.

DVD

Blu-Ray

Amazon Prime