Bruno’s review published on Letterboxd:
“Now I kinda miss the giant lava monster.”
This just pissed me off, what have they done to you? Why are you no longer the adventure focused beautiful film that you once were? Why have you become a soulless film with no heart or love behind the craft? Why is Maui utterly stupid and almost feels like a parody of the Maui we know? Why was this even supposed to be a show in the first place? You literally had one job, you just needed to create a worthy sequel of a beloved Disney film that was a refreshing take on confidence, learning about who you want to become and helping those around you, a redemption story unlike others. You had one fucking job and you managed to create some of the most boring and shallow storytelling I’ve seen in animation this year. To truly top it all the Disney way, what was this villain? One of the worst and utterly useless villains I’ve suffered through, a useless storm that almost brings no sense into the film. I agree with Maui, I also miss the giant lava monster, she had a purpose and at the end of the film that purpose was fulfilled. At least Simea was cute and had some charm.
“Can I get a chee-hoo?”
Don’t get me wrong, it’s not all bad, the animation is still stunning as per usual, but like that should be mandatory, when you compare the visuals to the first one it’s somehow behind, despite being released 8 years after. The music is so lackluster, not a single song lives up the hype of the first film, they’re all forgettable and not a memorable thing in sight. The film is rushed, the writing is mediocre with some truly tiring comedy that barely cracks a smile from you, let alone a laugh. A ton of cringe worthy moments, a film that retells almost the exact same adventure of the first but the characters are changed just so they can say it’s different. The side characters are stupid, way too stupid to ever be taken seriously, they’re not funny, it’s getting old now, the only ones I can forgive are the chicken and the pig, they can sometimes be hilarious. Dwayne Johnson and Auli can’t save this film from the bland writing that their respective characters are given.
“I’ll be back. I promise.”
Anyways, most of my family loved it, the screening was insanely packed and they all seem to have enjoyed it a lot more than I did, maybe I’m in the wrong here, who am I to judge a family film like this one who clearly works in making a ridiculous amount of money for Disney, my opinion does not matter, neither does yours or anyone’s because they will forever come out on top. I’m just annoyed because I love animated films, they’re some of the best art form to ever be released and we’ve gotten some outstanding masterpieces within the animated medium, and we’ve had films like The Wild Robot and Transformers One which showcase how stunning animation can be with some really great storytelling. Hopefully, you guys can get more enjoyment out of this.
