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Whoever said sequels can't be as good as the original never saw "Moana 2."
Originally planned as a limited series for Disney's streaming service, "Moana 2" opened as a feature film in theaters just before Thanksgiving.
The first reviews of the follow-up say "Moana 2" is worthy of a proper return to the big screen, thanks to its impressive visuals. The sequel to the 2016 animated hit again stars the voices of Auli'I Cravalho in the title role and Dwayne Johnson as the demi-god Maui.
While it's understandable that the songs might not be as memorable this time -- given that Lin-Manuel Miranda did not come back -- the new music is still quite enjoyable.
The official logline for "Moana 2" reads, "After receiving an unexpected call from her wayfinding ancestors, Moana must journey to the far seas of Oceania and into dangerous, long-lost waters for an adventure unlike anything she's ever faced."
The animation is even more beautiful than the original, allowing you to see every grain of sand and drop of ocean spray.
Even if it's not as mold-smashing, the sequel still makes good use of its best assets: The terrific Cravalho, who brings extra depth to lively wayfarer Moana, while Johnson lends powerful sass to endlessly buff sidekick Maui.
The only drawback was where "Moana" focused on the relationship between the titular adventurer and her reluctant demigod companion, "Moana 2" divides its attention among more characters. These personalities become window dressing at times.
The young wayfinder heads off on a journey that, frustratingly, leads nowhere.
In the reviews posted on "Rotten Tomatoes," critics collectively gave "Moana 2" a 62 percent based on 194 reviews.
By contrast, RT critics who reviewed the first "Moana" in 2016 gave the film a stellar 95 percent "fresh" rating based on 287 reviews.
Bottom line: If you loved "Moana," there's no reason to skip the sequel.
Grade: B+
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever
This year, there's no shortage of holiday films that claim to bring the true meaning of Christmas to the big screen. This year, the holiday comes early with director Dallas Jenkins' "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever."
Based on the 1972 novel by Barbara Robinson, "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever" strives to be a "Bad News Bears"-type comedy before turning into a heartwarming tale of unlikely interlopers who help a group of people truly understand Christmas.
Molly Belle Wright plays young Beth, but it's the indispensable Judy Greer who hoists this project on her back and carries it. Playing Beth's mother, Grace, she volunteers to direct their small town's famed Christmas pageant after an incident befalls the previous director. Her tenure comes just as a group of ruffian siblings, the Herdmans, who are deemed the "worst kids ever," have taken an interest in church and the annual pageant (they heard there were snacks).
The rebellious Herdmans, led by the flame-haired eldest sibling, Imogene (Beatrice Schneider), are known as a smoking, stealing, generally chaos-raising bunch. They intimidate their way into the lead roles and bring a fresh perspective to the material. And while everyone at the church turns up their noses at them, it's plainly obvious the kids are suffering from neglect. The congregation is horrified by kids, who are clearly hungry and fending for themselves, so it's hard not to laugh at their high jinks.
As far as family-friendly, faith-based holiday movies go, "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever" might not quite connect with all young audiences, as the film leans more toward poignant than playfully riotous.
It does make the point that we all could stand to remember that Christmas is about so much more than pageantry, and that the roots of these rituals come from stories of togetherness and charity. It never hurts to be reminded of that fact.
Grade: B-
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Greg Williams is a reporter and Weekend Editor for The Sentinel. A Mifflin County native, he has been writing for The Sentinel since 1991.