I don't really understand why people do this with sequels. The main characters were already deeply developed in the first one, this one is just about action and progressing the story. I do think there was a missed opportunity to go into a bit more depth on the god who sunk the island and why he trapped the other demigod there in the clam, but that wasn't really the point of what was going on like the first movie where the god was a main part of the story restoring the world as it was etc. Tafiti was only in the movie for like 1m45s but the lore was the entire movie.
The other boat characters were just extras, they aren't main characters that contributed much except for the plot that moana has become a leader of people and they are willing to follow her to the end and that she was willing to sacrifice everything in order to fulfill her role as THE wayfinder.
My 5 year old just told me his favorite part of the movie was "The songs and Maui was his favorite"
Also if you don't think this is a banger idk what to tell you.
Absolute banger.
The point of this movie isn't to be a standalone classic. What standalone sequel is there that's better than the original story?