Disney’s wishy-washy sequel has sprung a leak

Well, at least it’s not “Wish.” 

“Moana 2,” the sequel to the 2016 animated film about an oceanic adventurer, is 20,000 leagues better than Disney’s congealed Thanksgiving leftovers from last year.

But that’s a low, low bar.  

The studio’s latest likable musical is nicely animated, has nice characters and a few nice songs. At risk of repeating myself: It’s nice.

So nice, in fact, that the quick movie can grate at times, like a 90-minute “It’s A Small World After All.” 

But I’m 34 — not six. More so than any Disney animated film of the last several years, “Moana 2” is aimed squarely at very young kids. 

And its menagerie of cute creatures making funny faces — Heihei the terrified rooster, multiple cuddly pigs, little Minion-like warriors who don coconut shells — will tickle little ones.

A word of caution, however: In this case, “for all ages” does not mean “appealing to all,” but rather “offensive to none.” The familiar story is smooth sailing from start to finish.

For Moana (Auliʻi Cravalho), now a seasoned wayfinder who’s adored by her village after her brave deeds in the original, the world is much too small.

Still staring longingly at her “friend” the water, whom she high-fives, she’s devoted to finding the lost island of Motufetu — a mythical place that connects the seven channels of the ocean and its far-flung peoples.

During a ritual ceremony, Moana is struck by lightning and has a scary vision of the future. She hazily views her home abandoned and desolate because her tribe has been wiped out by isolation. 

Moana learns that if she takes her boat and follows a fire in the sky, she’ll eventually reach Motufetu, reunite the separated humans and spare her village its vague, child-friendly demise. 

As she prepares to set sail, her family and friends inadvertently remind us that the sequel isn’t quite as unique or involving as the 2016 flick.

“Show us just.. how far we’ll go,” says her dad, chief Tui (Temuera Morrison), nodding to the memorable Oscar-nominated song by Lin-Manuel Miranda.

The “Hamilton” creator actually has no involvement in “2.” Instead, a quartet of new composers (Mark Mancina, Opetaia Foa’i, Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear) approximate his specific style, inasmuch as one — or four — can.

With so many contributors, the soundtrack can seem written by committee. Distinctiveness goes overboard.

Loto (Rose Matafeo), a genius with butterfingers on Moana’s crew of misfits, gets to do some clumsy, awkward rapping in a Polynesian tale that doesn’t cry out for it.

Bat-covered Matangi, a villain who is actually not a villain and disappears after one song, sings “Get Lost” — a watered-down girl-power version of Jennifer Lopez’s “Let’s Get Loud.” 

Remember when Ursula crooned about “living bold and free”? Nope. These days, baddies are just misunderstood loners who provide upbeat encouragement.    

The film’s best tune is the main one: “Beyond,” the propulsive companion piece to “How Far I’ll Go.” 

Much like the “Frozen” transition from “Let It Go” to “Into The Unknown,” “Beyond” is a darker number that’s less about innocent self-discovery than the scary pressures of adulthood. It’s catchy and replayable.

On Moana’s quest, which boasts an impressive storm finale, she is joined by two other quirky seafarers. There’s hunky historian Moni (Hualālai Chung), with whom directors David Derrick Jr., Jason Hand and Dana Ledoux Miller doggedly ensure she has no romantic chemistry, and cranky farmer Kele (David Fane).

But the only voice casting of note, really, is the return of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson as Maui the wisecracking demigod. 

A wannabe Genie from “Aladdin,” Johnson rattles off serviceable contemporary jokes. One is about butt-dialing. “You’ll learn what that is in 2,000 years,” he says.

Maui and Johnson will be back in the live-action remake of the 2016 “Moana.” Oy. Disney might want to consider reining in how far they’ll go.