Film Review #54: Pocahontas 2: Journey to a New World

Talk about a film with no expectations whatsoever.  After the absolute disaster of The Enchanted Christmas, no one had any faith in any Disney Sequel whatsoever.  It didn't help that the next announced sequel was a sequel to the most disappointing canon Disney Film of the last several years.  But once the film was  put out on video, it exceeded many people's expectations, particularly my own.  Though I do like Pocahontas, I won't deny that the film has a few serious flaws, from historical to ethical.  But Pocahontas 2: Journey to a New World seems to be an attempt to answer several people's attitude towards the original, and it not only holds a candle to the original, but it may actually be better than most people think.

Plot: John Smith is being hunted in London for apparently acting treasonous in Jamestown, and is apparently killed by Ratcliffe.  The former Governor claims that Smith had fallen to his death by accident, while also demanding that war with the Powhatan Tribe is the only way to preserve piece in the colonies.  King James I is reluctant to act until John Rolfe returns with Chief Powhatan.

Back in America, Pocahontas continues to question her place in the world after learning of Smith's death.  But upon meeting with John Rolfe (Billy FREAKING Zane), Pocahontas elects to travel with him to England in order to charter peace with the settlers and their King.  Upon reaching England, Pocahontas is in awe of what she finds, until Ratcliffe arrives on the scene and informs her and Rolfe about his plan to build an armada to attack the Native Americans, which bears the King's signature.  Though Rolfe tries to reason with James, Ratcliffe tricks the King into insisting Pocahontas come to a ball and proving the "savages" manners and civilized behavior.  At first, much to both Ratcliffe and Rolfe's surprise, Pocahontas does very well.  But when Ratcliffe brings in a bear to torture for their entertainment, Pocahontas takes a stand for the beast and is thrown into prison.

Rolfe and his new ally, John Smith, sneak into the Tower of London and bust Pocahontas and her guardian out of jail and intend to keep her on the run and take back home.  But the Princess insists on fighting for her people and convinces the King of Ratcliffe's treason.  The heroes must stop Ratcliffe's armada before a war begins.

What's Bad?: While not nearly as bad as The Enchanted Christmas, the animation still isn't at a strong caliber when compared to the original.

What's Good?: Basically, everything else.  John Rolfe is much more of an engaging male lead than Mel Gibson's Smith was, while Pocahontas takes more of a proactive role in the story.  Their chemistry in the film is much more visible and easier to believe in than Smith's and Pocahontas's was.

Ratcliffe is much more underhanded and evil in this movie than in the original, which makes his character much stronger.  No longer just a greedy douche who wants gold, he wants to annihilate the entire Native American race out of pure vengeance.

The pacing of the plot, which was a major problem for the original film, is corrected here.  The film picks up pace when it needs to, and slows the pace down when it needs to.

Overall: This may sound incredibly odd, but this may be one of those 1/20 Disney Sequels that improved upon the original.  The characters are better written, the story is tighter, without as many flaws, and the history is finally put into check (Pocahontas and Rolfe actually did marry and have a child).  A solid Disney Sequel, though not a solid film in general.  A passing film, but still no masterpiece.

Report Card

Hero:                                 B
Heroine:                            A-
Villain:                               B
Side Characters:               C+
Songs:                                C
Musical Score:                  B-
Animation:                         B-
Story:                                 B+
Themes:                             B+

Does it hold a candle to the Original?:      YES!