What Can You Expect From a Sequel?
The first thing that struck me was Pocahontas's voice. I was so weirded out that I stopped the movie and went to search up the voice actors. It seems that the woman that did the voice for the first movie did the voice for the second. Then, why do the voices sound so horrible different? It sounds like Irene Bedard sucked up helium and did a falsetto. Totally weirded out.
Once again, with sequels, they try to preserve the "strength" of Pocahontas from the first movie by giving her moments of "strength" (see: Mulan II). You can see this in the completely first idiotic exchange between John Rolfe and Pocahontas. Rolfe says "I beg your pardon" (he was being very nice). Pocahontas, bitch as she is in this movie, says "Alright, you have it!". Pocahontas is some sassy, bitchy, "strong" woman in this movie. At least the Pocahontas in the first movie was somewhat admirable, not strong (I wouldn't say) but admirable because she was at least firm. They try to make her "strong" (you know, women's lib) in this movie by making her a bitch. But it just comes off as really annoying and really superficial. You won't believe how much she pouts in this movie. Seriously, count it.
I find it hilarious how one of the key points in the movie, "we'll be together, forever", is just completely shattered by this one. The John Smith/Pocahontas relationship was ended with a "that's not what you want, is it?". Seriously, the entire breakup scene is less than 40 seconds.
Other premises have also been ignored. The song about London was completely unfitting. Why? There was this really unsettling undercurrent of white supremacy in the song. Pocahontas starts singing about how "they could build their huts so tall" (implying (a) that Indians live in huts (they don't) and (b) that England is better). "London is everything I've heard and more", Pocahontas drools. "With flags flying higher than a pine," I wonder if it's as high as the sycamore. "With colors I've never even knew," apparently, there are more colors in London than there are in the wind. We can all see where Pocahontas's heart lies now that she is listening to it rather than listening with it.