Moana answers the Ocean’s call and, for the first time, voyages beyond the reef of her island of Motunui with the infamous demigod Maui on an unforgettable journey to restore prosperity to her people.
(C) Disney
To be completely honest, Moana is a good choice for a live-action adaptation. And in a few moments throughout the film, that choice feels justified. Whether it’s Moana sailing past Te Kā or the recreation of the original’s iconic jokes, the film occasionally captures the spirit that made us fall in love with the animated feature a decade ago.
Unfortunately, as a whole, the film needed a little more energy to truly work. For instance, the “Where You Are” sequence adds a more personal touch, but there are far more flat moments and uninspired direction, preventing it from creating the warm, welcoming atmosphere needed to begin the journey. That’s crucial because, if they’re going to make a faithful adaptation, we already know how the story unfolds, and everyone already has their favorite scenes.
Even Dwayne Johnson seems to need more time to settle into the role. He eventually becomes more comfortable playing Maui in live action halfway through the film, but by then, a lot of meh-ness has already happened. On the positive side, all the scenes involving Moana’s grandmother still work beautifully, and “You’re Welcome” remains as fun as ever.
Moana is an enjoyable musical adventure, but even the biggest Disney fans can acknowledge that there’s trouble in paradise when it comes to the studio’s live-action adaptation department. 2.5/5
