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Moana Review
Image Credit: Disney
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Directed By: Thomas Kail
Written By: Jared Bush and Dana Ledoux Miller; Based on Disney’s Moana by Jared Bush, Ron Clements, and John Musker
Runtime: 115 minutes
MPA Rating: Rated PG for action/peril, some scary images, rude humor, and brief thematic elements
Catherine Laga’aia – Moana
Dwayne Johnson – Maui
John Tui – Chief Tui
Rena Owen – Gramma Tala
Frankie Adams – Sina
Jemaine Clement – Tamatoa
Disney’s latest live-action remake adapts the 2016 breakout hit CG-animated feature, Moana. While it’s not as offensively bad as some of Disney’s other more recent live-action remake attempts, something still looks lost in the new version’s translation.
The remake’s script, co-written by Jared Bush and Dana Ledoux Miller, largely maintains fidelity to the original. Moana follows the same plot, and it’s basically the same script line-for-line. Director Thomas Kail tries to closely follow the original animated movie, almost shot-for-shot, and yet, Moana in live-action never feels as magical, fantastical, or spiritual as its original’s heights.
Catherine Laga’aia leads the story as the new Moana. Initially, her singing voice sounds somewhat lacking, but she eventually hits the high notes. Laga’aia doesn’t fail in her performance, but on the same token, her performance as Moana never truly comes alive.
Frankly, much of the remake, both with singing and in its overall execution, comes across as way too stiff. The whole movie resembles performers who didn’t get enough time to properly warm up and prep for a big opening night.
Of course, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson returns, reprising his iconic role as the demigod Maui. Maui has the power of shapeshifting thanks to his magic hook. It’s his theft of the heart of Te Fiti that sparks Moana’s journey.
The Rock does his best here in attempting to craft a live-action version of Maui, but something intangible is missing. His performance isn’t helped by wearing a goofy wig and a rubber muscle suit, which lacks authenticity. The live-action Maui would’ve been better off without the big muscle suit, even if it’s attempting to mimic the character’s animated physique and proportions. It looks too much like The Rock in a big muscle suit rather than Maui. Much like the rest of the movie, The Rock’s delivery feels flat and unenthusiastic.
Even though it’s virtually the same script, plot, and movie, the Moana remake lacks vibrancy. The music and songs feel stiff. The copious CG visuals and effects don’t mix well with the other characters. The live-action version never comes across as real, lived-in, immersive, and awe-inspiring. Instead, the experience comes across as pedestrian.
At the very least, Moana is inoffensive. Since it stays relatively faithful to the original, it doesn’t try to rock the boat, but therein lies the problem and challenge of live-action remakes. Change too much, and it’s seen as a betrayal of the original text. If too little is changed, it comes off as lazy.
Moana is akin to a Broadway production or adaptation of an animated movie, but more akin to the dress rehearsal rather than the opening night, where the performers are on their A-game. It’s too inoffensive and doesn’t attempt to rock the boat, but it achieves nothing of substance.
Disney needs to learn that not all classic animated movies should be adapted into animation, just like certain live-action features necessarily wouldn’t work as animation.
The Moana remake’s existence serves no point other than that Disney had a successful animated IP that hadn’t been adapted into a live-action version yet. Therein lies the problem. Hopefully, Shrek the live-action movie never comes to fruition, but the prospect looks inevitable at this point.
Where To Watch Disney’s Moana
Disney’s Moana arrives in theaters on July 10. Showtime and ticket information are available at the movie’s website.
