Moana is back on the big screen, but this time in live action. Photo: Disney.
Fun fact: Moana (2016) is Disney’s most-streamed movie of all time, clocking more than 80 billion minutes watched since it was released on Disney+ in 2019.
Its sequel, Moana 2, continued its momentum, bringing in an eyewatering $1.04 billion at the global box office.
With the first being a streaming success (on top of its well-earned $600 million box office return) and the second being a box office smash, it means that the big wigs at Disney were destined to take the modern animation classic and, of course, convert it into live action.
Not even a full decade after the release of the original film, we are back with what is essentially the same movie with a lot of the same actors and most of the same songs.
So, what do I think? Yeah, it’s all right.
The thing is, the animated Moana is fantastic. Its Polynesian setting, catchy tunes and a story of perseverance and overcoming shame are so unique that it rightly deserved to be the success that it ultimately became.
All of these things translate to the live-action movie because when the base is as strong as the original movie is, it’s hard to screw it up. The issue is, apart from the medium in which the story is told, what does it really add?
When a movie is as old as Cinderella, Aladdin, The Little Mermaid and The Lion King, there’s at least a case to make that live-action movies are bringing those stories to new audiences.
But when a movie isn’t even a decade old, it really does feel like a bit of desperation. At least sequels are new stories with the same characters; this is almost a one-for-one.
It was the same issue with last year’s How to Train Your Dragon. The movie itself was really enjoyable, but it is so derivative of the original film and not even 15 years removed that the question becomes, why does anyone need this?
Of course, it’s all money-based, but at what point do audiences feel like they’re being taken for a ride?
In terms of the new film, it’s solid and as far as Disney’s remakes go, it is far from the worst.
Catherine Laga’aia does a very good job as the real-life Moana, and she has a real presence alongside a returning Dwayne Johnson as Maui.
Johnson kills it once again as the shapeshifting demi-god, even if his wig does still look quite awful.
The CGI is some of the better-looking stuff produced by Disney in recent years, far better than any in last year’s Snow White.
The team nailed the look and feel of the water and the goddess Te Fiti was a particular standout to see brought to life.
The songs are mostly the same, which is fine in my book, as I do believe it to be one of the stronger soundtracks Disney has put out since the turn of the century.
Moana (2026) is a pretty safe bet for Disney and ultimately that will decide how much fun you have with it. There’s definitely a bit more charm in the original animation, but there is still enjoyment to be had.
It all comes down to whether you can look past such a short turnaround between the original and the remake and whether you believe it is a different experience to see it in live action.
Personally, I think there’s a reason the original is still as popular as it is and this is a case of “every masterpiece has its copy”.
Moana is showing in cinemas across the country.
