The live-action remake of Disney's Moana features a standout sequence powered by Dwayne Johnson's charisma, but the film as a whole reportedly faces challenges in justifying its existence beyond re-monetizing established ideas.
For those familiar with the 2016 animated original, the plot offers few surprises. The story retells the myth of the demigod Maui, played by Johnson, who lost the heart of a goddess, leading to evil spreading across the world. The narrative introduces young Moana (Catherine Laga’aia), who possesses a magical connection to the ocean. As she prepares for her destiny as chief, her island faces unsustainable food supplies, prompting Moana to seek out Maui to rectify his past mistake.
The film reportedly includes familiar elements such as coconut pirates and shapeshifting creatures, with many of the original songs still present and largely effective. While the live-action Moana is eight minutes longer than its animated counterpart, this slight increase is attributed to minor padding in earlier scenes, a less substantial addition than seen in other remakes.
Director Thomas Kail, known for his work in theater and the FX series Fosse/Verdon is described as feeling anonymous within the project, with limited opportunity for a unique directorial vision due to the pre-determined framework. Minor imperfections in vocal performances are noted as adding a touch of human element, but the overall experience is characterized as being on rails with many creative choices already made.
Catherine Laga’aia is noted as an able successor to Auliʻi Cravalho's portrayal of Moana. Dwayne Johnson returns as Maui, and Jemaine Clement reprises his role as Tamatoa in a performance described as fun but rote, with his live-action CGI appearance not deviating significantly from the animated version. The absence of Alan Tudyk returning as Heihei is highlighted as a disappointment.
The review points to Johnson's performance of Maui's song "You're Welcome" as the film's best sequence. Though largely set against a digital background and potentially using playback, Johnson's physical presence is felt. This performance marks a rare instance of Johnson engaging in full song-and-dance, described as a shocking burst of fun.
The only special effect it requires is Dwayne Johnson’s charisma.
Johnson's physical performance, honed through his WWE and action movie careers is lauded, with the reviewer noting animation cannot match the full force of his charisma.
However, the review also notes cognitive dissonance stemming from Johnson's costume, specifically his muscle suit and long hair, which deviates from his recognizable features.
Featured names
- Action Moana
- Dwayne Johnson
- Catherine Laga
- Frankie Adams
- Director Thomas
- Jemaine Clement
- Review There
