Moana

 

This review may contain spoilers!

Moana is the live-action adaptation of the film Moana (2016). In this feature, Moana sets out to restore the heart of Te Fiti and save her people with the help of a reluctant demigod, Maui.

I remember when the live-action adaptation of How to Train Your Dragon came out, and it was a complete replication of what had come before. Moana is much like this; only where HtTYD showed an incredible amount of love for the original material at every step, Moana feels like a desire to make something the same for the pure purpose of commercial success. There are whole strokes of this film where the effects in the background slip, or you start noticing how empty the feature is, or the way this film has to compromise adapting from animation comes across as a downgrade. It's a movie that feels a bit rushed, like there was a hurry to get it out, and the visual effects team required more money or time. None of this should completely condemn the film; it just means the film doesn't capture the same creative spark the original feature had. But this wouldn't be the first live-action Disney adaptation to deliver a hollow reprise; Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid, The Lion King, Mulan, Pinocchio and Snow White immediately spring to mind.

Yet, it's not a film with a dearth of love for the original. The joy of Moana is that it brings a strong sense of storytelling to it. As Moana opens, we're given this powerful introduction by Rena Owen's Gramma Tala, a piece of spoken myth. The film holds this same sense of wonder throughout. Moana is this underdog, with a good heart, who wants to fight to save her people. At every turn, Moana is faced with barriers and hardship, yet she is never defeated by these. The emotion of the characters is lively; you connect with it on a different level because of the live-action quality. Maui feels like more of a cocky jerk, Gramma Tala's passion comes to life, and Moana's fight has a bolder edge as you watch this young protagonist throw herself against the odds. Watching Catherine Laga'aia dive beneath the waves to reclaim the heart and seek out her quest once again makes your heart swell in the same manner the original did.

In fact, Catherine Laga'aia really makes for quite a powerful live-action Moana. She really works to capture the character, bringing a true sense of courage to the role. I also really loved how she builds a character who believes in her quest and her purpose; she wants to save those she cares for. Laga'aia is still very fresh in her career, yet she's the heart of this film and perhaps my favourite performance. In saying that, Dwayne Johnson really gives his all to Maui here. He is effortlessly comedic, quite arrogant and entirely committed to delivering this story the best he can. I felt the real sleeper hit in the cast was Rena Owen as Gramma Tala, a performance that really rivals Rachel House's voice performance. She really makes those character eccentricities her own. John Tui and Frankie Adams try their best as Chief Tui and Sina, but it falls flat. Adams just doesn't have the screen time, while Tui really struggles to find his way in such a large blockbuster ensemble.

The thing with this film is that it's not capable of achieving what animation did. It really does work hard, but those moments where it fails are there. There is a visual style that often sets up the next visual effects shot or confines us to the limits of the sound stage. When those visual effects work? The film feels like magic. But when those shots fail to keep the art style consistent, you are jettisoned back to your seat. The music, however, is a saving grace. They really let the lyrics be heard; the sound is more acoustic. When those voices soar and hit every note, you really feel the power behind that.

This is a perfectly fine film, but like many Disney live-action adaptations, fails to justify its own existence. I would give Moana a 6.5/10.