by Alice-Ginevra Micheli, Contributing Writer
At this point, being skeptical about a Disney reimagining is in and of itself quite unoriginal. Everyone has had the same opinion of suspicion since the first one was announced way back when. However, there was also a note of good faith behind these. After all, titles like Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, and even Sleeping Beauty could certainly benefit being retold from a more modern lens. Books have been doing so for decades, why not movies? However, somewhere around the “live action” The Lion King, and the disastrous release of Tom Hanks’ Pinocchio, the good faith has waned further until the announcement of these movies is now simply considered easy money-makers with no creative purpose. So, can this Polynesian Princess finally win the hearts of audiences once again?
Moana sees our titular character, played by newcomer Catherine Laga’aia, embark on a quest to save her island from its slow death by pairing up with demigod Maui (re-played by Dwayne Johnson), and restoring the heart of Earth Goddess, Te Fiti.
Only ten years after the original, this is one of those reimagining that takes the words, story beats, and songs audiences know and love, and does exactly the same thing – but real! If one is going in as a fan of the 2016 version, and nothing else, they’ll be fine. However, for anyone wanting a little more, they will be finding themselves sorely out of luck. Not only could this be considered a carbon copy of the original, but it also replicates the visual gags down to the second across the film, to the point where it starts to feel uncanny.
For example, by keeping Johnson in the role of Maui, Moana proves why some roles work better with one as a voice-actor than on the screen. All the real-life charisma in the world can’t save a lack of chemistry, which is what we have between our two leads. Laga’aia feels like she’s trying to do an accentuated imitation of the cartoon, while Johnson is doing the opposite and paring down his magical character. This results in a personification of that moment in a conversation where two people keep talking over one another and cutting each other off in the process – in a word: awkward. The emotion is, as a result, completely lacking as we approach the climax of the film, even though, again, it follows every part of the original beat by beat.
With that comes its identical screenplay, although here the film could be considered fraternal, as some dialogue has in fact been added. This, though, has not been for the better as these extra lines only serve the purpose of stripping away any subtlety, and instead choosing to shove the obvious down the audience’s throat, one bad joke at a time. Events are never allowed to lie there for viewers to pick up on, and jokes aren’t allowed to remain in the visual medium. For many, this might feel like a slap in the face of their intelligence, for others it may take away what little enjoyment could have been had from revisiting this story, either way it’s a poor addition for the sake of having an addition.
On the topic of removing joy, this 2026 version has followed suit when it comes to the modern decision of stripping film of color. In order for it to feel real, the world has to apparently be two shades less in contrast, and with about 30% less brightness. The nights are dimmer, the ocean is less translucent, and the beautiful Polynesian sets, and costumes are hard done by its average ‘Hollywood expected’ color grading.
This is especially disappointing because all the moments on the island are beautiful. What this version has done right is respect its heritage in a way that invites the viewer into a real version of Moana’s island, while incorporating elements from many Polynesian cultures. In fact, the opening number, Where You Are is the highlight, with its high energy, and inspired hope. It’s just too bad the film can’t keep it up for the rest of the two hours.
Some may say that this exercise in the death of creativity is a death toll for these reimagining’s. Others may cynically look at the box office numbers, that, even the worst of these, manage to pull in and accept the unbidden fate of their presence now being a constant in our lives. Whatever the case, this movie will not go down as one of the better. This is a lesser of its former, and it would be surprising if anyone chooses to watch this instead of the 2016 version when both are on Disney+. Having said that, as mentioned, the songs are the same, the script is the same, the humor is the same, everything is the same – it’s just “real.” So, if that’s all people are looking for, then their search is at an end. For anyone looking for any modicum of interesting element, however, you’re highly encouraged to go see something else.
Rating: Didn’t Like It
Moana (Live Action) is currently playing in Theaters
Editor’s Note: Moana is streaming on Disney+, nudge, nudge, wink, wink, know what I mean? Eh?
You can read more from Alice-Ginevra Micheli, and follow her on Instagram and Letterboxd