Theoretically, animated and live-action movies have different advantages, and can do different things more effectively and with greater artistry. If anyone at Disney understood that basic concept, I might be more inclined to give their live-action remakes of animated hits the benefit of the doubt. But as the new version of “Moana” proves yet again, the formula for these movies has been refined into slavish imitation, with only minimal variations on the source material.
Tom’s Guide Verdict: “Moana”
- Rating: 2/5 Stars
- Verdict: The live-action remake of 2016 animated hit “Moana” features the same plot, the same songs, and some of the same actors, but it’s a pale copy that captures very little of the charm and enthusiasm that made the original such an enduring favorite.
- Where to watch: Opens in theaters July 10
“Moana” isn’t the worst of Disney’s many live-action remakes, but it’s one of the most pointless, and anyone who enjoyed the 2016 original would be better off just watching that again. Disney could save a lot of money by simply rereleasing that beloved film into theaters.
Anyone who hasn’t seen 2016’s “Moana” would also be well-advised to start there, since it’s not like the decade-old movie is in any way outdated. It’s obviously relevant enough to warrant a nearly carbon-copy remake, with multiple stars reprising their previous roles. The story remains solid, and the songs are still excellent, but the new movie is little more than an inferior re-enactment.
The new ‘Moana’ tells the same story, only worse
Nothing has changed about the plot of “Moana,” which is still set on the fictional Polynesian island of Motunui, where the inhabitants have lived in peace and isolation for centuries. Young Moana (Catherine Laga’aia) is the spirited daughter of the island’s chief, Tui (John Tui), and is expected to succeed him as leader one day. The one ironclad rule of Motunui is that no one ever ventures further offshore than the nearby reef, but Moana longs to explore the vastness of the ocean.
When the island’s coconut crops and fishing expeditions start to fail, both Moana and her grandmother Tala (Rena Owen) believe that the only way to save Motunui is to break an ancient curse brought on by the demigod Maui (Dwayne Johnson) when he stole the heart of the goddess Te Fiti. So Moana leaves Motonui with just her hyperactive pet chicken Heihei as her companion, to seek out Maui and convince him to return the heart of Te Fiti and bring prosperity back to Motunui.
As scripted by original “Moana” writer Jared Bush and “Moana 2” co-writer/co-director Dana Ledoux Miller, the new “Moana” follows all the expected beats, with only very minor additions. Yet the story that’s full of wonder and excitement in animated form feels largely lifeless when transposed to live action, augmented by more detailed but less appealing digital effects.
‘Moana’ falls flat when it should soar
The one major player who’s entirely blameless here is Laga’aia, who confidently steps into the role previously played by Auli’i Cravalho with all the charm she can muster. The live-action format means that she’s frequently alone onscreen, surrounded only by visual effects added in later, but she’s still compelling to watch, with a lovely singing voice and boundless energy.
It’s too bad that the movie around her doesn’t match her enthusiasm, especially Johnson’s desperate-seeming performance as Maui, returning after voicing the character in both animated movies. To help him more closely resemble the muscular but rotund Maui, he’s been saddled with bulky prosthetics that make him look more swollen than swole, like he’s experiencing an unfortunate allergic reaction. Add in a limp, awkwardly fitting wig, and he seems out of place the entire time as the cocky, carefree Maui.
The existing songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda, Opetaia Foa’i and Mark Mancina are just as good as they’ve always been — Moana’s “I want” song “How Far I’ll Go” remains one of the best Disney musical numbers of the past 25 years — and it’s always enjoyable to hear them again. But the staging is uninspired, which is especially disappointing given that “Moana” marks the feature-film debut of veteran Broadway director Thomas Kail, whose credits include the debut runs of “Hamilton” and “In the Heights.”
The value of hiring an experienced theater director should be in his ability to bring vibrant production numbers to life, but aside from the early performance of “Where You Are,” which features an ensemble of exuberantly dancing townspeople, the songs proceed in a vacuum of digital clutter. Ironically, Maui’s big number, “You’re Welcome,” is greatly enhanced by extensive animation, making it even more redundant.
Verdict: ‘Moana’ is a tedious retread
Jemaine Clement also returns to voice the greedy giant crab Tamatoa, and like Heihei, he looks essentially the same as his 2016 counterpart, only with drabber, more “realistic” animation that takes away much of his appeal. That applies to the movie as a whole, which looks busier but less colorful than the original, and comes off like cheap cosplay despite costing hundreds of millions of dollars to produce.
“Moana 2” wasn’t great, but at least it attempted to offer a new story, new songs and new supporting characters. All that the live-action “Moana” has to offer is a reminder of a much better movie that is readily accessible right now on Disney Plus.
“Moana” opens in theaters July 10
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