Moana (2016), directed by Ron Clements & John Musker, stars Auli’i Cravalho, Dwayne Johnson, Rachel House, Temuera Morrison, Jemaine Clement, Nicole Scherzinger, Alan Tudyk, Oscar Kightley, and Troy Polamalu. The film takes place in the Polynesian islands and follows the titular Moana (Cravalho), a young princess with a love of sailing who against her father’s (Morrison) wishes sets sail on a journey to find Maui (Johnson), a disgraced demigod who holds the power to save her island from an ancient curse. Initially at odds with one another on their way to a mysterious island that holds the power to save Moana’s people, the two unlikely allies eventually help one another to find strength in their various flaws and redemption for their past mistakes.

Disney made the right choice by choosing to cast a talented actress as opposed to someone who simply has a big name that will sell more tickets. Cravalho’s voice is seamless with Moana’s personality and character design, but the best part is that she nails the film’s musical numbers. I don’t generally have strong opinions about Disney princesses, but Moana stands out to me. She has clear goals and struggles that the viewer can easily empathize with, but she’s also serious without coming across as humorless and funny without coming across as goofy. I think a part of why she works so well is that the script is very clear about who Moana is and naturally lets the audience come to like her without resorting to desperate jokes or unearned “girl boss” moments. 

Johnson gives one of the more likable voice performances he’s given and provides Maui with an appropriately energetic persona. It helps that the character is written with a more brutal edge than I was expecting. He seriously tries to kill Moana multiple times and shows zero remorse, but it works comedically seeing as this behavior feels appropriate for a demigod – someone who would most likely see normal humans as expendable. It’s nice to see Disney be willing to push the line with their comedy at least a little bit.

The animation is some of the best I’ve seen from a Disney animated film. The visuals leave just a little bit to desire in terms of originality, but that’s sort of an afterthought when one considers how polished everything looks. Sand on the beach looks almost real and the waves of the ocean move with naturally random fluidity. The artistic flair of the Pacific Island cultures also helps to add a unique visual element that feels like a continuation of what Disney delivered years earlier with Lilo & Stitch (2002). Inspired by, but not derivative of – I want to make that clear. 

The film still suffers from a handful of unoriginal Disney-animated musical tropes such as a cute animal sidekick and a father who disapproves of his daughter. The dialogue is also occasionally silly, but considering the target audience is young children, it’s more palatable than most films of its kind. 

Musicals such as these live and die by their songs and I’m pleased to report that Moana has multiple songs that had me tapping my feet and at least one where I was singing along out loud. The editing team makes the smart choice to revisit the best song multiple times and the second-best song at least twice. The filmmakers knew what we’d want and they delivered. Speaking of delivering, the film’s climactic action sequence is a real doozy and features an intimidating and visually effective villain who gives the protagonists a run for their money and makes their inevitable success that much sweeter. 

Overall, this is one of the better Disney animated films to be released in the last decade and features at least one song that will be played for years to come. It’s still a kid movie, so adults should temper their expectations accordingly. Regardless of your age, what you should expect are likable characters, great visuals, and songs that make you wanna bob your head. Disney is at its best when it focuses on original content and this movie is a testament to that. B+