[yasr_overall_rating]
A young woman uses her navigational talents to set sail for a fabled island. Joining her on the adventure is her hero, the legendary demi-god Maui.
While Disney’s movie library is vast and boundless, I think it’s safe to say they’ve never made a bad animated film. Sure, you can criticize the story, or the voice actors, or even the music, but the animated effects have always been at the top of their game. And with “Moana,” Disney pushes the envelope even further. On the island of Motunui, we are introduced to luscious green fields, towering palm trees, beautiful beaches with long stretches of white sand, and endless views of the deep blue sea. Moana (voiced by newcomer Auli’i Cravalho), whose father is the island’s overprotective Chief Tui, lives among her people and enjoys her day-to-day existence with them but she is constantly drawn to the ocean. She doesn’t know why and whenever she nears the water, her father swoops in and removes her from the beach, reminding her and everyone on the island, to never sail beyond the reef.
After a failed attempt one night to sail out into the water by herself, Moana is greeted on shore by her Gramma Tala (Rachel House), who proceeds to tell her that their people were once great voyagers, who loved to explore new lands and experience new adventures. When Moana inquires as to why nobody ever leaves the island, Tala tells her the story of Maui (Dwayne Johnson), a Demi-God who stole the heart of Te Fiti, the mother island, and after his daring escape, darkness fell across the land. She informs Moana that she must sail across the ocean and find him so she can take him back to Te Fiti to restore her heart, and excise the doom and gloom that has enslaved the rest of the earth. Reluctant to go against her father’s wishes, she soon changes her mind when Tala tells her that the ocean has chosen her to carry out the mission, and with the help of a boat her grandmother kept hidden all these years, she sets out beyond the great reef.
After having being knocked out, the result of a huge thunderstorm that enveloped her and her boat, she wakes up the next morning on a small, seemingly deserted island, only to discover Maui is living there. Excited at the opportunity of getting off the wretched island, having been imprisoned there for hundreds of years, Moana tells him the only way off, is to go back to Te Fiti with her so he can restore the heart he stole. Naturally, he is very hesitant but with a little persuasion from the ocean itself, as well as Moana and Hei Hei, her pet rooster, he reluctantly agrees. On their journey, they happen upon an army of neanderthals called the Kakamora, a great homage to “Mad Max: Fury Road,” a big Cocoanut Crab monster called Tamatoa, and finally, before they can reach the island of Te Fiti to restore its heart, they must battle a giant lava monster named Te Ka. Throughout their adventure, both human and Demi-God discover a great deal not just about each other, but also about themselves.
“Moana” plays out like most other Disney animated features including a strong female protagonist, accompanied by an indispensable sidekick (see “Tangled,” “Frozen” & “Pocahontas”), the reluctant arrogant, self-serving hero, gigantic obstacles to overcome, spontaneous outbursts into song, and a feel-good ending that Disney always manages to achieve, in spite of any misgivings the film might encompass. Dwayne Johnson has proved to the world that he can do anything he wants, and do it well: professional wrestler – check! Musician – check! Actor and filmmaker – check! Animated voiceover actor – check! He lends a great deal of energy and humor to the narcissistic but lovable Maui and newcomer Auli’i Cravalho, proves she has the talent to go beyond Disney and into the great movie yonder. “Moana” is lighthearted fare that the whole family can enjoy and with Thanksgiving upon us, and school out, it is the ideal way to spend an afternoon.
In theaters Wednesday, November 23rd
