Moana live-action remake earns broadly positive verdict from critic
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The Hollywood Reporter's chief film critic David Rooney has given a broadly favourable review to Disney's live-action remake of Moana, arriving just ten years after the 2016 animated original. Rooney, who admits general scepticism about Disney's live-action remake "assembly line", argues the film succeeds on its own terms thanks to its heart, humour and respect for South Sea cultures, singling out Australian newcomer Catherine Laga'aia in the title role and a self-parodying Dwayne Johnson as the demigod Maui.
Directed by Thomas Kail and running one hour and 55 minutes with a PG rating, the film is released on Friday 10 July and has already taken $4.5m in previews. The screenplay by Jared Bush and Dana Ledoux Miller retains the original's core story, in which Moana is raised in the Polynesian community of Motonui and bonds closely with her grandmother Tala (Rena Owen), against the backdrop of a legend in which Maui stole the heart of the nature goddess Te Fiti and unleashed a slow-spreading darkness. Rooney concedes the remake brings no new ideas and leans heavily on CG effects, but concludes this does not detract from its charm, calling it "a buoyant surprise".
- Disney's live-action Moana remake earns a broadly positive critical verdict.
- Catherine Laga'aia and Dwayne Johnson praised in lead roles.
- Released 10 July; $4.5m taken in previews.
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Disney's Moana, released in 2016, was one of the studio's biggest animated hits, telling the story of a young Polynesian girl who sails across the ocean to save her island, guided by the demigod Maui. Disney has since been remaking many of its animated classics as live-action films, a strategy that has drawn mixed reactions from critics and audiences. This new version reunites the same core story for the big screen with human actors rather than animation.
The remake stars Catherine Laga'aia, an Australian newcomer, as Moana, alongside Dwayne Johnson returning to voice and now physically play Maui, plus Rena Owen as Moana's grandmother Tala. It is directed by Thomas Kail, with a screenplay by Jared Bush and Dana Ledoux Miller, the writers behind the original film, and carries a PG rating ahead of its cinema release.
The story matters partly because of what it represents for Disney's wider remake strategy, and partly because of how it handles its source material, a tale rooted in Polynesian and South Sea cultural traditions. Critical reaction to these live-action adaptations often shapes public expectations and box office performance before a film even opens widely.
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Originally published by The Hollywood Reporter as “‘Moana’ Review: Captivating Newcomer Catherine Laga’aia and a Game Dwayne Johnson Invigorate One of Disney’s Better Live-Action Remakes”.