Moana, 2016.
Directed by Ron Clements and John Musker.
Featuring the voice talents of Auli’i Cravalho, Dwayne Johnson, Jemaine Clement, Rachel House, Temuera Morrison, Alan Tudyk, and Nicole Scherzinger.
SYNOPSIS:
In Ancient Polynesia, when a terrible curse incurred by Maui reaches an impetuous Chieftain’s daughter’s island, she answers the Ocean’s call to seek out the demigod to set things right.
Disney is currently having something of a banner year during an already multi-year hot-streak of success (five of the films in the top 10 for the 2016 worldwide box office totals are from the juggernaut, Zootopia is without a doubt one of the greatest animated films ever made and it’s in this author’s current top ten of 2016); Moana is no exception to the rule. Its visuals are vibrantly breathtaking, full of luscious bright colors that fit the Polynesian culture and Pacific setting, and the narrative is able to subvert some of the more tired and traditional tropes of Disney princesses. Furthermore, what’s not to like about Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson getting his own solo musical number? Especially when Lin-Manuel Miranda of Broadway fame is the musician providing the score.
Directed by the dynamic duo team of Ron Clements and John Musker (The Little Mermaid and Aladdin), Moana works best when it is exploring the friendship between its two leads, Moana herself (played by newcomer Auli’i Cravalho) and Maui (a demigod with the ability to transform into various animals, played by Dwayne Johnson). Moana and the inhabitants of her village are led to believe that Maui has played an integral part in darkness crawling near their peaceful island , so she sets out sailing beyond the safety of the sea in order to find him, along with a magical emerald gemstone that when returned to an ancient goddess, will restore normality to the lands.
Now, aside from some brief encounters with mythological monsters, what’s fascinating about Moana is that the film does not have a traditional villain. As mentioned, the camaraderie between Moana and Maui is meant to explore them as characters, and paint the picture that sometimes we can be our own worst enemy. One of the larger themes regards simply accepting who you are and finding out what your purpose in life is. It’s a journey more concerned with self-discovery rather than uncovering the dark thoughts of some bad guy and his nefarious doomsday blueprints. Also, the mostly lighthearted and humorous dialogue exchanges between Moana and Maui serve a purpose in helping each other understanding who they’re each meant to be
Of course, being a Disney movie, the adventure is filled with a number of catchy tunes to sing along to, and I’m pleased to report that the soundtrack alone is definitely worth buying a ticket for. Naturally, it is filled with ritualistic chanting and other instruments relative to the Polynesian culture, but what’s most commendable are the well-written lyrics that provide further depth to the protagonists. As mentioned, Dwayne Johnson even gets to sing, and not even does he hold his own, but he actually has my favorite song in the entire feature. Still, obviously the main attraction is the voice of Auli’i Cravalho, and she delivers gracefully.
Shifting gears away from Dwayne Johnson’s singing voice for Maui, his physical appearance needs attention brought to, as the many tattoos covering his entire body are actually hand-drawn 2-D animation. This is made especially cool when his tattoos come to life and interact with him, moving all across his body. Meanwhile, the three-dimensional animation is as mouthwateringly detailed as you would expect, whether it be a fiery lava monster or a narcissistic crab that can change colors. Furthermore, and I realize I keep saying this with every new Disney release, but I do not know how much more convincing their water physics and animation can get. Many shots here have reached the uncanny valley, looking wholly realistic (obviously not when cartoonish looking characters are in a frame though).
Moana is admittedly a very predictable movie, but at its core it is one of the good animated films that will speak to children, mostly getting them asking themselves who they might be. Adults will also be engaged at the overall maturity of the storytelling, making it another Disney film for the whole family. Even the youngest of children will find themselves occupied, as the movie contains a supremely stupid rooster that gets into a lot of shenanigans making for a cheap laugh. Essentially, Moana has something for everyone while successfully toying with the tried-and-true Disney princess formula.
Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★ ★ ★
Robert Kojder – Chief Film Critic of Flickering Myth. Check here for new reviews weekly, friend me on Facebook, follow my Twitter or Letterboxd, or email me at MetalGearSolid719@gmail.com
Originally published November 29, 2016. Updated April 16, 2018.
