5 Out of 5 Stars
Its hasn’t even been a year since Zootopia and while Pixar can’t seem to catch a break Disney cant stop churning out some of their best work in years. Now with Moana we have yet another Disney masterpiece that feels like the next evolution in the Disney princess genre and another much needed step forward.

As you could guess from the title, the film focuses on Moana (Auli’i Cravalho) a 16 year-old young woman next in line to be the chief of her village. When her island in Polynesia is threatened by a curse that is poisoning the land and food she must track down the shape-shifting demigod Maui (Dwayne Johnson) who was responsible for the curse, and also the only once who can break it. Moana first has to first convince Maui to join her quest, and then help him recover his magic hook to regain his powers. See only then can they battle the giant lava monster who is poisoning the land and return the Heart of Te Fiti that Maui stole to its rightful place. Doesn’t sound easy does it?


Moana’s biggest strength is also its biggest weakness, and that is it’s just so different story-wise than anything Disney has done since they have started making CG films. Firstly for a ‘princess’ film, Moana isn’t a princess, she’s next in line to be chief of her village, no prince or king needed here. When we meet her the wellbeing of her people are already weighing heavily on the young woman’s shoulders and it is for this reason she steals a boat and sets off against her father’s wishes looking for Maui. There is also no love interest, the film instead focuses on the journey and adventure of Moana, trying to save her people and return them to their once glory. This all while being as funny and heartwarming as you would expect from your Disney holiday tentpole.

The film also takes a different approach to its visuals and music. There is a very Miyazaki-esque surrealness to the world of Moana. Nature itself is embodied in some amazing character designs that really push what we’ve seen in recent releases. For example the ocean itself is a character helping Moana on her adventure, which has her battling everything from a giant Crab that takes a pretty big cue from Davie Bowie to the bizarre Kakamoras. These tiny monsters that use coconut husks for armor are not only hilarious, but facilitate a pretty intense Fury Road inspired sequence in the film. This is all to new music by Hamilton’s Lin-Manuel Miranda, who while turning out the familiar Disney tunes, throws in a few infectious curveballs as well. I’ve definitely had the soundtrack on repeat since checking this film out and you know what? The Rock can sing.


Moana is easily the best Disney films since Frozen, with its focus on a story of a young woman finding her place in the world that does a great job avoiding the pitfalls of the genre the studio invented. This is also thanks to Moana who feels likes one of the most well rounded protagonists we have yet to see in these modern fairytales that can do anything including keeping Maui from stealing this film. It’s her relationship with Maui that carries the narrative that feels like a refreshing departure as this young woman not only tries saves not only her people, but a wayward demigod who’s lost his way. While I loved the film, I just keep wondering if the thing that makes this film so special and amazing will also be its undoing. I guess only time will tell, because if Moana does well I can’t wait to see what Disney does next.