Moana

By: Lisa Steinberg

Disney does it again with another precious princess guaranteed to have adults and children singing her praises! Moana is a beautiful journey filled with perspective and perseverance.

Moana (Auli’i Cravalho) is a young princess on the island of Motunui and as she was growing up she is told by her grandmother lustrous stories about how their island and how the world was created. Te Fiti had an unbridled love and she filled the world with beauty, nature, people and food. The world was the most incredibly captivating place and life flourished. One day, the demigod Maui (Dwayne Johnson) decided to steal Te Fiti’s heart and when he did the world was forever changed and Maui was punished. In his pursuit to get away with Te Fiti’s heart, he battled an evil fire G-d named Te Ka who stole Maui’s magical hook and buried it while leaving Maui stranded on an island. Meanwhile, the islands were cursed. While her heart is away from Te Fiti, no island would be able to sustain itself.

As Moana begins to grow up, her father forbids her from going out into the ocean. No one is allowed to swim or sail beyond the reef. But when Motunui begins to feel the effects of becoming a wasteland, Moana decides it is time to take action to find Maui and restore Te Fiti’s heart. Along the way to find Maui Moana joined by a rooster named Heihei (Alan Tudyk) who is slightly daft, but very lovable. Unfortunately, once Moana located Maui he isn’t exactly keen to join her team and find his way back to Te Fiti. His ego is big and his interest is small. But Moana makes her case and the two set out together despite the perils they face.

Along the way Moana learns about navigation, trusting her instincts and finding her strength. We see an incredible plethora of colors that paint the ocean and we share some sweet songs that showcase a mix of comedy and courage. These incredible songs a large part of the movie’s magic and were written and composed by Lin-Manuel Miranda, Mark Mancina, and Opetaia Foa’l. Maui may be menacing, but he is a total softie and Dwayne Johnson provides a fantastic balance of being playful and powerful. Cravalho is enchanting and gives the princess her guts and gusto. Little girls everywhere have found a new Disney darling to admire.

Moana shows viewers that where there is a will, there is a way! Watch this wonderful wild ride of an adventure in 3D in theatres now. (Grade: A-)