Moana review: Dwayne Johnson keeps Disney's live-action remake afloat

Every time Disney announces a live-action remake, millennials collectively have the same reaction: excitement followed by anxiety. You can’t wait to revisit a story that shaped your childhood, but you also wonder if some classics are better left untouched. Animation had a kind of magic that CGI, no matter how breathtaking, still struggles to bottle. And Disney's latest release, Moana, is the latest to test that theory.

A decade after the animated original became a favourite, the story returns with real actors, bigger visuals and a whole lot of nostalgia. Thankfully, the heart is still in the right place. At its core, Moana remains a coming-of-age adventure about finding where you truly belong, even if it means going against everything you’ve ever been taught.

Debutant Catherine Laga’aia plays Moana, who has always been drawn to the ocean. Her parents want her to stay on the island, protect the reef and eventually become its leader. But the ocean has other plans. Encouraged by her grandmother, she discovers that her ancestors were fearless voyagers, setting her on a mission to restore the stolen heart of Te Fiti after the demigod Maui (Dwayne Johnson) throws nature out of balance.

The story hasn’t changed, and honestly, it didn’t need to. It still speaks about identity, courage and choosing your own path. There’s enough emotional depth tucked beneath the spectacle too. Maui’s story of being abandoned as a child before the ocean gave him purpose is quietly moving. So is the film’s progressive reminder that leadership isn’t about gender. The tribe has had both women and men as chiefs, and the film mentions it so casually that it never feels like it’s trying too hard. It also quietly celebrates nature, reminding younger audiences that the ocean isn’t just a backdrop but something to be respected and protected.

But let’s be honest... we sat through only because Maui... The Rock absolutely delivers. After lending his voice to Maui in the animated film, Johnson finally gets to bring the larger-than-life demigod to life on screen, and he looks like he’s having the time of his life. The oversized ego, the playful arrogance, the flexing, the constant banter with Moana, and of course those hilarious living tattoos -- every single one of those moments lands. He has the film’s funniest lines, its biggest laughs and its most entertaining scenes. Every time he’s off-screen, you find yourself waiting for him to return.

Catherine Laga’aia is a wonderful Moana, carrying the innocence and determination the character demands. The supporting cast slips into familiar roles with ease. John Tui brings warmth and quiet authority as Chief Tui, Frankie Adams is graceful as Sina, while Rena Owen makes Grandma Tala the emotional heartbeat of the story and Moana's inner voice. But the biggest surprise is Awhimai Fraser, who plays little Moana. Much like Lilo & Stitch last year, Disney once again finds a child actor who is so effortlessly adorable that you wish the film had given her more screen time.

Visually, there’s very little to complain about. The ocean is breathtaking, almost becoming a character of its own. The action sequences are mounted on an impressive scale, while the mischievous coconut-armoured Kakamora remain just as delightfully chaotic as ever. Even the tiny Disney nods work, especially when Maui cheekily points out that Moana is basically a princess because she has an adorable animal sidekick tagging along on her adventure.

Speaking of sidekicks, Heihei, the perpetually confused chicken, remains every bit as hilariously useless as fans remember. Accidentally stumbling into danger, surviving impossible situations and contributing almost nothing to the mission, he still manages to become one of the film’s biggest scene-stealers.

But here’s where the film starts drifting. For something that asks its heroine to embrace the unknown, Moana plays it painfully safe. Director Thomas Kail approaches the remake with immense affection for the original; almost too much affection, in fact. He faithfully recreates the iconic moments, lets the spectacle breathe and ensures the emotional beats remain intact. But that’s also where the film falters. It rarely dares to reinterpret or reinvent, making this feel more like an expensive recreation than a fresh cinematic experience.

The film also keeps losing momentum. It picks up, slows down, finds its feet again, then drifts all over again. There are entire stretches where your attention starts wandering, only for Johnson to swoop back in and rescue things with another hilarious exchange or larger-than-life entrance. The music, too, doesn’t hit quite as hard. It opens like it’s ready to become a full-fledged musical, but somewhere along the journey, the songs almost disappear. The familiar tracks still spark nostalgia, but the newer additions don’t leave the same imprint.

Yet, Moana still has enough going for it. The performances are sincere, the visuals are gorgeous, and its love letter to nature and the environment remains as relevant as ever. More importantly, it continues telling children that it’s okay to question where you belong, honour your roots while carving your own path, and find strength in kindness instead of fear.