Review - Moana (2026)

       Hey guys, Chuck here, and we have yet another Fisney live-action remake on our hands with Moana, dirrcted.by Thomas Kail, and starring Catherine Laga'aia, Dwayne Johnson, John Tui, Rena Owen, Frankie Adams, and Jemaine Clement as the voice of Tamatoa. 

       So, much like the 2016 animated original, the live-action remake of Moana follows the adventures of Moana, daughter of the Chief of Motunui, as she traverses the ocean and teams up with the demigod Maui in a quest to restore the Heart of Te Fiti and save the world. And, of course, Moana and Maui encounter the likes of the Kakamora and the giant crab Tamatoa. 

       Now, the songs in this movie are all cometely held over from the 2016 original. And, I will say that the new renditions of the songs are pretty good. Hearing Dwayne Johnson's new spin on "You're Welcome," or the new rendition of "We Know the Way," were terrific. Heck, even Catherine Laga'aia's new take on the hit song "How Far I'll Go" was fantastic. Now, there is one new song for this version of Moana called "Along the Way," and it's pretty fun. 

       The acting is pretty good, with both Dwayne Johnson and Jemaine Clement giving the exact performances you'd expect as Maui and Tamatoa. Catherine Loaga'aia's take on Moana was absolutely spot on, and I did enjoy the likes of John Tui, Rena Owens, and Frankie Adams as Moana's family. In terms of visual effects and visual storytelling, it's pretty spot on, as well, with gorgeous landscape and ocean shots. 

         Narratively, the live action Moana is, beat for beat, precisely identical to the animated original. Every plot point, every joke, every action scene, every musical moment, is exactly the same as the original animated movie, just with a slightly different coat of paint. But, is it the worst of these live-action remakes that Disney has made? No, those would still be Pinocchio and Snow White. Not as great as the 2015 Cinderella, but up there with both the live-action remakes of Aladdin and Beauty and the Beast for my level of enjoyment. Definitely worth seeing in theaters at a matinee, but I don't know of I'd recommend it in premium formats. 

       Alright guys, this is Chuck signing off, and I'll see you in the next review. 

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