Moana (2016) Review!!!

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.

My Take – Since growing up in the 90s I have been a huge fan of Disney’s animated films, either stand alones or their tie up with Pixar. Having released two highly successful this year in the form of the ‘adult oriented’ animated film Zootopia (from its themes and references) and the much awaited family friend sequel Finding Dory, Disney seemed all ready to capture the hearts of the audience (along with ringing the cash registers) right from the 1^st teaser of this gorgeous looking film with much needed diversity. And guess what? I guessed it right, this film delivers on every level – visually, characters themes & plot. The film does it simple and does it well. It’s also nice to see Disney continue to explore less recognizable cultures and introduce their rich ancestry and mythology to everyone in a respectful manner. Of course, the film does not reinvent storytelling as seldom few films ever will. In fact, it hinges on the Disney formula that we all know. But what it does do is take all the greatest aspects of amazing or significant films and brings them together to create a remarkably coherent, funny, sad, empathetic, and heartwarming experience. And by doing so, it taps into a sea of emotion. There were so many aspects of so many different films that I felt this film drew from. Mulan, Pocahontas, The Emperor’s New Groove, Hercules, The Little Mermaid, Zootopia, Finding Dory, Kubo and the Two Strings, Lilo & Stitch, and of course, Frozen (in a good way). All of these came to mind and seemed to inspire this film in a way that I never expected or ever thought was possible, and that’s just to name a few. I’m sure there’s more that could easily be put on the list. And that’s just part of what made it feel so special. That’s not to say it didn’t have its own originality either because it did. But by taking a little bit from a lot of different things, it turned it all into something it could call its own.

Loosely based on Polynesian folklore, the story follows the young Moana (Auli’I Cravalho), who is being groomed to become the chief of her Polynesian paradise of Motunui. For a long time, her father Chief Tui (Temuera Morrison) has forbidden his people to explore the world beyond their island’s reef. Something his mother Gramma Tala (Rachel House) & wife Sina (Nicole Scherzinger) understand but doesn’t agree with at all. Especially as the island begins to no longer be the resource-rich home it once was. Since, childhood Moana has had a sense of adventure, but on her dad resentment of the sea, she has stayed back on the mainland with her chicken Heihei (Alan Tudyk) and piglet. Upon seeing her the resources of her homeland dying, Moana decided to fulfill her grandmothers wishes to change the fate of the people & find Maui (Dwayne Johnson). A demigod who, according to legend, had taken the heart of Tahiti, thus releasing a darkness onto the world which is slowly consuming everything. We all know Disney makes fun films, but this film’s fun comes in form of the beautiful settings of the Pacific. Stepping away from the castles, this film will enchant you as you set sail on the majestic oceans and the mythical creatures that inhabit them. The world is colorful and dynamically shaded to match the tones of the film, which give the film a little energy to spice things up. Directors John Musker and Ron Clements have certainly come a long way spanning well over three decades under Disney since I remembered their work dating back to 1986. Whether it be The Great Mouse Detective, The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, Hercules, Treasure Planet, or even 2009’s Princess and the Frog, they’ve certainly pushed their boundaries further from their usual 2D animated flicks and into 3D terrain with an incredible story on how one princess doesn’t need a prince to rescue her or fall in love with (though an animal sidekick is a must). No, instead the focus is about finding the path that suits you along with the perils that lie ahead and seeing that there is good somewhere within. But hey, no one said it would be easy! Death and rejection are a huge part in modern animated stories, and not just within anime. Disney, as long as I can remember, would always have a dead parent (remember Bambi?)or a misfit somewhere in its film. This one is no different but, arguably, it isn’t like before. Just take Maui for example. His backstory of how he became a demi-god is heartbreaking in a way. That on top of the reason why Tui doesn’t want his people venturing past the reef, and what Cravalho through her voice, and the various animators and writers, bring to the film’s story. For while there is this little small part of me which wishes to compare this to Musker and Clements past work, which in some ways they nod to, this film reminds me of something. The pacing is near-perfect. By now, Disney Animation Studios probably have an algorithm for the ideal narrative structure. But heck – if they do, it’s working. From the myth-building first act and the character interplay of the second; from the moment of self-doubt to the final (very touching) showdown: it’s pleasingly predictable and entirely satisfying.

No surprise, the animation is fluid (as always) as realistic movements (both living and nonliving) are captured in this breathtaking CGI. Technically speaking, the film gives us a new level of detail in CG animation. Not just in the texture rendering but in the nuance of the animation itself. The living sea – snaking like the probe in James Cameron‘s The Abyss – is full of wordless charisma. The general art style is nicely aligned with classic Disney 2D, except the extra dimension feels necessary to embellish the breadth of the setting. That structural predictability allows for some fantastically bizarre set pieces along the way. Personal favorites are the attack of the Kakamora, where the film suddenly turns into Fury Road for kids; and the Realm of Monsters, which movingly updates the weird 80s fantasy environments of films like The Legend of Sirius, and then throws in a giant glam-shelled Jermaine Clement to do a David Bowie impression. The interplay between Moana and Maui, which constitutes the drama and humor of the middle section, is smartly written and full of sparks. Being a demigod, Maui is a raging narcissist, so Moana quickly realizes that persuading him to do the right thing requires an appeal to his ego – an ego which bellows godliness while whispering a fundamental vulnerability. Moana herself has the goofy appeal of the modern Disney heroine. Going deeper, her internal conflict isn’t original but nor does it feel forced. Johnson and newcomer Cravalho deliver excellent voice work, some of which requires belting out lung-busting songs. Joining the adventure is a light minded rooster named Heihei. He’s the slapstick cartoon element, narratively pointless but occasionally amusing. Perhaps he was inserted for younger children, because the rest of the humor is more subtle. I particularly enjoyed Maui’s bromance with his living tattoo, acting as a kind of pectoral-based conscience beside his heart. The chemistry between Auli’i Carvalho voicing the leading heroine Moana and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson voicing demigod Maui began to somewhat remind me of the witty banter between characters of previous Disney animated films (Zootopia and Wreck-It Ralph to name a few) as well as the reluctant personality of Phil from “Hercules” on Maui’s end. Not to mention his tattoos are also appealing because they seem to have a mind of their own and him spouting a couple wisecracking meta-references in some parts of the film were pretty laughable. The musical score, includes songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda, Opetaia Foa’I & Mark Mancina perfectly accentuates and punctuates the story elevating the level of entertainment. Plenty of toe tapping and seat dancing to be had. While none of the songs will most likely reach Let I Go proportions, I defy you not to laugh, hum along and get You’re Welcome stuck in your head. On the whole, ‘Moana’ is an extraordinarily well made, efficient, big-hearted, and achingly beautiful film. Combined with thoughtful characterization and a highly laudable message, Moana will be seen and savored for years to come.