Moana
/"What's a demigod gotta do?"
Filmology Rating: 3.25 out of 4
After Tangled, Wreck-It Ralph, Frozen, and now Moana I think it is incredibly fair to say we are in the middle of the next Disney Renaissance. This is coming from a person who went into Tangled with his arms folded because I thought it was going to be a below average Disney film and I was someone who didn’t want his beloved stories to become all computer generated films. I have since come to put aside my bias for computer generated animation over hand drawn but still something about the film seemed to be missing when I went in. Once the film was over I sat in my seat thinking I just saw an animated work of high art.
Moana, voiced fantastically by first time actress Auli’i Cravalho, has recently decided to give up her own dreams to help her father Chief Tui Waialiki, voiced by Temuera Morrison, guide their tribe. Their island begins to have problems when their crops begin to not bear edible food and then all the fish mysteriously disappear and Moana believes that the demigod Maui, voiced by Dwayne Johnson, has the key to fixing her people’s dire problems. Moana decides to go on a journey like her ancestors did to find Maui and return the heart to all that is good in the world.
Disney Animation continues to get the best people they can to voice the characters in their films. The casting process for Moana must have been completely difficult but Auli’i Cravalho proves that she will be a major talent in voiceover work. She captures perfectly the confidence yet slight unsureness about what she wants to do to help her people. She also has a spectacular singing voice that I’m sure Disney will capitalize on with a theme park attraction. Cravalho is truly the breakout star of the film and I hope people give her the due she deserves because trying to give the emotion that the character needs behind a microphone is truly hard and she seems to do it with such ease. The other star of the film, Dwayne Johnson, is also great and as always brings a sense of fun to the role. Johnson is always charming even when he is in mediocre projects like Race to Witch Mountain and G.I. Joe: Retaliation, but his work in Moana is clearly something special to Johnson. He brings a sense of smugness that also wears a slight bit of sorrow. And when you hear Maui’s backstory you can’t help but hearing Johnson’s heartbreaking along with yours, the moment in the film never felt hollow or like the movie didn’t earn the somber moment.
Most films directed by committee don’t often work but with legends like Ron Clements and John Musker, who also directed The Little Mermaid and Aladdin, leading the team you can only find hope. Add in Don Hall, who co-directed Winnie the Pooh, and Chris Williams, who co-directed Big Hero 6, you find yourself feeling an uplifting sense of glee. The film flows like a near perfect piece of literature. You find yourself rooting for Moana because she has her priorities in life worked out, she doesn’t run off on an adventure to rescue a boy she does it to save her people that she will eventually lead. She only wants the best for her community which is refreshing to see after countless Disney films where the characters are looking for a singular love. Like most Disney films a huge story group came up with the story of the film with names like Taika Waititi involved you have to believe that Disney wanted to make something special rather than a film that feels like it was ripped off the assembly line. Jared Bush, who was one of the co-writers and directors of this years animated hit Zootopia, ends up receiving sole screenplay credit which does have a script so tight that you would find it hard to believe the film had at least seven people given story by credit. Bush has a very tongue in cheek manner of delivering some of the more classic Disney tropes but it is done in a loving manner. But then he also continues the latest trend of giving an empowering women rather than one that seems to always rely on the man to save the day. While Moana is conflicted it is by her love for adventure and her love for her people, giving a female character in a Disney film a high level of importance in the society is great to finally see and the fact that she is actually a dimensional character makes it even better.
The soundtrack for this film is inspiring and fantastic. The songs were written by Lin-Manuel Miranda, who recently conquered the world with “Hamilton”, and Opetaia Foa’i, who has written many hits in Oceanian. When I think of these new modern Disney songs they all in some form advance the plot and every song in Moana besides one does that. That one that feels like it was forced in at the last minuet is “Shiny” performed by Jemaine Clement. The tone, lyrics, and message are completely different than every other song in the film. I have talked to some people who have tried to convince me that it’s better in light of the election that just occurred but I personally don’t believe that. I think that trying to look at any film released this close to the end of the election cycle is completely coincidental and should only be taken at face value. However the good highly outweighs that one misplaced song. “How Far I’ll Go” has been played no less than thirty times since I saw this film less than twenty four hours ago. It is an inspiring and powerful anthem that any person would be proud to sing. However the pop version that plays during the credits performed by Alessia Cara is unnecessary and comes to the point of almost ruining the uniqueness of the original version.
Yes I am a Disney fan but I do call the company out when they make products I feel don’t live up to the entertaining name of Disney but this film hits every mark and a few others that most films only dream to hit. This is a film to bring your family to or to just get out of the house when the crazy family member comes over for the holidays.
Rating: See It
-Jonny G