Review of Moana (2016) by Leopoldthebrave — 03 Apr 2017

It's the typical Disney formula we've come to know and love, but that's not always a bad thing. While I typically have a problem with cookie cutter plots, like the generic buddy cop action in Zootopia, the Disney princess formula has never left a bad taste in anyone's mouth.

Sure it's the same old story, but as the saying goes "If it isn't broken, don't fix it." Moana stars a young Polynesian princess who has been chosen by the water to restore the heart of Te Fiti and save the world. She succeeds in her mission with all of the classic Disney tropes. Running away from her family while singing a song about being free, but not before one of the family members die. Bringing an animal sidekick on her journey. You all know the drill. While the movie does make an attempt to joke about the Disney stereotypes of a princess, that doesn't exactly justify them. Joking about how you're stealing candy from a baby doesn't justify the fact that you're still stealing candy from a baby.

The characters in this movie are very likable. Moana may not stand out as a "powerful female lead" like the feminists may want you to believe, but she gets an A for effort. There's no romantic subplot, and Moana does do fairly decent on her own sometimes. She does mostly get help from the ocean and Maui, but she does have a few moments where she sines. Maui, played by Dwayne Johnson, is a very entertaining portrayal of the Polynesian hero. He definitely dishes out some hilarious jokes, and his development feels believable as he just wants love from the humans and would do anything to earn it.

The animation in the movie is downright jaw-dropping. The water glows and moves in a way unlike any other water I've seen in animation. I couldn't even imagine PIXAR, the king of CGI animation, creating something as beautiful as Moana. They capture the feel of Polynesian islands without fail, and the mythical places, like the realm of monsters, feel very creative. Everything on the characters looks natural as well. The way they move, the way their hair moves, the way their clothing moves. It's all incredible.

The soundtrack for the movie is definitely one of the most unique in Disney's recent lineup. Sure you'll have your generic magical sidekick "Friend Like Me" pop up in the form of Dwayne Johnson's "You're Welcome" or a song about a girl being free as cookie cutter as "Let it Go" in the form of Moana's "How Far I'll Go" but the movie is also has some very bizarre sounding tracks that feel as though they could only fit in this move. "Shiny" is a good example of this.

Overall, I highly recommend Moana. It's a beautifully animated adventure starring two of Disney's most likable protagonist in their fun song-filled quest to save the day. There's great humor, a light nature that's easy to get into, and a bouncy soundtrack that's difficult to get out of your head. While it does fall victim to the typical Disney princess plot, minus the romance, it's not enough to leave a huge scratch on this magnificent movie.