Moana
July 8th, 2026
MOVIE: MOANA
STARRING: CATHERINE LAGA’AIA, DWAYNE JOHNSON, JOHN TUI, RENA OWEN, JEMAINE CLEMENT
DIRECTED BY: THOMAS KALI
AMovieGuy.com’s RATING: 1 ½ STARS (Out of 4)
RATED: PG
RUN TIME: 115 MINUTES
As I sat down to put my thoughts together on the new live-action version of 2016’s Moana– appropriately titled…Moana, I began to get frustrated. Not because there was anything wrong with what I had just watched, but because, by comparison, if someone copied a school paper letter for letter, line for line, paragraph for paragraph, I believe our high school English teachers would hand out a detention for plagiarism. In Disney’s world of live-action remakes, however, that seems to be the best they can do: take a previously successful animated film, repackage it, promote it all over again, and make millions of dollars from families looking for an escape. It’s my job to call this Moana what it is- a soulless venture that recreates the magic of the animated version while offering little inspiration to go beyond what has already been done.
This version, directed by Thomas Kail- best known for his television work and for bringing the filmed version of Hamilton to Disney+- has little room for any creative stamp of its own. The story begins with young Moana, the precocious island princess who loves the sea and longs to venture beyond the shores of her village. Through song and dance, Moana (played charmingly by newcomer Catherine Laga’aia) grows into a teenager while her father, Chief Tui (John Tui), urges her to abandon her adventurous spirit and remain on the island. But as her determination proves, Moana refuses to let anyone keep her from crossing the reef.
Her mother, Sina (Frankie Adams), and grandmother, Tala (Rena Owen), recognize that Moana has a greater purpose. When the island’s crops begin to fail, and the land starts to die, she sets sail to return the heart of Te Fiti with the reluctant help of the demigod Maui (played once again by Dwayne Johnson, only this time sporting some rather ridiculous hair). Explaining the plot almost feels pointless because it’s virtually identical to the animated film. If you’re a parent like me whose kids watched the original every other day during the COVID lockdowns, you already know every lyric, joke, and story beat by heart.
The harsh reality is that this is a difficult movie to review. If you love the original Moana, I won’t judge or blame you for enjoying this 2026 version. The songs remain catchy- especially the always delightful “You’re Welcome”- and the choreography is impressive, complemented by Liz McGregor’s authentic costume design. But that’s about where the praise ends. Johnson even seems to be phoning it in, playing a role he could perform in his sleep, while Laga’aia is an engaging new talent who is given very little opportunity to make the character her own. Just as Disney intended, it’s a movie that takes almost no risks, leaving very little at stake.
That continues to be the problem with these live-action remakes. Jon Favreau did it with The Lion King and The Jungle Book, while last year’s Snow White stands out only because it was so dreadful that it became impossible to forget. Hopefully, audiences have begun to see these films for what they are: shameless cash grabs designed to line the pockets of Disney executives while preying on the nostalgia of anyone who remembers the warmth of watching the original Moana. You’re better off staying home and watching the animated film again. You’ll save money. You don’t have to thank me.
I’ll just say, “You’re Welcome.”
1 ½ STARS
MOANA IS PLAYING IN THEATERS EVERYWHERE FRIDAY, JULY 10TH, 2026.
Written by: Leo Brady
