The live-action adaptation of Disney's animated hit "Moana" has been met with a largely critical reception, with some reviewers panning its perceived lack of originality. The film, which sees Dwayne Johnson reprise his role as demigod Maui, opened to a wave of reviews that highlighted a scarcity of creative spark.
Robbie Collin of The Telegraph described the film as so derivative that it "could have been made by a ChatGPT prompt." He further elaborated that "barely a moment" felt original, suggesting it could have been produced by simply instructing an AI to remake the original "Moana" in live action. Collin awarded the film two out of five stars.
In contrast, David Rooney of The Hollywood Reporter offered a more favorable view, calling it "captivating family entertainment" that is "brimming with visual interest, vibrant color, gorgeous design elements and alluring tropical settings." He expressed confidence that the film "deserves to find an audience."
The film features a script adapted by Jared Bush, who penned the original animated screenplay, and retains the music of Lin-Manuel Miranda. Thomas Kail, known for his work on the stage musical "Hamilton," makes his directorial debut in a feature film.
This live-action remake is part of a broader trend for Disney, which has released over 20 live-action adaptations of its classic animated films in the last 15 years, with varied commercial and critical outcomes. While 2023's "The Little Mermaid" did not meet box office expectations, the studio saw success in 2024 with "Mufasa: The Lion King." Conversely, the live-action "Snow White" remake resulted in a reported $170 million loss for Disney. However, the company quickly offset these losses with the live-action "Lilo & Stitch," which became one of the year's highest-grossing films, earning $1 billion.
Catherine Laga'aia stars as Moana in the new adaptation, with Johnson returning to voice Maui, a role he originated a decade prior in the 2016 animated film.