The live-action 'Moana' remake, directed by Thomas Kail, is facing criticism for failing to capture the vibrant spirit of the 2016 animated original. Although the original film grossed $643 million worldwide and the 2024 animated sequel, 'Moana 2', brought in $1.1 billion, the live-action version, opening on July 10 in the UK and US, is described as "lifeless" and "stagebound," despite aiming to match its predecessors' commercial success. Dwayne Johnson reprises his role as Maui, but critics note he lacks the liveliness and comedic timing he displayed in the animated film, and his physically impressive form in live-action doesn't translate to the exaggerated, humorous proportions of the animated demigod.
The film stars newcomer Catherine Lagaʻaia as Moana and retains many original songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda, such as 'How Far I’ll Go' and 'You’re Welcome.' While Lagaʻaia's singing is sturdy, it's critiqued for not having the same effervescence as Auliʻi Cravalho, who voiced Moana in the animated films. The screenplay, by Jared Bush and Dana Ledoux Miller, closely follows the 2016 film's outline but is said to miss the winning, contentious rapport between Moana and Maui, with their bickering becoming tiresome and their reconciliation feeling unearned. Rena Owen's performance as Moana’s grandmother Tala is highlighted as one of the few bright spots.
Many critics characterize the remake as redundant and superfluous, questioning its justification. Variety noted that it "never makes live action more captivating than animation," while Collider stated, "Everything it does well, the 2016 version already did better." The Guardian gave it 2 out of 5 stars, calling it "a superfluous piece of monetisable content." Some reviewers, like TheWrap and Vulture, suggest that these remakes are primarily driven by Disney's motivation to "squeeze as much revenue as possible from existing hits" rather than presenting radically new or innovative versions of beloved stories. The film's excessive digital effects are also criticized for failing to create a sense of magic or realism, contributing to a drab and claustrophobic feel.
