By Jake Wilson
★★★
(PG) 113 minutes
The Disney studio is now such a dominant force in Hollywood it's hardly surprising that a fairy tale like Moana, even before release, should become the subject of heated debate. Are the character designs racist? Isn't it time for more female directors? Is there any point trying to put a progressive spin on the well worn "princess" formula?
In this context, writing a review feels less like looking at a piece of art, more like assessing the latest policy directions of the global ministry of entertainment. It's hard to imagine anyone had much scope to pursue personal creative goals on Moana, credited to four directors including John Musker and Ron Clements, Disney veterans who go back to the days of The Little Mermaid and Aladdin.
On the other hand, the filmmakers seem fully conscious of their responsibility to the public, striving to avoid the usual Disney traps. The film is a quest fantasy rather than a love story, and strictly speaking the heroine Moana (voiced by newcomer Auli'i Cravalho) isn't a princess – though it's winkingly noted that she fits the mould, animal sidekicks and all.
Moana sets sail with trickster demigod Maui in MoanaCredit: Disney
The daughter of a chief on an idyllic Pacific island, the adventurous Moana yearns to explore the wider world. With a fish shortage looming, she breaks a longstanding taboo and sets sail on a raft across the sea. Her unwilling companion is Maui (Dwayne Johnson), a trickster demigod who has stolen the heart of an island goddess, which must be returned for balance to be restored.
The character of Maui is the film's key triumph (proving, incidentally, that Johnson's appeal as a comic actor is not dependent on his physical presence). Boastful and childish, he squabbles with Moana like a brother who's bigger but not smarter, a relationship bound to resonate with young viewers no matter who they identify with.
There is much else in Moana to enjoy. Melodically the songs aren't especially striking, but the well-turned lyrics, co-written by Lin-Michael Miranda of Hamilton fame, skilfully carry the story forward. Technically, the Disney-Pixar juggernaut continues to lead the computer animation field: the ever-shifting ocean is a character in its own right, literally so when it returns Moana to the raft after Maui tosses her overboard.
Moana deserves all the success it likely will have; only cynical adults will be tempted to picture a corporate meeting and a series of boxes ticked.
Moana isn't yet in the official pantheon of Disney princesses, but she's typical of where they are heading.Credit: Disney