Moana (PG) – 115 minutes

Fun, colourful and emotionally resonant comes this live action reimaging of the popular Polynesian-based 2016 Disney movie Moana.

The story remains the same, but its execution is a whole lot more difficult. Yet, the studio has pushed all the right buttons.

This is the tale of young leader in the making, Moana (Catherine Lagaʻaia). 

She is the daughter of island chief Tui (John Tui) and his wife, Sina (Frankie Adams) and they live on the glorious, lush island of Motunui.

The one edict that the chief has for fear of endangering his people is that they never venture beyond the reef, for that is where danger awaits and bad things happen.

It is the same decree adopted for generations, but 16-year-old Moana remains keen to explore the ocean.

Time and again, she is warned about doing so, until a curse blocks the source of food to the island. 

That is when Moana’s grandmother, Gramma Tala (Rena Owen) encourages her to follow her calling and find a shape-shifting demigod to help break the curse.

His name is Maui (like in the animated version, played by Dwayne Johnson) and he is demigod of the wind and sea, as well as a wayfinder.

That is someone who triangulates their movements from the stars.

Still, Maui has been stranded on another island for 1,000 years. 

Accompanying Moana on her journey, as a stowaway, is a scrawny, dim-witted, scaredy cat of a chicken named Heihei.

After a perilous voyage, in which she confronts massive waves and stormy seas, Moana comes face to face with self-centred Maui, who immediately dismisses her.

Following some toing and froing, the pair sails off together, encountering a series of dangerous impediments on the path to, hopefully, rescuing the people of Motunui.

Not seeing eye-to-eye is the least of their problems.

Their adversaries include coconut-armoured nomads known as Kakamora, Tamatoa, a treasure-obsessed 50-foot crab, and a volcanic demon called Te Kā.

Catherine Lagaʻaia beat more than 30,000 hopefuls to gain the starring role, which she tackles with aplomb.

Her character’s initial naiveté gives way to determination and grit.

She has a strong, pleasant, melodic singing voice, which is essential for the part, because ear-pleasing, up-tempo tunes play an important role in the movie. 

Dwayne Johnson is perfectly cast as the trickster whose heroic self-image is challenged by Moana.

He has some smart one liners, which he delivers with trademark wit and bravado.

Frankie Adams is perceptive and empathetic as Sina, while Rena Owen brings a rebellious streak to Gramma Tala.

The film features upwards of 200 actors drawn from across the Pacific.

There are several scenes in which live action and animation in various forms are bedfellows and the mix works well. 

I particularly appreciated Maui’s tattoos (he has them all over his body) that frequently come to life.

Then we have the typical hilarity instigated by Disney sidekicks.

In this case, it is the hapless chicken, who keeps popping up and is a mainstay of the production and Moana’s very friendly and lovable pet pig, Pua.

I am a sucker for a good Disney family movie, and I freely admit that I even teared up a couple of times.

With a screenplay by Jared Bush (Zootopia) and Dana Ledoux Miller (Moana 2), director Thomas Kail (Hamilton) delivers with flourish.

Rated PG, Moana scores a 7½ out of 10.