There was an interesting article recently in the New York Times. Apparently, much like The Lion King (1994) was the go-to movie for a previous generation, Moana (2016) has become the default video to keep 2-5-year-olds captivated. Having been streamed more than 1.5 billion hours on Disney+ (yes, you read that correctly) it has become the most-watched film in the streaming channel’s history. While on the surface this may seem like lazy parenting, researchers claim this actually is beneficial for children. Its layered plot provides numerous opportunities for them to hone their predictive capabilities as well as learn new vocabulary, pick up on subtle emotional cues and recognize character motivation.
I couldn’t help but wonder if the new live-action version of the movie would be embraced in a similar manner. I have a feeling it won’t, for a variety of reasons. As with all of these shameless cash grabs, this re-do runs longer than the original but more importantly, it lacks the magic of its predecessor. There’s something about the transition from animation to these heavily computer assisted versions of reality that proves jarring. The difference between a raging cartoon demigod and a realistic one can be too much to take for young eyes.
Then again, perhaps the biggest problem is the familiarity factor. With only 10 years having passed between the two productions and the omnipresent nature of the 2016 original, running through the story yet again is overkill. Since this spate of remakes began with 2015’s Cinderella, this is the shortest window between an animated original and its modern update.
However, if one were to judge by Catherine Lag’aia’s performance in the title role, you’d think this was the first time this story was being told. The energy she brings to the film is so infectious, you may initially feel as if you’re up to hear Moana’s tale of adventure one more time. If a performer can be made a star by sheer force of will, Lag’aia’s face will be on the cover of every major magazine, she’ll appear in multiple films next year and be well on her way to having her star installed on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
I have no hard proof regarding this but perhaps the rush to get the film done has to do with Dwayne Johnson. Thanks to his distinctive and enthusiastic voice work as Maui in the original, he’s become associated with the role. Though still in incredible physical shape, time takes a toll on us all and at 54, I suspect this movie was pushed into production before the actor started to look less Maui-like than desired.
Thomas Kail, making his big screen directorial debut, does little in the way of taking advantage of the Oahu locations. Having cut his teeth on filming stage plays (“Hamilton”) and television programs (“Fosse/Verdin”) there’s a small screen feel to the film. This undercuts the sense of adventure necessary to giving the story the epic feel it needs. Far too many sequences seem as if they were replicated shot by shot from the original, reminding us again and again of the superfluous nature of this production.
A new song from Lin-Manual Miranda, “Along the Way,” is a keeper and it’s never a chore listening to “How Far I’ll Go” or “Where You Are” again. But as far as the story is concerned, there simply aren’t enough new elements introduced to justify this new Moana’s existence. As Ben Franklin said, “Familiarity breeds contempt,” a maxim the folks at Disney should take into account before their planned release of the live-action Tangled in 2028. In theaters.
