When Disney released Moana ten years ago, I raved about it. I thought it was the best animated feature they had produced in years, a colourful, diverse and different tale that didn’t follow the usual path of the female-led adventures, but had an independently minded young woman taking on the dangers of gods, demigods and the ocean, a world she had been banned from exploring. When I heard that Disney was to produce a live-action version, I went cold. The dust hadn’t settled on the original film’s release, and their past efforts to remake classics hadn’t been exceptional. So going in to see this version I was filled with dread. However, while it all seems like a pointless exercise, it’s not as painful as previous efforts, and there may be a good reason for that.

An island in Polynesia is cursed, and the chief’s daughter, Moana, is chosen by the ocean to find the shape-shifting demigod Maui and replace a special stone so the order of the islands can be restored. First, she must face the dangers the ocean throws at her and convince Maui to join her.

The reasons for liking the original so much were that while Disney have been producing films like this ever since Snow White, all the elements seem to fit. Visually beautiful, it was vibrant in its storytelling, with threats that were occasionally quite terrifying, which is why the film was given a PG certificate. The songs, led by Lin-Manuel Miranda, are incredibly catchy and oozing with fun. Throw in voice talent that genuinely doesn’t seem out of place, and you have near-perfection on your hands.

This could be the main reason why this version is not a total disaster. Director Thomas Kail, who has worked in musical theatre and directed the screen version of Hamilton, has an understanding of staging and of bringing strong numbers to life. He also hasn’t decided to change anything. He has taken the original, seen what works and reproduced it with actors stepping in where the animated characters were. Now this might sound like a cop-out, but if you look at something like The Lion King remake, it was a different style of animation.

The visuals are just as stunning, though the CGI isn’t as strong, especially in the animals Maui changes into. When you compare them to those in the 2016 film, they seem much more lifelike. Yet the sea, the mountains and the island are just as impressive. He also throws in some spectacular set pieces, mainly Maui’s “You’re Welcome” song and the crab Tamatoa’s hilarious “Shiny”. The thing to realise is that it’s almost impossible to ruin Moana. You can go wrong, but if you respect the original, you won’t stray.

Having Dwayne Johnson return as Maui also works. Looking exactly like his animated version and donning a wig that seems to have a life of its own, we see Johnson take on the role with plenty of vigour, showing off his secret musical-theatre approach. Jemaine Clement also returns as the voice of Tamatoa, but newcomer Catherine Laga’aia as Moana holds the whole thing together. She is a strong lead who handles the responsibility for the whole film with gusto and aplomb. It’s an impressive debut, and the scenes with her and Johnson bring real life to the process.

Moana isn’t perfect and seems about as pointless as a by-election in Clacton, and fans of the original will probably wonder why it exists. Yet while watching it, you are entertained, and if there is little else to see in the cinema, it could be a perfect place to escape the current hot weather.

3 out of 5

Director: Thomas Kail

Starring: Catherine Laga’aia, Dwayne Johnson, John Tui, Frankie Adams, Jemaine Clement, Rena Owen, Arya Kasarla, Emma Puahi-Shapazian, Amaya Masoli

Written by: Dana Ledoux Miller, (also based on the 2016 animated film “Moana” animation screenplay) Jared Bush, (based on the 2016 animated film “Moana” animation screenplay) Ron Clement and John Musker

Running Time: 115 mins

Cert: PG

Release date: 10th July 2026