Tonight's Movie: Moana (2026)

As a longtime member of Disney's D23 Club, I've had the opportunity over the years to attend some fun advance preview screenings of Disney films.

Those experiences have included TANGLED (2010) on the Disney Studios lot and CINDERELLA (2015) at the late, lamented AMC theater at Downtown Disney.

Earlier this week I attended my first D23 advance screening in quite some time, a preview of Disney's new live-action version of MOANA (2026) at the AMC in Orange, California.

I'm as tired as anyone of Disney making live-action versions of their films, although I truly loved CINDERELLA and found THE LITTLE MERMAID (2023) fairly entertaining. That said, since I've had positive experiences at D23 screenings and it was taking place fairly close to my home, I decided to give the new version of MOANA a whirl.

Things started out on a fun note when we were presented with some "swag" as we checked in, a MOANA-themed blanket and pen. Vouchers for free popcorn and soda were included with the ticket as well.

MOANA, of course, is a new version of Disney's wonderful animated musical MOANA (2016); it's hard to believe it's been an entire decade since that movie was released!

As was the case with THE LITTLE MERMAID before it, the MOANA trailer did not impress, but remembering that THE LITTLE MERMAID was better than I'd expected, I was hopeful I'd enjoy MOANA.

As it turned out, I was thoroughly entertained by MOANA and found it an unexpected, delightful surprise. While I had a number of criticisms of THE LITTLE MERMAID, I had no issues at all with MOANA, other than the bathroom "humor" which seems to find its way into every single Disney film in recent years, most recently TOY STORY 5 (2026); I'll never understand that.

I found MOANA to be a lovely rendering of the now-familiar story which was very well cast. Catherine Laga'aia was delightful in the title role as the adventurous chief's daughter who loves the sea and wants to save her tribe's dying island.

Laga'aia is on screen most of the movie, and I enjoyed her expressive features, sense of humor, and sparkling clear voice; her performance of "How Far I'll Go" was thrilling. Laga'aia communicated a sense of pure joy which was completely winning.

Among the supporting cast I especially liked Frankie Adams as Moana's mother Sina. She looked very familiar yet I don't seem to have seen any of her prior work. She was beautiful and did a very nice job conveying her emotions through relatively few words.

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, who voiced the demigod Maui in the original film, also enacts the part here; he has a wild-looking wig but is such fun in the part that the crazy hair is soon forgotten, or at least forgiven. He's quite funny as Moana's "frenemy," who strongly resists helping her in the quest to save her island but ultimately, of course, capitulates and proves himself a hero.

Funnily enough, this live-action film also had a fair amount of animation, whether it's Moana's crazy pet chicken Heihei or Maui's tattoos.

Owen Gleiberman of Variety wrote that MOANA is the best of Disney's live-action remakes; he didn't count the excellent CINDERELLA among that number as he didn't consider it a true remake. I agree on both points.

David Rooney of The Hollywood Reporter pronounced MOANA "charming" and "directed with verve." Not all critics were so positive, but I completely agreed with these takes and cite them here to hopefully bolster the chances that potential audiences will give the movie a chance. It's a film which truly deserves to be seen and enjoyed.

Dare I say...I actually might have liked it better than the original? Or certainly at least equivalent to it. I love animated films, especially from Disney, and yet...I truly enjoyed watching this musical staged with live actors; moments such as the islanders' production number, "Where You Are," really struck a chord. And I can't understate how good Laga'aia is in the title role.

I was amazed to find it near the very top of my list of the new films I've seen so far this year. I smiled throughout and will definitely be watching it again in the future.

MOANA runs 115 minutes. It was directed by Thomas Kail and filmed by Oscar Faura.

MOANA is rated PG. Other than the bathroom humor, there are a handful of mildly scary moments, most involving the scary fire goddess at the heart of Moana and Maui's quest.

Recommended.

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