What three words were spinning through my head as Disney’s newest incredible movie “Moana” came to an end?
Family. Honor. Strength.
At what better time in the world could we all be reminded of some things that matter most? Walking into the theater I knew that Disney would bring us a wonderful story, but I wasn’t sure what to expect. What flowed onto the screen was an amazing adventure about a sweet girl named Moana, who grew up on an island with her family and her people, loving her life but yearning for more. Not yearning to get away from from the people she loved, but rather to seek out something beyond what she’d been told and bring something good to the table. Despite being told no, she listened to her heart (and her sweet grandmother) and found a way to be who she truly was meant to be.
And then there’s Maui, the demigod she is seeking, voiced by the hilarious Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. He is a bit of an egomaniac, but the two of them find they can help one another, and that of course leads to more adventures.
There are not a great deal of characters in this movie, making the few that there are much more memorable. Moana has the standard animal sidekicks that will have you rolling with laughter; she has a family of loving people that all want to see her fulfill her dreams; and then of course there is the ocean. Moana (voiced by Auli’i Cravalho) is drawn to the ocean from childhood, and it very much turns out that the ocean is drawn to her. You’ll know why as the story unfolds.
The music is wonderful with some hilarious songs that will have you laughing. But most of all, if you’re anything like me, you will leave this movie feeling a deep desire to know who you are and what you want to be. Honor yourself and honor your loved ones — what a wonderful message! Thank you to Jen and Disney for this great opportunity to enjoy Moana with my daughter. We were both extremely moved!
Merrie is a writer for the Jen is on a Journey and you can also find her at her blog, Sleepless Mornings: Merrie is the mother of two beautiful children, newly married, a scrapbooker, a baker, and always fun to be around!
Screening passes were offered in exchange for honest review, all opinions my own.
Three thousand years ago, the greatest sailors in the world voyaged across the vast South Pacific, discovering the many islands of Oceania. But then, for a millennium, their voyages stopped – and no one today knows why. From Walt Disney Animation Studios comes “Moana,” a sweeping, CG-animated adventure about a spirited teenager who sails out on a daring mission to prove herself a master wayfinder and fulfill her ancestors’ unfinished quest. During her journey, Moana meets the once-mighty demi-god Maui (voice of Dwayne Johnson), and together, they traverse the open ocean on an action-packed voyage, encountering enormous fiery creatures and impossible odds.
Fortunately, the film’s Hawai’i casting director remembered an unrelated audition Cravalho did as part of an a cappella group, which had been submitted for a talent showcase for a charity. Feeling the local teen would be perfect for the Disney role, she tracked her and her mother down and invited Cravalho to audition. “Her audition was fantastic – she was such a raw talent,” said producer Osnat Shurer. “Auli’i was among a small number of girls we brought back for a second round of auditions. Then we flew her and her mom over to audition at our studios in Burbank.”
