'Moana' is one of the better Disney animated features to come along in a while
'Moana' stars Auli'i Cravalho as a young Polynesian girl who must save her island homeland. The movie co-stars Dwayne Johnson.
This image released by Disney shows characters Maui, voiced by Dwayne Johnson, left, and Moana, voiced by Auli'i Cravalho, in a scene from the animated film, "Moana."
Disney/AP
One of the better Disney animated features to come along in a while,聽鈥淢oana,鈥� which is about a magical Polynesian girl who saves her island homeland聽from extinction, has supercharged wit, eye-popping visuals featuring聽azure seas and glowing coral, spirited voice work from Auli鈥檌 Cravalho as聽Moana and Dwayne Johnson as the rollicky tattooed semi-deity Maui, and聽a couple of sprightly songs co-written by Lin-Manuel聽Miranda of "Hamilton." The film鈥檚 quartet of directors are Ron Clements, John聽Musker, Chris Williams, and Don Hall.聽
I rue the day when this becomes a聽Broadway musical. Grade:聽B+ (Rated聽PG for peril, some scary images and brief thematic elements.)