Disney's live-action Moana panned by critics as 'dismal' and 'pointless'

Disney's latest live-action remake, a retelling of its 2016 animated hit Moana, has been met with a wave of critical disappointment. The film, released Friday, has been widely panned by reviewers, who have labeled it "flat," "dull," and "dismal." Dwayne Johnson returns as the demigod Maui, alongside newcomer Catherine Laga'aia as Moana. However, many critics found Johnson's performance to be uninspired, with The Times calling him "three decades too old" and his portrayal "oddly lacklustre." The heavy reliance on CGI and animation also drew significant criticism. Empire noted that calling the film "live action feels like a misnomer" due to the extensive animation, and The Guardian's Peter Bradshaw described the CGI as "so deeply embedded" it felt like "another animation." Despite the widespread criticism, a few voices offered praise. Variety's Owen Gleiberman lauded the film, stating it "escapes the remake blues - in fact it soars above them." He commended Johnson's "perfect" fit for the role and found the film delivered "the beauty, the comic personality, the fairy-tale enchantment."

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escapes the remake blues - in fact it soars above them