I don’t care how old you think you are: everyone loves a good Disney movie. Yes, even future VP Mike Pence loves a good Disney movie, and that man is one mean-looking dude. Seriously though, the Walt Disney Company is chock full of people who somehow magically master the delicate art of storytelling time after time, especially when it comes to female leads.
We’ve waited just around the riverbend with Pocahontas. We’ve gone down the bayou with princess Tiana. We’ve wondered when our lives would begin with Rapunzel. We’ve let it go with princess Elsa. And now, in yet another trophy Disney can proudly display on its decked-out shelf, we get to see how far we’ll go with Moana.
There are so many aspects of this movie that are so totally on point. Seriously, if I could, I’d write my final English paper on 100 reasons why this movie is thebomb.com in a heartbeat. But that ain’t gonna happen, so how about we settle on just five of the greatest things about “Moana.”
5. Moana and Maui’s (Platonic!) Friendship
Like all legendary duos, Moana and Maui get off to a more than rough start. He’s an egocentric demigod that couldn’t care less about a 16-year-old girl’s cultural calling, and she’s an ultra zealous powerhouse that will stop at nothing to complete her mission. But of course, the two eventually grow quite fond of each other, not only in accepting each other’s differences, but also in adopting them, too.
But even more than that, M&M also perpetuate to anyone and everyone, for the first time in a long time, that it’s totally possible for men and women to spend a bunch of time together as just really great friends.
When I first saw the film, my best friend nudged my elbow at one point, and told me she felt a love connection brewing between the two and literally, my first thought was “Gag me, that’s just plain weird! He’s a demigod, okay?! He is like, 10,000 years old! If that’s where they’re going with this, I’m walking out.” SPOILER ALERT: that is most definitely NOT where they were going with the story.
And thank goodness for that. I love romance as much as the next person (probably way more than the next person, actually) but even I can see how unnecessary and downright misguided that storyline would have been.
4. “How Far I’ll Go”
“Moana” features multiple great tracks throughout the film, but “How Far I’ll Go” has to be my absolute favorite. It’s the musical heartbeat of the film, and presents itself as a mantra for anyone who knows their potential, feels as though they are on the precipice of something major and just needs to take that courageous plunge into the deep end. And each time the song is reprised in the story, it somehow expands its meaning even more. It’s “Let it Go,” “I Can Go the Distance,” “Reflection” and “Part of Your World” all rolled into one.
And the rest of the soundtrack is beyond stellar as well. Epic songs such as “We Know the Way,” “I Am Moana” and “Know Who You Are” are emotional melodies with depth, emotion and culture. But they are also balanced with more lighthearted tunes such as “Logo Te Pate,” “Where You Are” and “You're Welcome,” which is by far one of the most fun. I mean, who doesn’t want to hear Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson singing and rapping?!
The only real weak link, in my opinion, is “Shiny,” a song sung by a glitzy (and ever so slightly sensual) crab antagonist. For some reason, that one made me feel weirdly uncomfortable. On a scale from “when Nala gave Simba those bow chicka wow wow eyes during “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” to “that awkward moment when you realize the whole ‘Beauty and the Beast’ storyline is lowkey bestiality,” this song is probably somewhere around “when Jasmine actually kissed that freak Jafar in “Aladdin.”3. Gramma Tala
“Village crazy ladies” aren’t anything we haven’t seen in Disney movies before. There’s Grandmother Fa, Mulan’s lucky-cricket-carrying grandmother, Mama Odie a.k.a. Voodoo queen of the Bayou in “The Princess and the Frog” and that weirdo cauldron-stirring witch in “Brave.” But Gramma Tala is a special addition to such a classic archetype in that we pretty much all want to be her when we grow up, given the fact that she’s just an eccentric, positive and wise woman doing her own thing on the beach. A half bun, a flower in her hair and a back tattoo?! C’mon, you know that is GOALS all the way.
But even more than that, Gramma Tala’s story isn’t just centered around one or two scenes of comedic relief. Without giving too much away, her character is a pivotal force all throughout the film, set to seriously pull at our heartstrings, and ignite all of the feels.
2. Moana’s hair, Moana’s hair, Moana’s hair!!!
Yeah, remember that “100 Reasons this movie is thebomb.com” essay I wanted to write? Well, reasons 23-57 are Moana’s hair. Better than Merida’s red ringlets? Yes! Better than Rapunzel’s blonde tresses? Yes! Even better than Pocahontas’ windswept strands? I’m just going to say it: YES! Wet or dry, those crinkle-cut beach waves are seriously amazing to gawk at, and at some points, even distracting.
Listen, this entire movie is GORGEOUS. According to Buzzfeed, a whopping 80% of the movie contains special effects, which is pretty much b-a-n-a-n-a-s, and a lot of it is dedicated to animating the ocean. The creators and artists of “Moana” also traveled to Oceania and teamed up with a bunch of anthropologists, linguists and cultural intellectuals so they could keep the story as authentic as possible in terms of dialect, color scheme, clothing and landscape. If that isn’t dedication to accuracy, aesthetic and detail, I don’t know what is!
1. The “Moana” Message
I for one, was not expecting for the central themes of “Moana” to resonate with me on such a spiritually emotional level. I know it sounds silly, but this movie really spoke to me! Beyond the average heroine narrative, this movie is first and foremost about purpose.
A lot the time, as college students, we literally have no idea what we’re doing. We just plant one foot in front of the other every day and hope we make it back to bed at a reasonable hour by the end of it all. But “Moana” teaches us that there is greatness inside all us, that we are all puzzle pieces of potential and that if we listen, respect and follow the echoes of our history, we can find our place by fulfilling a calling so much bigger than ourselves through a higher power.
That’s pretty deep, y’all.
So yeah, from the its premise to its premiere, its origin to its opening, “Moana” is dope. And that’s all I have to say about that.
