When "Moana" came out in theaters this past winter, I had virtually no interest in seeing it. Maybe because I was too busy at the time, or maybe because I knew I had no one to go with me if I actually wanted to see it... I’m bad about seeing movies when they first come out anyway.
Then, I was scrolling through Netflix a few nights ago and found "Moana" under the New Arrivals section. I started watching it and, to make a long story short, I really loved this movie.
In my opinion, "Moana" trumps "Frozen." Yes, I said it. Here’s why:
1. NO LOVE INTEREST!
While "Frozen" primarily focused on sisterhood, there was still a love interest, or rather two love interests, present. As for Moana, she does not have any possible suitors vying for her attention on the island where she lives and there is no romantic tension between her and Maui. There is no mention of her finding romance anywhere on her to do list. While, even at 24 years old, I still swoon over Prince Adam from "Beauty and the Beast," it is refreshing to see a Disney female lead come into her own without a guy in the mix.
2. She will take leadership without having to marry.
Moana is the daughter of the village chief and throughout the beginning part of the movie she is training to become the next chief. Part of Moana’s struggle throughout the film is her fear she is incapable of leadership. There is no mention of her gender being an issue or having to marry to claim her title. She is the chief’s only child, therefore she is the next in line to lead the village.
3. She saves herself.
Moana’s impulsiveness has gotten her into messy situations, but her quick thinking always gets her out. Rarely does she have to rely on Maui or even the magic of the ocean guiding her to save herself.
4. She saves the dude.
A demi-god no less! Right off the bat, Maui is cocky and arrogant, believing he knows better than Moana because he is the demi-god with the giant magical fishhook. Only she proves him wrong on more than one occasion.
5. The characters have depth to them.
Moana is not a perfect "princess that is not a princess," to quote Maui. She’s flawed and she makes mistakes, but she keeps trying. Maui is not perfect either; but in addition to his overconfidence, we also see his vulnerability.
Moana’s parents are both alive and present in the movie, only they are not just figureheads. Her father has a reason for not wanting to let Moana venture off the island and it has more to do with being overprotective than controlling. When Moana decides to go off the island to return the heart of Te Fiti, her mother has already packed her a bag of food to take on her journey with tears in her eyes. She supports her daughter, but a mother’s fear is still strong.
6. The villain is the self, not another person.
Though Moana encounters a giant gold-plated crab and a demon made of lava, the antagonist of the movie is Moana’s self-doubt. She doubts her ability to be a leader like her father and she doubts why the ocean chose her to return the heart. In the end, her stubbornness pays off and she conquers that doubt. Because, let’s face it, not everyone’s biggest problem is an evil queen.
