If you haven't heard of "Moana" by now, you've probably been living under a rock. "Moana" is Disney's latest 'princess' film, and its garnered a bit of attention since its November release. With a soundtrack driven by "Hamilton" creator Lin-Manuel Miranda, a beautiful setting, and a cast comprising of Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, Alan Tudyk, and new comer Auli'i Cravalho, it's the perfect family movie, and a bright shining new addition to the Disney family. It depicts a girl following her ambitions and instincts, despite her father's warnings. It proves to play in her favor, though we may doubt it throughout the movie. All in all, it should be on the top of everyone's must see list.
However, there is one thing standing in the way of "Moana" achieving the recognition and sensationalization that it deserves: "Frozen." "Frozen" came out in 2013 in the same November slot that "Moana" was released in three years later. There's not a place you can turn to that doesn't have something "Frozen" related, it seems. When the film was released, I totally got the appeal: sisterly love, putting others before yourself, Idina Menzel, lovable sidekick, it can't fail. I still kind of get the appeal, but not to the extent that people are taking it to. It's gotten to the point where I'm afraid "Moana" is falling in the same trap that other princess movies have fallen into, and that is being under appreciated.
Like any other princess movie (yes, even "Frozen"), it's got all the ingredients needed to make it a princess movie: lovable sidekick (or in "Moana"'s case, two lovable sidekicks), a song about finding yourself that you can't get out of your head for two days straight, and some sort of feel good message. So why is it still being overshadowed by its predecessor? Some will argue that since Maui is a shapeshifter and Moana has a magical bond with the ocean, that it's not as realistic as "Frozen" is. Well, guess what people, Elsa has ice coming out of her hands and a talking snowman as a friend. I don't see the realism there. No princess movie is going to be realistic, no matter how much my inner self tells me that they are. You would think with this knowledge, every movie would be equal. I'm not saying any movie is better than the other, I'm just saying that every princess movie has its own special quirks that make it truly one of a kind.
All I'm really saying is to give "Moana" a chance in the spotlight. Let's all take a break from "Frozen" for a little bit and let the rest of the princess movies shine. It's going to be here when you get back, I promise.