Good, but not Great

Rating: 7/10 (24 November 2016)

Moana, the successor to the mega hit, Frozen; this may be where the problem lies. However, as an adult viewer, I also have my own personal expectations for a film. This film created a beautiful world for us to live in for a short time. The work put into the film really shows in the visuals. The sea looked inviting and the village seemed joyful and welcoming as well. The story was told well with playful stabs at Disney's track record of formulas.
While I didn't have a problem with Moana, I was not challenged. This film was very safe and didn't feel like it wanted to take risks. I like a movie to make me think and have a dialog about something. Frozen, while I believe is far over-hyped, did challenge itself and made a narrative in a new shape and style. This film, while avoiding typical love interests, did not make me walk away from the film with anything to discuss. It happened. It was good. I had fun, but that was it. Great movies do not end there. Great movies have something to say that pesters you on the way out of the theater. This movie makes you dig for something to force a conversation about. If you are going to see this with younger kids, they will love it, but you will probably not have the same reaction.