Starts out fun, but with MAJOR flaws

Rating: 7/10 (26 May 2017)

This movie starts out well, with enjoyable characters and a decent soundtrack. However, it suffers from too many flaws to be a good movie. I'm not sure how so many other reviewers loved it. Warning: this review may contain spoilers.
Problem for those with small children: First off, it was too intense and at times scary for what is advertised as being a children's movie! I'm specifically referring to scenes with the lava demon, as well as when Moana first enters the "realm of monsters". I'm glad I didn't take my daughter to see it in theaters or we would have walked out. As is, we had to fast-forward at least 3 scenes on DVD.
Lazy writing: It would have been nice if Moana had to prove her worth to Maui or do something that convinces him that he needs her help on his mission. Instead, Moana tags along with Maui because the ocean magically lifts her up and places her back on the boat! The ocean also gets Moana out of all sorts of trouble at various times throughout the movie. It would have been so much better if Moana learned to overcome these obstacles on her own. It is also never explained WHY the ocean chose her instead of someone else!
BIGGEST plot hole: So at some point in a conversation between Moana and Maui it is explained that Maui does ~everything~ for his love of the people. Even though he comes across as self-centered, everything he does is supposedly for their benefit in one way or another. How about locking Moana in the cave on the desert island the first time they meet, with no food or water? Had Moana not escaped the cave via a combination of wits and luck, she surely would have perished while Maui was out searching for his hook! Even if she had managed to escape the cave but did so too slowly, she would have found a deserted island with no food, water or boat.
I wanted to like this movie, but these flaws are too big to ignore.