Disney’s Moana

Moana, Disney’s latest animated movie, is about a girl who knows she was made for more than her father is training her to be. She loves her people and her home, but she feels an internal pull toward a different destiny. Moana is a beautifully told and artistically animated tale that is part comedy, part adventure, and part coming of age story.

Moana is a movie for the entire family. Dwayne Johnson is entertaining as Maui and newcomer Auli’i Cravalho is captivating as the voice of Moana. My daughter and I both enjoyed this movie but I think it meant much more to me than it did to her. Let me explain.

Moana is not your typical princess movie. Don’t get me wrong, I love traditional princess movies. The idea of having a handsome man sweep me up and rescue me from a dull existence is truly magical (thanks, honey). But now I have a daughter. An elementary-aged daughter who is figuring out who she is and what it means to be a girl. There is nothing wrong with being rescued by your man, but it sure is nice that today’s girls are learning they can be strong and that they can be the heroes, too. I did not realize how much this meant to me until I teared up giving my thoughts on the movie after a press preview I attended. “Girls can be strong, too” I said. And the tears came, which is totally out of character for me.

Go see this movie. Take your daughters and your sons. Enjoy the story, the artistry, the music, and the laughs.

Rating: PG for peril, some scary images and brief thematic elements.

Worth seeing in 3D? Yes.

Scene after the credits? Yes.