The replay has the same energy
Vaiana
Directed by Thomas Kail, with Catherine Laga’aia, Dwayne Johnson, John Tui, Frankie Adams, Rena Owen, Amaya Masoli.
MOVIE REVIEW. “Vaiana” 2026 is like “Vaiana” 2016.
Same story, often identical scenes. A couple of live actors in the main roles, but it’s still digital technology that dominates.
Favorite in replay.
ADVENTURE. “Vaiana” from 2016 is one of those Disney movies that really comes alive thanks to the art of animation. Already in the originally drawn introduction where grandmother tells the tales of how the demigod Maui stole the heart of the sea and brought disaster to the islands of the Pacific Ocean.
Maui introduces himself to Vaiana in the song number “You’re welcome”, where his tattoos take on a playful life of their own. There are the warlike coconuts, pirates who attack our heroes. A singing giant crab that lives in a colorful underwater monster land.
Everything is as done for animation.
So why make a feature film? Who sees an animated adventure, where a glowing mountain of lava fights a demigod disguised as an eagle, and thinks, “I want to do that with actors! Where do we find coconuts with a theatrical habit? Who can train the waves of the sea to gesture to people and lift creatures out of the water?”
No, of course that’s not possible. So what is the solution? Another animated film is being made.
Newer computers. Same scenes. Same joke. The cues and timing are the same. The sensationally stupid rooster Heihei remains and makes much the same mistakes and heroic deeds.
The coconuts are recognizable
Maui’s song number “You’re welcome” now has even more animations and digital additions. The sequence with the attacking coconuts shooting poison darts is recognizable, even the self-absorbed giant crab’s show numbers. Jemaine Clement once again gives voice to Tamatoa.
The songs, by Lin-Manuel Miranda and Opetaia Foa’iis one of the biggest holdovers from the original film and they deliver energy this time around as well. There is also a new song, “Along the way”.
This year’s edition of “Vaiana” is another film where live actors are placed in a fantasy landscape. Dwayne Johnson voiced Maui in the original and now gives face and body to the demigod. With the help of digital tattoos that move in the same way as in the original.
Rena Owen (“The Warrior’s Soul”) is strong as Vaiana’s grandmother, the one who gives her advice and support to dare to go out to sea and defy her father’s will. Catherine Laga’aia is good in the title role and has a nice singing voice.
But there is a problem for actors who have to compete with their cartoon counterparts. In the original, both Moana and Maui have amusing facial expressions and expressions that are difficult for a human to replicate. Fun grimaces on a drawn figure become exaggerated on a live actor.
The brand must be protected
There will be a little more seriousness and a little less humor this time. But the differences are small. So why make a similar film?
It’s about nurturing the brand. Disney has theme parks that need different features and rides that are modeled after the movies. There are stores that want to stock up on toys, clothes and home furnishings.
Before there was home cinema, Disney used to let its classics return to the cinemas when new generations were born. For about a decade, the company has instead invested in recording the popular stories once more. There have been mixed results, but rarely better than the original.
This vintage of “Vaiana” is so identical that the two are hardly distinguishable.
Certainly there are two people in the most important roles here. Certainly there are large groups of dancers here in the swinging song numbers. But aside from Vaiana and Maui, all the main characters in the saga are created through digital animation. Just like in the first film, which, funnily enough, was so skillfully drawn that the island world looked like a documentary.
It’s a timeless story about a teenager with dreams. Who dares to follow them and sail their own way past the closed lagoon of the overprotective father. The same enjoyable musical as it has been for ten years.
The film premieres in cinemas.
Don’t forget to like Aftonbladet FILM on Facebook and follow us on Instagram, bluesky, Threads and X (Twitter) for news, trailers, reviews and nice movie nostalgia.
The sales are here – tips on shops with discounts:
Sale at Lindex – up to 70%
30% discount at Ellos when buying 2 items
The sale is on – up to 70% off
Fashion bargains – up to 70% off
Popular hair care – up to 30% off
Sale on outdoor clothing – up to 40%!
Up to 60% on training clothes and shoes
Summer sale at Flattered – up to 50%!
Summer sale at Stronger – up to 50%
Bargain at Björn Borg – up to 40%
Up to 50% at Cellbe’s summer sale!
