Parents' Guide to

Moana

By Sandie Angulo Chen, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 6+

Memorable musical with a Pacific Islander lead, some scares.

Movie PG 2016 113 minutes
Moana Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

  • Moana and Chief Tui
    1:10
  • Moana Movie: Moana stands in front of the ocean at sunset
  • Moana Movie: Moana and Maui on the boat
  • Moana Movie: Maui and Moana on the boat

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age 6+

Based on 136 parent reviews

abigailpitones
abigailpitones Adult
February 11, 2020
age 6+

Moana- a look into God the Father's love

For this assignment I reviewed Moana. Moana is a Disney movie about a Polynesian tribe woman, that takes it upon herself to save her island from complete destruction and death. Moana sets out with Maui, a demigod that helps her find and restore the heart of Te Fiti, a life-giving element that has been stolen for many years, resulting in destruction of the islands. Once the heart is restored, the islands are full of life, and brought back into a state of peace and harmony. When I first saw this movie, like most people I thought it was a cute movie, another typical movie of a young girl saving her family or in this case an island from death and destruction. It wasn’t until I watched it in the context of confession. In the movie Moana goes through a series of hurdles, she teaches herself how to sail and she knows who she is, and that she has a special gift in terms of the ocean. Moana sets off to saver her people, no matter what the cost, she puts her life on the line for the people she loves. Like Christ in a way, Christ put his whole life on the line for us to be saved. At the end of the movie, Moana has found the heart of Te Fiti, she holds the heart in her hand, but because of the darkness that has taken over Te Fiti, she is destroying everything in her sight. Moana holds the heart out and gets Te Fiti’s attention, Moana sings to Te Fiti— “I have crossed the horizon to find you I know your name They have stolen the heart from inside you But this does not define you This is not who you are You know who you are" When I heard this lyric I thought of the words that God the Father utters in our soul. That he crosses the horizon to find us, He knows everything about us. This world we live in, like Moana’s is often dark and gloomy, and often we find out hearts to be stolen from things that won’t satisfy us and our souls that long for God— but nevertheless, it doesn’t define who we are in the end, even if we make it seem like they do, it’s not who we are. It is only when we know WHOSE we are, we can know WHO we are. In the end of the movie, Moana restores the heart and the islands are brought back into unity and life— like in confession when God the Father personally restores our once pure hearts and brings back the life into our eyes, and we find that in this life we can be truly happy in God and in God alone. Moana is a reflection of the Father’s love for us in our lives, it’s not a movie we have to look super in depth to, and it’s not a movie we have to go fishing for reasons why it inhibits the Father’s love. It simply is a movie that reflects the way the Father loves us through people, but specifically through the sacraments.
Leigh-Anna B.
Leigh-Anna B. Adult
September 14, 2023
age 8+

Messaging doesn't work for me.

We only made it in about 10 minutes and had to turn it off when Gramma Tala tells Moano, "You are your father's daughter. Stubbornness and pride. Mind what he says but remember you may hear a voice inside. And if the voice starts to whisper to follow the farthest star, Moana, that voice inside is who you are." This kind of message needs discussion and my daughter is too young (4) to discuss the concepts of disobedience, identity and outsiders dividing children from their parent.
See all 136 parent reviews

What's the Story?

In MOANA, Disney tells the story of a Polynesian island chief's adolescent daughter who's been raised to become the next leader of her people. Moana (voiced by Auli'i Cravalho) has always had a special relationship with the ocean and has grown up believing her grandmother's tales about how shape-shifting demigod Maui cursed the islands by stealing the ancient Heart of Te Fiti, which grants the power of creation. When the coconut harvest fails and the fishermen return with empty nets, Moana takes her grandmother's advice and sets sail against her father's rules. Her quest is to find the exiled Maui (Dwayne Johnson) and deliver him across the sea to return that which he stole a millennium ago. Along the way, the mighty Maui mentors Moana on how to be a wayfinder -- voyager -- as her people were meant to be.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (136 ):
Kids say (190 ):

This engaging adventure triumphs because of its empowering storyline, which pays tribute to Polynesian culture, and because of its feel-good music, courtesy of Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda. Teen Hawaiian singer Cravalho and Johnson (aka "The Rock") share a refreshingly student-and-mentor-like chemistry as the driven Moana and mythic Maui. Unlike any other "Disney princess" movie, Moana is completely romance free, never once bringing up its main character's marriage prospects. Moana's status as the island's next chief is unquestioned, and she's so busy trying to diplomatically solve her people's problems that the lack of a love interest is welcome. As Maui points out, she's a princess because she wears a dress and has an animal sidekick (in her case, a kooky rooster called Heihei), but Moana strives to save her island, not find a prince.

No other actor could have been a better fit for Maui than Johnson (himself of Polynesian heritage): He's as charming in animated form as he is in live-action adventures. Maui starts off as a self-absorbed demigod; he sings one of the catchiest songs in the movie, "You're Welcome," about all of the ways humankind should thank him for his accomplishments. But as he grows to know Moana and teaches her how to navigate the ocean, his truer, kinder self emerges. The original music, which is a collaboration between Miranda, Disney composing alum Mark Mancina, and Samoan musician Opetaia Foa'i, is catchy and appropriately inspired by Oceanic music. Besides "You're Welcome," the funniest song is "Shiny," sung by Jemaine Clement, who plays a killer crab with an insatiable appetite for treasure. With its inspiring messages, charming characters, and memorable music, Moana is an excellent choice for moviegoers of all ages.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about which parts of Moana were scary. Did making the monsters cute (like the coconut pirates) or colorful (like the giant crab) make them more or less scary?

  • What makes Moana such a strong character? How does she demonstrate curiosity, perseverance, and courage on her quest? Why are those important character strengths? Is she a role model? Why? Can you think of other movies featuring strong female characters?

  • How does Moana deal with wanting to stay on the island and be a good leader for her people but also wanting to listen to the voice inside her telling her to explore the ocean? Have you ever felt like who people want you to be isn't the same as who you really are? Does Moana have to change who she is to be a good leader?

  • The story of Moana is based on myths and legends from ancient Polynesian culture. Is the movie respectful of those cultures? What did you learn about how people lived then?

  • How do the different characters handle their grief? Who becomes more cautious, and who becomes more courageous? Have you ever lost a loved one? How did you react?

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