For years, Disney has delivered classic, animated tales. But in recent years, to keep their profits and movie options alive, they’ve translated all those classics into a live-action version. Some have added a new dimension, becoming a dynamic film in their own right. Others have followed the template too closely, leaving audiences asking why we needed another version.

Moana debuted for Disney in 2016, making it a relatively new addition to the animated library. It also had its own sequel, debuting around Thanksgiving in 2024. And now, it has its own live-action version. That includes Dwayne Johnson reprising his role as Maui, along with a very faithful adaptation.

In the film we meet Moana (Catherine Laga’aia), the daughter of the chief. She’s set to eventually inherit her father’s title and lead her people. But she yearns to explore the open ocean, something that’s forbidden by the chief. Still, as their island faces a threat that could end their civilization, she decides to strike out and try to reverse it all.

Moana learns she is descended from a line of explorers. She also learns she needs to hunt down a demi-God, Maui (Johnson), who once stole the heart and kicked off the darkness that’s spreading. Armed with some pluck, a small ship, and a mission of great importance, she sets off.

What set Moana apart from other animated features was it’s fun, engaging story and location. There were some beautiful sights and there was a lot of fun with Moana’s chief companions being a crazy chicken named Hey-Hey and an excitable pig named Pua. The other thing that set it apart were the incredible musical numbers, many written by Lin-Manuel Miranda. That work even earned him an Oscar.

In this new version, there is still a fun story. And the music is still present, with re-creations of the epic songs that were part of the original animated story. There is still a sense of wonder and, by the end, a swell of emotions. But it just feels unnecessary.

In fact, it’s almost impossible to really tell this story as a live-action film. Maui’s power is being a shapeshifter, meaning he transitions from Man to bird, whale, bug, and more. And Moana’s best friends are quirky animals. In addition, all the threats and villains they face are larger-than-life, supernatural creates. That means that this live-action film is a majority CGI. It’s not quite as pronounced as the live-action Lion King, but you can see where it’s going.

Laga’aia is solid as Moana. She brings a decent energy and presence to the role. And Johnson is still fun as Maui, trying his best to re-create the fun and tics from his animated performance. And if you’d never before seen this story, it would likely resonate well. But we’ve seen it done in a beautiful, animated style.

That leaves Moana as fine, at times entertaining, but feeling hollow because it doesn’t bring anything new to the story. We’ve enjoyed Moana’s tale for a decade and that will probably continue despite this new live-action version. If you’re just looking for some reliable entertainment at the theater this summer, this fits the bill. But if you just want to re-live Moana’s tale, you’re better off diving into the animated version.

Moana is now playing in theaters nationwide.

Matthew Fox is a graduate of the Radio, Television and Film program at Biola University, and a giant nerd. He spends his free time watching movies, TV, and obsessing about football. He is a member of the FSWA. You can find him @knighthawk7734 on Twitter and as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast.