“Moana” centers around a young girl named Moana, whose fascination with the ocean frequently lands her in trouble with her father, the chief of Motunui island. He constantly warns her not to go beyond the reef, since it and the island provide his people with everything they need.

One day, the fish disappear and the coconuts start succumbing to a weird, dark substance. With the help of her grandmother, Moana discovers the history of her people, who were once voyagers. She also finds out that the heart of Te Fiti, the nature goddess, was stolen by Maui, a legendary demi-god with a magical cane bestowed upon him by the gods.

Along with Heihei the rooster, Moana journeys to find Maui and bring him to Te Fiti to restore her heart and stop the darkness that is destroying islands.

Featuring Dwayne Johnson as Maui and Auli’i Cravalho as Moana, as well as music performed by Lin-Manuel Miranda, Mark Mancina and Opetaia Foa’i, this cute and inspiring movie will melt your heart.

“Moana” has its roots in islands in Polynesia like Fiji, Samoa, and Tahiti. Directors Ron Clements and John Musker took a research trip to those islands to study their cultures and develop the basis of the movie. They consulted many Southern Pacific islanders to mold and adjust the cultural basis of “Moana” to make sure it was accurate in depicting Polynesian culture.

If you liked movies like “Zootopia” and “Secret Life of Pets”, you’ll certainly love “Moana”! It’s geared towards all ages 10 and above (since it’s PG) and offers some action, comedy, a bit of drama, and a lot of adventure for the whole family.

And even if you’re an adult and think that this is a kid’s movie — think again! Many adults came to watch the movie (out of their own free will), which speaks to the fact that it also appeals to adults as well.

–Nov. 23, 2016–