Dwayne Johnson and Catherine Laga’aia at the Hollywood Bowl Photo from Instagram/@ DisneyStudios
Catherine Laga‘aia gives Disney’s familiar ocean adventure a grounded human center
LOS ANGELES — Disney’s live-action “Moana” arrived at the Hollywood Bowl on July 7 as both a world premiere and a large-scale summer celebration.
Before the screening, guests moved through an activation area built around the film’s island setting. Moana’s voyaging canoe, a figure of Heihei and a life-size LEGO Moana provided photo opportunities. Dole Whip pineapple soft serve was distributed alongside Coppertone sunscreen, limited-edition Zoa energy drinks and other partner giveaways. Hawaiian Airlines hosted a plumeria keychain-making station, while blankets were placed on seats for the outdoor presentation.
The festivities shifted to the stage as Dwayne Johnson and Catherine Laga‘aia joined the Nonosina dancers in a Pacific cultural welcome. Director Thomas Kail and producer-songwriter Lin-Manuel Miranda addressed the audience before conductor Sarah Hicks led the Los Angeles Philharmonic in a live performance of Mark Mancina’s score during the film.
Fireworks lit the sky during the finale, bringing the evening to a close in true Hollywood Bowl fashion.
The film is Disney’s live-action reimagining of its 2016 animated feature. Kail directs Laga‘aia as Moana, with Johnson returning as Maui, the demigod he voiced in the animated films. The principal cast also includes John Tui as Chief Tui, Frankie Adams as Sina and Rena Owen as Gramma Tala. Auli‘i Cravalho, the original voice of Moana, serves as an executive producer.
The story remains centered on Moana’s first voyage beyond the reef of Motunui. When hardship threatens her island, she seeks Maui and undertakes a dangerous journey to restore the heart of Te Fiti and bring prosperity back to her people.
Laga‘aia gives the remake its clearest reason for returning to the story. She plays Moana with composure and restraint, allowing courage to develop alongside uncertainty. Her singing is assured, particularly in “How Far I’ll Go,” while the quieter scenes with Moana’s family give the performance its emotional weight.
Johnson brings physical presence and familiar comic timing to Maui, especially in “You’re Welcome.” Yet the transition from animation to live action is not always seamless. Maui’s transformations and oversized physical comedy remain naturally suited to animation, and some effects-heavy sequences emphasize technical execution more than discovery.
The music continues to carry much of the film’s appeal. Songs by Miranda, Opetaia Foa‘i and Mancina return, while the new “Along the Way,” performed by Laga‘aia, Johnson and Cravalho, provides a link between the animated and live-action productions. At the Bowl, the orchestra gave the score a dimension audiences will not encounter in a conventional screening.
As a remake, “Moana” is polished, respectful and closely tied to its predecessor. It does not substantially alter the story, but Laga‘aia brings warmth and credibility without relying on imitation. The premiere supplied festival energy, cultural ceremony, orchestral scale and fireworks; its young lead gave the familiar voyage a distinct human presence.
“Moana” is rated PG and now showing in U.S. theaters.
