SINCE their merger with Pixar in 2006, Disney have all but cornered the market in imaginative, intelligent and all-round entertaining animated films and their latest shows no signs of bucking that trend.

The film concerns a headstrong teenage girl in ancient Polynesia who has her heart set on leaving her island community for a sea-faring life discovering new and exciting lands.

Breaking the edict of her stern father when an unknown force threatens her home, she sails off to find the demigod Maui who will help her stop the evil that could destroy the world.

One could compile quite a list about the many analogies to various contemporary environmental and political concerns in the plot, but the film works because the animation is stunning to behold, the story is interesting (although the playing with gender roles is weak and unconvincing) and the vocal acting strong all throughout.

Dwayne Johnson (formerly 'The Rock') proves again what a surprisingly good actor he is...and even sings!

And rather good he is too, although he is bested by Auli’i Cravalho, who is full of determined charm in the lead role.

Review by Jason Day.