Disney’s live-action ‘Moana’ is certainly handsome to look at, but it also raises the obvious question: why remake a film that was already so visually accomplished only ten years ago? The original combined Polynesian mythology, environmental themes and memorable songs into one of Disney’s strongest modern animations, and while this new version faithfully recreates almost every beat, it rarely justifies its own existence.

The story remains engaging. Moana (Catherine Laga’aia) sets sail beyond the reef to restore the stolen heart of Te Fiti and save her island, joined by the swaggering demigod Maui, once again played by Dwayne Johnson. Catherine Laga’aia makes an appealing and charismatic Moana, while Rena Owen brings real warmth and emotional depth as her grandmother. Johnson clearly enjoys returning to Maui, although his larger-than-life screen presence was arguably even more effective when it was confined to voice work.

The biggest surprise is how artificial the ‘live-action’ often feels. So much of the film relies on CGI that it frequently resembles another animated feature with real actors composited into it. The ocean, the monsters and even Moana’s faithful but dim-witted chicken Hei Hei all inhabit an uncanny middle ground between realism and cartoon, with the latter proving strangely more unsettling than amusing. Ironically, the original animation often felt more alive than this supposedly live-action remake.

Thankfully, Lin-Manuel Miranda’s songs remain every bit as infectious. Numbers such as ‘You’re Welcome’ still delight, even if they lack the visual inventiveness and playful energy of the animated original. Thomas Kail directs competently, but there is little sense that he is bringing a fresh perspective to the material. Rather than reimagining the story, he reproduces it with remarkable fidelity, making the whole enterprise feel more like an expensive tribute act than a new interpretation.

That is a shame because the themes remain worthwhile. Moana is still an engaging heroine whose courage lies in challenging tradition while remaining faithful to her people. The film’s celebration of Polynesian culture and its environmental message continue to resonate, and it is genuinely heartening to see Pacific Island performers occupying centre stage in such a major Hollywood production.

Ultimately, though, this version struggles to escape the shadow of its predecessor. It is enjoyable enough, and newcomers will undoubtedly be swept along by its adventure, humour and music. Yet those familiar with the 2016 film may find themselves admiring the craftsmanship while wondering why Disney has chosen to revisit such recent ground rather than telling a new story. As polished as it is, ‘Moana’ never quite escapes the feeling that it is sailing across waters that were charted far more imaginatively the first time around.