‘Moana’ is balmy beachside breeze in colder climes

“Moana” is both revolutionary and old-fashioned, fresh and familiar, and, technically, perhaps one of the most lushly animated films Disney has released to date. It’s a fitting year-end bow for the studio, which in 2016 launched one of its top-grossing animated films of all time (the superlative “Zootopia”) and has also seen one of its most technically advanced live-action films become the top-grossing in the Marvel Universe (“Doctor Strange”).

And it gets to add another strong, admirable princess to its ever-growing girls club.

A Polynesian girl of royalty, Moana (voiced by Auli’i Cravalho), is destined to rule over an island with diminishing resources. Her tropical home has been damaged by demigod Maui (voiced by Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson), who long ago stole a sacred stone that has cursed the island.

Though Moana is just entering her teens, she is next in line to rule the island, and, despite her father’s best wishes, wants to venture out beyond the safety of the reef to search for the thieving deity, have him replace the stone, and restore balance in the tropical paradise.

It is the classic “hero’s journey,” which is the familiar aspect of the tale. There is little new to the rather well-trodden narrative of “Moana,” right on down to the goofy animal sidekicks (a fact that the film readily admits and acknowledges on more than one occasion). But that is where the rather cinematic comfort food ends, for the film offers a kaleidoscope of colors, rousing musical interludes and a core of generational respect, female empowerment and reverence for the natural world that gives the film an immediacy that is wholly energizing and stunning to watch unfold.

After its exposition of Maui’s initial possession of the stone, the film settles into the tribal routine of Moana’s people, allowing the filmmakers to soak in the sumptuous visuals of the tropical topography (courtesy of Ron Clements and John Musker of “Aladdin” and “Little Mermaid” fame), the sharply textured character design, and the sparkling musical numbers courtesy of Lin-Manuel Miranda (of “Hamilton” fame). And not a prince in sight to rescue our heroine.

In fact, the emphasis is more on teamwork, as the burly Maui blasts his way through various treacherous obstacles, only to find that his road would end much sooner were it not for the help of the young girl. And while “Moana” might have benefited from a trimmed runtime, there is still enough around the fringes to keep all ages engaged throughout.

Additionally, newcomer Cravalho balances power and pragmatism in her role, even rolling The Rock out of scenes to steal them herself (no small feat). While it’s perhaps not as sharply written as “Zootopia,” and could have benefited from slicing out one of the less-memorable tunes (I’m looking at you, “Shiny!”) it more than makes up for that in all other aspects of its production and should provide families a balmy beachside breeze during the colder climes of the holiday box office.