"If you love it, great. If you don't, no problem": Dwayne Johnson defends 'Moana' amid mixed reviews
Washington DC, August 8
Dwayne Johnson has defended Disney's live-action 'Moana' remake following its mixed critical reception, saying he remains proud of the film despite the criticism, according to Variety.
Johnson, who stars in the movie, told People that the initial reviews had been encouraging before the critical response shifted.
"Our first two reviews came out," Johnson said. "I'll never forget it ... They were amazing. I was like, 'Wow.' [Then] it went another way, as sometimes happens."
The actor said he understands that mixed reviews are part of the entertainment business and that he and his wife discussed the criticism at home while focusing on the film's longer-term impact.
"That's just the way it goes because we're in this business," Johnson said. "My wife and I had a lot of these conversations at home, at the kitchen island late at night when the babies are asleep."
He said their conversations centered on looking beyond the immediate reaction to the movie.
"The challenge was, 'OK, let's remember, though, what's going to be beyond this opening weekend. Let's remember what's happening right now and the noise that's happening right now,'" Johnson said, according to Variety.
Despite the lack of strong critical support, Johnson said he is proud of the remake and believes it has succeeded in bringing happiness to audiences.
"If you love it, great. If you don't, no problem," Johnson said.
The live-action Moana currently holds a 31 per cent score on Rotten Tomatoes and 42 per cent on Metacritic. However, some critics offered a more positive assessment. Variety was among the kinder reviews, with critic Owen Gleiberman writing, "The remake of 'Moana' can't, and shouldn't, replace the original. But it earns a place alongside it."
The film has also faced a softer-than-expected box office performance.
Disney CEO Josh D'Amaro acknowledged that Moana's box office results had been below expectations, while highlighting the wider value of the company's major franchises.
"Even when our franchise films don't meet our box office expectations, as with the 'Mandalorian and Grogu' and the live-action 'Moana,' our investments in these core properties fuel other parts of our company," D'Amaro said, according to Variety.
— ANI
Reader Comments
I saw the movie with my kids last weekend here in Mumbai. The theatre was full and the children were dancing to 'How Far I'll Go'. Maybe the critics are out of touch? Our family loved it. Not everything needs to be a dark, brooding masterpiece. Sometimes you just want a good family film. 😊
Johnson's response is classy, but I wish Disney would stop milking every animated classic into a live-action cash grab. We have so many timeless stories in our culture - if they want to adapt something, why not look at Indian epics like Ramayana or Mahabharata? They'd actually do them justice with modern VFX. Just saying. 🤷♂️
As someone who works in the entertainment industry in India, I know how tough it is when critics pan your work. Johnson's maturity is admirable. The whole "opening weekend vs. long-term legacy" conversation is something we deal with constantly here too. Bollywood blockbusters face the same pressure. Big respect to The Rock for handling it with grace.
I'll be honest - the reviews are mixed and maybe the movie isn't Oscar-worthy. But Dwayne Johnson is right that the joy it brings to kids matters more. In villages across India, kids don't care about Rotten Tomatoes scores. They just see a fun adventure on screen. Sometimes we overthink these things. 😊
It's rare to see a massive star like Johnson take criticism so calmly. Most actors would be going on a PR
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