Dwayne Johnson says the mixed reviews for Disney's live-action Moana did not change the part of the film he values most: Polynesian children seeing their culture represented on a major movie screen.
In an interview published Friday by People, Johnson said he and his wife, Lauren Hashian, talked through the initial reaction at home. He accepted that audiences could like or dislike the remake, then pointed to the support it received from Polynesian viewers.
Johnson, whose mother is Samoan, said that cultural recognition was central to why the movie was made. Hashian told People that its themes of family, loss and perseverance also worked beyond the Polynesian community.
The film opened in U.S. theaters July 10. Catherine Lagaʻaia plays Moana, with Johnson returning as Maui after voicing the character in the 2016 animated movie and its sequel. Thomas Kail directed the live-action version.
Sources: People's original interview with Dwayne Johnson and Lauren Hashian and Disney Movies.
Image: Disney Movies.