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“Moana” Is Between The Rock And A Hard Place (With Ben Hosley)

Jul 16, 2026 · 1h 19m

Summary

Hosts Richard Lawson and Alison Romer, joined by guest Ben Hosley, critique Disney’s live-action *Moana* remake. They discuss its formulaic nature, The Rock’s prosthetic-heavy performance, and the film’s weak box office. The conversation also covers Disney’s reliance on reboots over original IP, analyzing recent hits like *Zootopia 2* and flops like *Wish*.

Topics discussed

Intro and Ben Frisch's apology tour Moana live-action premise and audience Disney's franchise strategy and sequels Critique of the live-action adaptation Maui's CGI, acting, and character arc Visual style and comparison to animation Dwayne Johnson's career trajectory Final thoughts and upcoming episodes
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