Gone Fishing (2017) Review
MAUI’S HOOKED ON TROUBLE
I wanted to check off some more Walt Disney animated shorts and thought I’d dive back into the world of Moana with this short. And I will say, it’s not the greatest thing I’ve ever seen, but it gave me some entertainment. “Gone Fishing” (2017) takes place after the events of “Moana” (2016), focusing on Maui as he attempts to go fishing with his magical hook. The short has a light-hearted, comedic tone and doesn't take itself too seriously, which can be refreshing in the context of shorter animated films.
The animation, unsurprisingly, is stunning—true to the colourful, fluid style of “Moana” but I obviously expected that. The vibrant landscapes and detailed character design added an immersive quality, The visual design of the short is definitely one of its strongest elements, offering a feast for the eyes even in its brief runtime.
Maui’s voice, of course, is once again provided by Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, and as much as his voice suits this role perfectly, I just can’t deal with it most of the time. I understand Maui is meant to be charismatic, but I’m not the biggest fan—and I’m not sure if that’s because of the character or his voice acting. I will admit though, it’s fun to hear him once again banter and stumble through his misadventures, and the familiar humour from the original “Moana” does shine through in moments. However, that’s where things start to feel a little less exciting. The short’s plot revolves around Maui attempting to fish in a way that only he can, with his magical hook, and as you might expect, things don’t go exactly as planned. The issue is that the humour, which revolves around Maui’s constant failures, becomes predictable and repetitive. I was just sick of it by a certain point, and for a 3 minute short to make me feel that…then that’s a problem. While a gag or two might land initially, after a few moments of Maui struggling with the hook, the jokes lost their impact. By the end, it almost feels like the short could’ve ended a lot sooner without losing much.
This is where “Gone Fishing” feels a bit lacking. Despite the fun animation, the short doesn’t add much to the Moana world. It doesn’t deepen Maui’s character or expand the universe in a way that feels meaningful. If anything, it feels more like a quick filler piece designed to entertain for a few minutes but not leave much of a lasting impression. And to be honest, it is just a filler short…so I won’t criticise it too much. The humour, while not bad, stays on the surface level—there's nothing to challenge or engage the audience beyond the basic slapstick antics. The potential for more creativity or emotional resonance just isn’t there.
What’s perhaps most disappointing is that this short doesn’t capitalise on the potential of its setting or its character. Maui is an interesting figure with layers of depth and humour in “Moana”, but here, he’s reduced to a series of mishaps without any real growth or exploration. It’s hard not to think of what could have been if the short had taken a more inventive or emotionally engaging approach. Sure, the humor might entertain younger viewers or fans of the character, but anyone looking for something more substantial or innovative will probably feel a little let down.
Overall, “Gone Fishing” is a mediocre animated short. It is not a bad short by any means, but it’s far from a standout in Disney’s vast collection of animated shorts. It provides a few moments of enjoyment, but ultimately, it’s a forgettable experience. If you're a fan of the moana films or just love Maui as a character, you might find some mild entertainment in it, but it didn’t offer anything particularly memorable or groundbreaking to me. It’s fun in the moment, but it lacks the heart or depth that made “Moana” (2016) such a standout film. A quick, light watch that doesn't live up to the promise of its source material. I’m so far enjoying going through some Walt Disney animated shorts…even if I’m finding some mediocre ones along the way.
(2.5 stars ⭐️ out of 5). (5.3/10). 53/100
Gone Fishing (2017) Review
MAUI’S HOOKED ON TROUBLE
I wanted to check off some more Walt Disney animated shorts and thought I’d dive back into the world of Moana with this short. And I will say, it’s not the greatest thing I’ve ever seen, but it gave me some entertainment. “Gone Fishing” (2017) takes place after the events of “Moana” (2016), focusing on Maui as he attempts to go fishing with his magical hook. The short has a light-hearted, comedic tone and doesn't take itself too seriously, which can be refreshing in the context of shorter animated films.
The animation, unsurprisingly, is stunning—true to the colourful, fluid style of “Moana” but I obviously expected that. The vibrant landscapes and detailed character design added an immersive quality, The visual design of the short is definitely one of its strongest elements, offering a feast for the eyes even in its brief runtime.
Maui’s voice, of course, is once again provided by Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, and as much as his voice suits this role perfectly, I just can’t deal with it most of the time. I understand Maui is meant to be charismatic, but I’m not the biggest fan—and I’m not sure if that’s because of the character or his voice acting. I will admit though, it’s fun to hear him once again banter and stumble through his misadventures, and the familiar humour from the original “Moana” does shine through in moments. However, that’s where things start to feel a little less exciting. The short’s plot revolves around Maui attempting to fish in a way that only he can, with his magical hook, and as you might expect, things don’t go exactly as planned. The issue is that the humour, which revolves around Maui’s constant failures, becomes predictable and repetitive. I was just sick of it by a certain point, and for a 3 minute short to make me feel that…then that’s a problem. While a gag or two might land initially, after a few moments of Maui struggling with the hook, the jokes lost their impact. By the end, it almost feels like the short could’ve ended a lot sooner without losing much.
This is where “Gone Fishing” feels a bit lacking. Despite the fun animation, the short doesn’t add much to the Moana world. It doesn’t deepen Maui’s character or expand the universe in a way that feels meaningful. If anything, it feels more like a quick filler piece designed to entertain for a few minutes but not leave much of a lasting impression. And to be honest, it is just a filler short…so I won’t criticise it too much. The humour, while not bad, stays on the surface level—there's nothing to challenge or engage the audience beyond the basic slapstick antics. The potential for more creativity or emotional resonance just isn’t there.
What’s perhaps most disappointing is that this short doesn’t capitalise on the potential of its setting or its character. Maui is an interesting figure with layers of depth and humour in “Moana”, but here, he’s reduced to a series of mishaps without any real growth or exploration. It’s hard not to think of what could have been if the short had taken a more inventive or emotionally engaging approach. Sure, the humor might entertain younger viewers or fans of the character, but anyone looking for something more substantial or innovative will probably feel a little let down.
Overall, “Gone Fishing” is a mediocre animated short. It is not a bad short by any means, but it’s far from a standout in Disney’s vast collection of animated shorts. It provides a few moments of enjoyment, but ultimately, it’s a forgettable experience. If you're a fan of the moana films or just love Maui as a character, you might find some mild entertainment in it, but it didn’t offer anything particularly memorable or groundbreaking to me. It’s fun in the moment, but it lacks the heart or depth that made “Moana” (2016) such a standout film. A quick, light watch that doesn't live up to the promise of its source material. I’m so far enjoying going through some Walt Disney animated shorts…even if I’m finding some mediocre ones along the way.
(2.5 stars ⭐️ out of 5). (5.3/10). 53/100
