Dwayne Johnson remains philosophical about Moana reviews

Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson is philosophical about the mixed reviews of Moana.

The 54-year-old actor has voiced the part of Maui in the Disney animated film series since 2016, and over time, Dwayne has learned to cope with the ups and downs of the movie business.

Dwayne - who recently reprised the role to star in the live-action adaptation of the 2016 film - told People: "Our first two reviews came out. I’ll never forget it … They were amazing. I was like, wow."

Then, Dwayne remembers, "it went another way".

The wrestler-turned-actor always tries to take a philosophical, long-term view of box office figures and film reviews.

He explained: "The challenge was, okay, 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.

"If you love it, great. If you don’t, no problem."

Dwayne's wife, Lauren Hashian, loves how the new movie represents the Polynesian community, as well as the themes that it explores.

She said: "The whole community, the whole culture really showed up and they understood.

"Even if you’re not Polynesian, I think we can understand family and love and loss and perseverance — especially as a mom. Having kids and watching it through their eyes, for me, it’s very magical."

Last year, meanwhile, Emily Blunt admitted to being shocked by Dwayne's "contemplative" nature.

The actress first worked with the Dwayne on 2021's Jungle Cruise, and the Hollywood duo instantly struck up a good friendship.

Speaking at the Toronto International Film Festival, Emily explained: "We just became very fast friends, like an immediate secret language, which I think you feel with certain people that you work with."

Emily, 43, admitted that Dwayne was totally different to how she imagined him to be.

The actress - who reunited with Dwayne to star in The Smashing Machine, the sports-drama movie - explained: "We just talked and shared our souls. And I was just really taken by, I guess, how different he was from what I had imagined.

"He was so gentle and quite interior and sort of contemplative and kind, just easy. Like, so lovely to be around, funny and quick, all these qualities."

Dwayne also heaped praise on his co-star, describing Emily as one of his "best friends".

He said: "I also want to give Emily her flowers too. She is one of the greatest actors of our time — of all time. And also one of my best friends.

"In order to go to the place we were going to go, you have to have love, and then you have to have trust. And the love and the trust then allow for vulnerability. We could not have done that without this love and trust and vulnerability that we have."