The problem about "nice" films and "simple" films is twofold... those adjectives sound bland and uninviting, and should you rate them highly it sets expectations that can almost never be met. But this is a nice, simple film and I loved it. Some critics have had a cra k at Taika about his cheesy sense of humour. Horses for courses. I thought he pushed too hard for cheap jokes in the Thor franchise, more as the franchise continued, but this film had a lot more heart and the cheese quota fit very well. Taika has a real skill for stillness and smallness when he decides to, like in the wonderful JoJo Rabbit. In this film, his love, pride and and comfort with Polynesian culture imbues the whole work and his eye for beauty and simplicity provide an enticing serenity. There are a lot of films about underdogs that win... and a lot about washed out coaches being assigned "loser" teams. But the individual portrayal and journey can still take us somewhere new. There IS cheese... there IS corn... but that's quite welcome in certain contexts. There's a surprising number of celebrity pal cameos, lots of silliness, an emotional gut punch you don't see coming and the whole mix is enjoyably uplifting, familial and familiar. I stuck a tear and very much enjoyed this.