The Little Mermaid (2023)

 

The Little Mermaid (2023)

 

6/10

 

Starring

Hallie Bailey

Melissa McCarthy

 

Directed by Rob Marshall

 

Disney went above and beyond with the special effects for this movie. I hope the huge expense it incurred can be recouped at the box office. Anything running while a Spider-Man movie or animation is out is bound to lose money. If Disney made this primarily for their Disney+ channel, then they’re likely in good shape. The movie seems carefully crafted with young ladies and children in mind. It’s colorful, the conversations are easy to follow, and the comedic elements sneak in naturally. Ursula is made even more menacing visually, which adds to the experience.

Despite the effort Disney poured into the effects, they didn’t quite blend seamlessly when watching the movie. That said, the cast was amazing. I had never seen or heard of Halle Bailey before this, but hats off to her for her performance in this film.

If, like me, you were born in the '80s or early '90s, then Disney’s 1989 The Little Mermaid is likely already part of your world. The songs of Sebastian trying to convince Ariel to stay "under the sea" and the enchanting melody of "Kiss the Girl"—are probably etched in your memory.

In keeping with their current trend, Disney has crafted another live-action adaptation of one of their old classics. This follows the release of their Peter Pan remake (Peter Pan and Wendy) earlier this year.

The plot remains unchanged from the original. Ariel, a mermaid, is deeply fascinated by the human world. Her underwater explorations lead her to collect human artifacts, which she keeps in her treasure trove. She often goes on these adventures with her best friend, Flounder (a fish). When Ariel and Flounder find something new, they take it to Scuttle, a seagull who hilariously guesses the names and purposes of the items, despite knowing nothing about human life.

Keeping a close watch over Ariel is Sebastian, a crab who is strict and constantly trying to keep her out of trouble. Meanwhile, Ursula, the sea witch who was banished by King Triton, has been observing his daughters, waiting for an opportunity to overthrow him and rule the oceans.

One night, while Ariel is watching a celebration on a ship, disaster strikes as a wave hits the vessel, forcing the crew to abandon ship. Ariel saves Eric, a human prince she had admired during the celebration. After rescuing him, she quickly returns to the sea, leaving Eric with only a memory of her beautiful voice.

Determined to see Eric again, Ariel turns to Ursula for help. But Ursula has her own agenda—to use Ariel as leverage to take King Triton’s throne. Using her magic, Ursula transforms Ariel into a human but demands a price: Ariel must give up her voice. Plus, she has three days to receive the "kiss of true love" from Eric, or she will belong entirely to Ursula.

The live-action adaptation closely mirrors the animation in many ways, but it lacks some of the magic that made the original so special.