The Little Mermaid (2023)

 

The Little Mermaid (2023)

 

6/10

 

Starring

Hallie Bailey

Melissa McCarthy

 

Directed by Rob Marshall

 

Disney went over and beyond for the special effects for this movie. I hope the huge expense this movie swallowed can be recouped from the Box-Office. Anything running when any Spider-Man movie or animation is running is bound to lose money. If Disney made this for their Disney+ channel, then all is well for them. The number of young ladies and children who will love this is well put into thought with the way the movie is crafted. Colorful and the conversations are easy to follow. The comedic elements are made to creep up from all points, and the evil Ursula is made crueler to sight.

Even though Disney went far for the effects, it just did not blend well when you watch the movie. The cast were amazing, and I have never seen or heard of Hallie Bailey before this, but hats off to her for her work in this movie.

So, if you are like me, and you were born in the 80s or early 90s, then Disney’s 1989 The Little Mermaid is already part of your world. The music of Sebastian trying to convince Ariel to stay under the sea and the beautiful tune when he wanted to get Eric to kiss the girl are stamped in your memory.

Disney in their trend so far these days have crafted another live-action adaptation of their old classic. This follows their Peter Pan remake (Peter Pan and Wendy) which was also released this year.

The plot has not changed from the original. Ariel is a mermaid who is madly in love with life in the human world. Her exploration in the seas allows her to collect human artifacts to keep in her storage. She goes on this exploration with her best friend Flounder (who is a fish). When Ariel and Flounder find something to find Scuttle, a seagull who tells them the name and use of the items they find. Scuttle, who knows nothing about human life, makes up the name and use of the items shown.

Watching Ariel is Sebastian, a crab, who is rigid and always trying his best to keep Ariel safe. Then there is Ursula the sea witch who was banished and has been watching over the daughters of her brother King Triton, looking for an opportunity to overturn her banishment and one day rule over the Oceans instead of her brother.

One night, while watching a celebration upon a ship, a wave hit the ship, causing the crew to jump overboard. Ariel saves Eric, a human whom she fancied when watching the celebration. After saving him, she runs back into the sea, leaving Eric with only a memory of her voice.

Now hell-bent to get to meet him again, Ariel gets locked with the sea witch Ursula for help. Ursula has plans of her own on how to use Ariel to get her father to part with rulership of the oceans. Ursula used her magic to make Ariel human, but at a cost. Ariel will be human for three days and in exchange Ariel will have to part with her voice. This means Ariel will not be able to speak or sing, and within those three days she must receive the "kiss of true love" from Eric or her entire being will belong to Ursula.

Very similar to the animation in almost every way, but I can say lacks some of its magic.