Review - The Little Mermaid (2023)

         Hey guys, Chuck here. Well, I just got back from my local movie theater, where I went to see The Little Mermaid, Disney's live-action remake of the 1989 animated feature film of the same name. This version stars Halle Bailey, Jonah Hauer-King, Melissa McCarthy, Javier Bardem, and features the vocal talents of Jacob Tremblay, Daveed Diggs, and Awkwafina. The film also comes to us from director Rob Marshall, whose directing credits for Disney include such films as Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, Into the Woods, and Mary Poppins Returns. 

         So, the story of the film is very much the same as the 1989 animated original. Ariel is a mermaid, a princess of the undersea kingdom of Atlantica, and is the youngest daughter of King Triton. She meets and falls for a human, Prince Eric, and cuts a deal with the sea witch Ursula to become human for three days to spend time getting to know Eric more intimately. Now, what this movie adds to that story is additional plot points that, quite honestly, make total sense in an updated take on a classic. For example, the original never got into Ursula's connection with Triton, but there was a cut concept of them being siblings. That was added back for this version, and it totally fits. Also, they gave Eric and Ariel a genuine connection, as we see her vast collection, and he shows off a similar collection from his travels. It gives them something to build on, and it absolutely works. 

          Now, one major question was how is Halle Bailey as Ariel? Well, she was, for lack of a better word, perfect. Her singing and acting were easily a highlight, and she was simply a joy throughout the movie, especially as she moved underwater with movements that were just graceful and beautiful. Now, let's be clear, I am aware of online backlash against her playing Ariel simply because she is African-American, but to be honest, her acting and singing are what matters more than her physical appearance, and she was excellent in both the acting and the singing, and that's what I'm basing my opinions on. 

           Jonah Hauer-King as Eric was also enjoyable, and he definitely gave more dimensions to the character than the original animated version. Javier Bardem absolutely owned the screen as King Triton, and he had a truly commanding presence that gave me chills. I also want to give kudos to Art Malik, who portrays Grimsby, and Noma Dumezweni, who portrays a new character called Queen Selina, who is Eric's adoptive mother. Both are definitely great, and help give Eric more depth. 

          But, my biggest concern was regarding Melissa McCarthy as Ursula. And, to my surprise, she was fantastic. Devilishly evil, and genuinely entertaining, Melissa McCarthy is up there with Cate Blanchett as Lady Tremaine and Luke Evans as Gaston in terms of classic Disney villains reimagined in live-action, and the performance of the song "Poor Unfortunate Souls" was a lot of fun. 

        Speaking of the music, the score by Alan Menken was fantastic, and the songs by Alan Menken, both with original movie lyrics by Howard Ashman and new lyrics by Lin Manuel Miranda, were also fantastic. Now, two songs from the original were omitted, those being"Daughters of Triton" and "Les Poisson's," but they would have been out of place with the story this movie was telling. Two new songs that I enjoyed were "For the First Time," which is a new song for Ariel, and "Wild Uncharted Waters," which is a new song for Eric. Both are fantastic, and are definitely great new additions. Now, both "Poor Unfortunate Souls" and "Kiss the Girl" went through lyrical changes, but those changes were fine. But the one new song that I wasn't a fan of was "The Scuttlebutt," performed by Awkwafina and Daveed Diggs. I swear, it was the only song that made me straight up cringe. 

           Also, on the subject, a good amount of the visual effects, especially depicting life under the sea, were really good. The visual effects for the tails of Ariel, her sisters, Triton, and other merfolk were stunning, and the same goes for Ursula's tentacles. The many creatures of the sea also looked amazing...for the most part. Unfortunately, as these are the only three animal characters that talk in the movie, Sebastian, Flounder, and Scuttle all come off slightly off putting, almost completely lost in the Uncanny Valley. But, the vocal performances of Daveed Diggs as Sebastian, Jacob Tremblay as Flounder, and Awkwafina as Scuttle were fine enough. 

        Now, let's be clear, these Disney live-action remakes haven't had a spotless track record. Films like Pinocchio, The Lion King, and Dumbo have certainly not been quite that good, while others like Cinderella, Aladdin, and Beauty and the Beast were fantastic. The Little Mermaid definitely ranks up there with Cinderella, Aladdin, and Beauty and the Beast. Rob Marshall definitely made a genuinely entertaining and enjoyable film that a new generation of children can love and appreciate the same way children of MY generation loved and appreciated the original. So, I'm giving this version of The Little Mermaid a rating of 4.80/5, just slightly above the original animated film. If you have any kids or grandkids, definitely take them to see this one. 

           Okay guys, this is Chuck signing off, and I'll see you guys next time.