Directed by Rob Marshall
Where & When: Regal LA Live 14, Los Angeles, CA. May 29, 2023 3:20 PM
When the animated feature film, "The Little Mermaid" arrived in theaters in 1989, the glory days of Walt Disney Studios was far behind them with many of their recent family-friendly, animated movies failing to generate much critical acclaim or inspire box-office excitement. With an engaging script by the directors, John Musker and Ron Clements and lively, original songs written by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman, "The Little Mermaid" went on to revitalize Disney animation, winning over critics and becoming a worldwide blockbuster. More popular hits followed and Disney Studios would once again become the dominate force in animated feature films.
The astonishing advancement of visual effects has given Disney the opportunity to reimagine their animated classics into live-action movies. The latest is the film that began the studio's renaissance with this remake of "The Little Mermaid". Rob Marshall, the director who brought the razzle-dazzle to the Oscar-winning adaptation of the Broadway musical, "Chicago", is the guide of this version, driving the film impressively with a magical visual style that thrillingly has us in a believable underwater world. And what made this musical feel even remarkably modern was the casting of the dynamic r&b vocalist, Halle Bailey as our beautiful mermaid, Ariel who is fascinated by the human world and ends up falling in love with a prince. Yet does this extravagant production do enough to make a twenty-first century "Little Mermaid" feel actually necessary?
If you're not familiar with the first film, here is a rundown of the story which has essentially remained the same. Ariel (Bailey) is the youngest of seven daughters of King Triton (Javier Bardem), the ruler of Atlantica where merpeople live under the sea. With Triton not wanting anything to do with humans due to one killing his wife, Ariel must keep secret her determined desire to see the surface world and the collection of human objects she has found from wrecked ships that have sunk to the bottom.
After overhearing the kind and thoughtful Eric (Jonah Hauer-King), the prince of a royal kingdom on a Caribbean island, Ariel becomes smitten and after saving his life when his ship crashes during a violent storm, she falls in love. When Triton discovers Ariel's involvement with a human, he becomes outraged, demanding that she never go near them again. And when his daughter refuses to make that promise, he destroys her collection of objects.
But appearing out of the murky depths is Ursula (Melissa McCarthy), the sea witch who is also Triton's sister and had been banished from the kingdom. Well aware of Ariel's dilemma, Ursula makes an offer; she will transform her into a human for three days and if she can receive a true love's kiss from her beloved in that time, she will be able to remain a surface dweller. However, if Ariel fails, she will return as a mermaid and belong to Ursula. The deal is agreed upon but Ariel will not be able to speak while she is human with her voice being held captive in a shell by the sea witch.
With Ariel's friends, Sebastian the crab (Daveed Diggs), a píntano named Flounder (Jacob Tremblay) and Scuttle (Awkwafina), a scatter-brained gannet, all banding together to make sure she succeeds in her quest after discovering that Ursula has cheated by not having Ariel remember she must be kissed.
But appearing out of the murky depths is Ursula (Melissa McCarthy), the sea witch who is also Triton's sister and had been banished from the kingdom. Well aware of Ariel's dilemma, Ursula makes an offer; she will transform her into a human for three days and if she can receive a true love's kiss from her beloved in that time, she will be able to remain a surface dweller. However, if Ariel fails, she will return as a mermaid and belong to Ursula. The deal is agreed upon but Ariel will not be able to speak while she is human with her voice being held captive in a shell by the sea witch.
With Ariel's friends, Sebastian the crab (Daveed Diggs), a píntano named Flounder (Jacob Tremblay) and Scuttle (Awkwafina), a scatter-brained gannet, all banding together to make sure she succeeds in her quest after discovering that Ursula has cheated by not having Ariel remember she must be kissed.
There have been tweaks to the plot and a few of the songs of this "Little Mermaid". Lyrics have been slightly altered (with the help of Lin-Manuel Miranda, teaming with composer, Menken since original songwriter, Ashman passed away in 1991) and character motivations have been updated in an appeal to modern sensibilities. Still far removed from the much darker original 1837 Danish fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen, this film feels more mature than the animated film, wanting to attract even more broadly to the entire family. But we have ended up with just a colorless yet tasteful remake, far too cautious and fearful in alienating fans of the hand-drawn version. The actions may be live yet there isn't much life to be found in this updated musical.
Bailey, who first found fame as part of a musical act with her sister, Chloe, is absolutely captivating in her first starring role. She perfectly embodies Ariel's sweet yet determined nature, willing to defy anything that stands in the way of what she desires. And not surprisingly, Bailey delivers potent, expressive vocals that beautifully enhance these classic songs. Less impressive is Hauer-King as our Prince Eric. Handsome in the expected princely way, with a cute dimple on just one cheek which surely helped get him cast, yet regrettably bland in the screen presence department. And while the actor can carry a tune, his singing, much like the new song by Miranda, "Wild Uncharted Waters" that Hauer-King performs, lacks vivid power to make it memorable. But there is a lovely chemistry between Bailey and Hauer-King making it easy to root for this inter-species couple. And McCarthy came in knowing the assignment, bringing a deliciously campy vibe to her Ursula. But she has also added dimension to the evil sea witch by making her more sympathetic, revealing a painful backstory to help explain the motivation behind her not-so-nice behavior.
I was charmed and entertained by this flesh and blood animated version of "The Little Mermaid" yet I'm still struggling to understand a real purpose for this film to have been made beyond the obvious motivation by Disney to find a new way to bring in a fresh infusion of cash from a beloved film in their library. Without any true inventive update to the plot and the lack of memorable, new music (with another of Miranda's contributions, "The Scuttlebutt" that has Scuttle and Sebastian rapping not really adding much), "The Little Mermaid" is more promotional product than motion picture, designed to inspire merchandising than a film that will delight viewers for generations.
Bailey, who first found fame as part of a musical act with her sister, Chloe, is absolutely captivating in her first starring role. She perfectly embodies Ariel's sweet yet determined nature, willing to defy anything that stands in the way of what she desires. And not surprisingly, Bailey delivers potent, expressive vocals that beautifully enhance these classic songs. Less impressive is Hauer-King as our Prince Eric. Handsome in the expected princely way, with a cute dimple on just one cheek which surely helped get him cast, yet regrettably bland in the screen presence department. And while the actor can carry a tune, his singing, much like the new song by Miranda, "Wild Uncharted Waters" that Hauer-King performs, lacks vivid power to make it memorable. But there is a lovely chemistry between Bailey and Hauer-King making it easy to root for this inter-species couple. And McCarthy came in knowing the assignment, bringing a deliciously campy vibe to her Ursula. But she has also added dimension to the evil sea witch by making her more sympathetic, revealing a painful backstory to help explain the motivation behind her not-so-nice behavior.
I was charmed and entertained by this flesh and blood animated version of "The Little Mermaid" yet I'm still struggling to understand a real purpose for this film to have been made beyond the obvious motivation by Disney to find a new way to bring in a fresh infusion of cash from a beloved film in their library. Without any true inventive update to the plot and the lack of memorable, new music (with another of Miranda's contributions, "The Scuttlebutt" that has Scuttle and Sebastian rapping not really adding much), "The Little Mermaid" is more promotional product than motion picture, designed to inspire merchandising than a film that will delight viewers for generations.
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