The Little Mermaid: Halle Bailey Saves the Day

The Little Mermaid (2023)

Stream Network: Disney+

Running Time: 2h 15m

Age Rating: PG

Genres: Fantasy, Musical, Romance

My Rating: 🧜🏾‍♀️🧜🏾‍♀️🧜🏾‍♀️🦀

We are living in an era of reboots and remakes, so it’s no surprise that ‘The Little Mermaid’ is the latest iconic Disney classic to get the modern treatment. The Little Mermaid is one of the most beloved fairy tales of all time, and it has inspired countless adaptations in various media. The latest live-action remake mostly follows the original story of a mermaid princess who falls in love with a human prince, but with a modern twist.

The film follows the story of Ariel, a mermaid princess who wants to explore the world above the sea. She falls in love with Prince Eric, a human whom she saves from a shipwreck, and makes a deal with the evil sea witch Ursula to trade her voice for human legs. Along the way, she is helped by her friends Sebastian, Flounder, and Scuttle, while trying to avoid her father King Triton’s wrath and Ursula’s schemes.

I was excited to watch this remake as I’m fond of the original classic version. However, I was left feeling quite unsatisfied after the movie. The movie was good, but unfortunately, has some plot holes, making the storyline somehow weak. It also suffers from some pacing and logic issues. It tries to cram too much information and action into its runtime, resulting in some scenes being rushed or skipped over. The new adaptation also changes a few details of the story that may not sit well with some fans of the original version. Regardless, I liked the movie.

Throughout the movie, I enjoyed the stunning visuals, awesome production design, and fascinating costumes. The excellent performances of the cast are the film’s strongest point, especially Halle Bailey as Ariel, truly impressed me. Halle did a brilliant job; she’s a perfect choice for Ariel, showing off her beautiful voice that matches the iconic songs of the character, her graceful acting, and dazzling looks.

Jonah Hauer-King is also a great fit for Prince Eric, as he portrays his kindness, bravery, and humor. He actually has more personality and backstory than his animated counterpart, making him more interesting. Javier Bardem is a powerful presence as King Triton, who struggles to balance his love for his daughter and his duty as a ruler. He also has a complex relationship with Ursula, who is revealed to be his sister in this version. Melissa McCarthy is a delight as Ursula, who is both menacing and hilarious. Sebastian, voiced by Daveed Diggs, and Flounder, voiced by Jacob Tremblay, are adorable and memorable characters in the movie. Awkwafina is perfect as Scuttle, with her great voice and quirky personality making this version’s Scuttle, in my opinion, more fun than the original’s.

The live-action remake featured all the memorable songs from the original 1989 animated movie, introducing some new songs written by Lin-Manuel Miranda and Alan Menken. I personally liked the mixed bag of old and new songs as it worked for me perfectly, leaving me feeling both nostalgic and refreshed. I have to admit that I was giggling the entire time I was watching the recreated scenes of ‘Under the Sea’ and ‘Kiss the Girl’, while ‘Part of Your World’ really gave me chills.

When the entire experience was pleasant in general, the ending of the movie kind of ruined everything for me. I think the ending is a bit disappointing and unsatisfying. It’s rushed and incomplete and made the movie seem just okay more than great. The scene where Ursula is defeated by Ariel and Prince Eric is an utter mess; it made me actually laugh because it didn’t make any sense. The ending also could have given more closure to Ariel’s relationship with her father and her sisters and shown how she adjusted to her new life on land. The movie seemed to end abruptly and left some questions unanswered.

To sum up, The Little Mermaid remake is a decent and enjoyable remake that offers a fresh and modern take on the classic tale. The movie has its strengths and weaknesses, but it also has its charm and appeal. The movie may not be perfect or faithful to the original version, but it also doesn’t have to be. It’s a tribute to the story that has inspired and enchanted generations of fans around the world. It’s worth watching for its cast, its music, its production, and its message of love, courage, and freedom. Overall, I give it 3.5 stars out of 5.