‘The Little Mermaid’ Film Review
Ariel is much more her own woman. Her choices are for her betterment and for her to break out of the restrictions of her undersea life. She is a young girl coming of age who happens to fall for someone who represents freedom.
Danish author Hans Christian Andersen’s The Little Mermaid was published as a children’s fairytale in 1837. The 1989 animated feature version of the beloved story, directed by Ron Clements and John Musker, captures Ariel’s tenacity and the enchanting nature of the tale. At a run time of an hour and twenty-three minutes, it’s a delightfully compact Disney juggernaut that’s enjoyable for all. The now iconic film garnered numerous awards, including three Oscar wins. So, why does there need to be a reimagining?
Sometimes stories can be improved upon technically or creatively. A tale that might now seem outdated could use a fresh, modern take. While Ariel, voiced by Jodi Benson, is certainly charming in the original, her character’s life revolves around a man, Eric (Christopher Daniel Barnes). In Disney’s soon-to-be-released live-action version starring Grammy-Award nominated singer Halle Bailey, Ariel is much more her own woman. Her choices are for her betterment and for her to break out of the restrictions of her undersea life. She is a young girl coming of age who happens to fall for someone who represents freedom.
On May 26, 2023, the Rob Marshall (Into the Woods, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides) directed retelling of The Little Mermaid hits the big screen in Dolby and IMAX. At two hours and fifteen minutes, it maintains the sweet soul of the original, while portraying a more diverse cast and conveying a more empowering message than the original. Halle’s crystal-clear voice fits Ariel’s character like a glove, giving an angelic, otherworldly quality to "Part of Your World."
Cinematographer Dion Beebe (Memoirs of a Geisha, Edge of Tomorrow) had his task cut out for him having to bring the animated classic to life and he more than rises to the occasion. Visually, the underwater scenes are glorious, capturing the murkiness of the sea and its Sibylline qualities. Above water, the lighting properly frames Halle’s face, particularly in interior shots, giving her a beatific glow.
Awkwafina and Daveed Diggs make Scuttle and Sebastian, respectively, their own, providing sanguine comic relief. Buddy Hackett and Samuel E. Wright voiced the characters in the original. Lin-Manuel Miranda lends his gifted pen to updating some of Alan Menken’s lyrics, including letting Awkwafina and David’s rapping skills shine in the sassy "The Scuttlebutt."
Melissa McCarthy is Ursula. Her big persona, her big voice, and her fearsome makeup bring this villainous character to life with fervor. Some of her scenes towards the end are a little opaque but that doesn’t detract from her performance or the urgency of the scenes.
Colleen Atwood’s costume design captures the essence of the time period of the story. Ariel's garb is lightweight and still gives her a magical quality. Ariel’s rejection of heels and the slow discovery of what her feet are comfortable in is something every woman can relate to.
Javier Bardem (King Triton), Jonah Hauer-King (Prince Eric), Noma Dumezweni (Queen Selina), and Jacob Tremblay (Flounder) round out the divinely talented cast.
Screenwriter David Magee (Life of Pi, Finding Neverland) stays true to the source material while giving the story a fresh, updated feel.
Halle Bailey is no stranger to being in front of the camera. She’s acted in Grown-ish, House of Payne, and Last Holiday, but is best known for being part of the R&B duo Chloe x Halle. She gives Ariel an inherent tenacity and innocence and her mesmerizing vocals instill a true siren quality to the character. Since she’s a mermaid, her skin color doesn’t matter. However, for young girls watching the film, she’ll be an inspiration. They’ll know that they don’t have to be limited by race, which ties into one of the primary themes of the story – don’t be ashamed of who you are.
The Little Mermaid will be released in Theaters on May 26, 2023.
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Sonya Alexander started off her career training to be a talent agent. She eventually realized she was meant to be on the creative end and has been writing ever since. As a freelance writer she’s written screenplays, covered film, television, music and video games and done academic writing. She’s also been a script reader for over twenty years. She's a member of the African American Film Critics Association and currently resides in Los Angeles.
