The Little Mermaid: A Review of Disney’s Live Action Remake
Disney’s live-action remake of The Little Mermaid has finally hit theaters and is already stirring up quite the buzz. The movie follows Ariel, a young mermaid princess, as she longs to experience life on land and eventually falls in love with Prince Eric. In this article, we’ll dive into the details of the film and give you our review.
Plot Summary
The Little Mermaid follows the same basic plot as the original animated film: Ariel, a young mermaid princess, is fascinated with the human world and dreams of one day living on land. When she saves the life of a human prince, Eric, she falls in love and makes a deal with a sea witch, Ursula, to become human so she can be with him. But the deal comes with a catch: she must give up her voice in exchange for legs and has only three days to get Eric to fall in love with her.
The Cast
Halle Bailey
Halle Bailey plays Ariel and delivers a stunning performance. Her soaring voice and bright-eyed innocence fit the character perfectly. She is the standout of the movie and proves that she’s a rising star to watch.
Javier Bardem
Javier Bardem portrays King Triton, Ariel’s father. While Bardem brings gravitas to the role, he is underused, and his relationship with Ariel is not explored as much as it could have been.
Jonah Hauer-King
Jonah Hauer-King plays Prince Eric, and while he has undeniable charm, his character is not fleshed out enough. His relationship with Ariel is given more time to develop than in the original animated film, but it still falls flat.
Melissa McCarthy
Melissa McCarthy is the standout as Ursula, the sea witch. While the character is not as iconic as in the original film, McCarthy brings a unique energy to the role and steals every scene she’s in.
The Music
The iconic songs from the original are all present and accounted for, including “Part of Your World,” “Under the Sea,” and “Poor Unfortunate Souls.” There are also several new songs, including “The Scuttlebutt” and “Wild Uncharted Waters.” While the songs are all well-performed, they lack the spark and energy of the original versions.
The Visuals
The movie’s visuals are beautiful, with stunning underwater scenes and impressive CGI. The movie’s biggest weakness, however, is its use of CGI for the animal characters. While they are technically impressive, they lack the expressiveness and charm of the hand-drawn characters from the original film.
The Verdict
In conclusion, while The Little Mermaid is certainly not a perfect film, it is an enjoyable watch. Halle Bailey shines as Ariel, and Melissa McCarthy steals the show as Ursula. The movie’s visuals are impressive, but its use of CGI for the animal characters is a weakness. Overall, while it may not live up to the original animated film, The Little Mermaid remake is worth checking out.
FAQs
Is The Little Mermaid suitable for children?
The Little Mermaid is rated PG and is generally suitable for children. However, some scenes, such as the shark chase and the climactic fight scene between Ursula, Ariel, and Eric, may be too intense for very young children.
Is there anything new in the live-action remake?
The Little Mermaid live-action remake features several new songs, as well as more character development for Prince Eric.
Is the original soundtrack included in the film?
Yes, the iconic songs from the original film, such as “Part of Your World” and “Under the Sea,” are all present and accounted for.
How does the film compare to the original animated version?
The live-action remake of The Little Mermaid is a faithful adaptation of the original animated film, but it lacks some of the charm and expressiveness of the hand-drawn characters.
Would you recommend the movie to fans of the original?
If you’re a fan of the original animated film, The Little Mermaid live-action remake is worth checking out. While it may not live up to the original, it’s an enjoyable watch with some standout performances.
