Disney’s The Little Mermaid | 2023 Review

The Little Mermaid begins with stunning visuals, but can a film rely solely on its visual appeal?

Disney’s live-action adaptation of the 1989 classic, based on Hans Christian Andersen‘s original story, follows the journey of a young mermaid named Ariel. Intrigued by the human world, Ariel trades her voice for legs in order to experience life on land and win the love of a prince. The film follows a typical three-act structure , but the third act becomes tediously prolonged. While the first act establishes the characters and their motivations, it fails to evoke empathy, including for the protagonist Ariel, portrayed by Halle Bailey. Bailey effectively portrays the frustration and longing of a young girl, but it is the writing and screenplay that fall short of making her character truly convincing.

King Triton, played by Javier Bardem, Ariel’s father, lacks depth and is reduced to a character solely concerned with his daughter’s safety. He only appears when Ariel needs to be reminded to stay away from humans and remain in the ocean. On the other hand, Sebastian the crab is enjoyable to watch as he fulfills two roles – advising King Triton and protecting the Little Mermaid.

The film truly comes alive with the character of Aunt Ursula, portrayed by Melissa McCarthy. From her appearance and dialogue to her dark underwater home, Ursula is a captivating villain, leaving viewers wanting more of her onscreen presence. McCarthy skillfully embodies the mix of melancholy, envy, and hatred in the character, complemented by the impressive visual effects that transform her into an octopus-like creature. Particularly delightful is her performance in the song “Poor Unfortunate Souls,” as she dances in her underwater cavern and showcases her octopus legs.

Another well-choreographed song is “Under The Sea,” where Sebastian convinces Ariel that the underwater world is the best place to be. The live-action adaptation successfully combines visual effects to bring a multitude of sea creatures to life. Minute details, like using sea snakes as confetti, make the song a visual feast. Another enjoyable track to watch out for is “The Scuttlebutt.”

Returning to the story, the climax disappointingly lacks the same impact as the visually captivating moments. While fantasy stories can bend some rules, it should not be too easy to defeat a powerful witch, nor should a dead character be resurrected effortlessly. Although the film may not be aimed solely at children, the climax appears to overlook adult sensibilities.

It can be argued that the film heavily relies on visual effects to carry it through its two-hour and fifteen-minute runtime. Notable scenes include the boat crash in the first half, the vibrant choreography of “Under The Sea” and “Poor Unfortunate Souls,” a captivating night sequence with Ariel and Prince Eric on a boat, and the climactic battle. Prince Eric’s kingdom is a visually stunning backdrop, and all scenes featuring Aunt Ursula are a spectacle to behold.

The impressive visual effects were created by companies such as Framestore, Rodeo FX, MPC, ILM, and Union VFX, with VFX supervisor Tim Burke, known for his work on Fantastic Beasts and Harry Potter films.

“The Little Mermaid” was released in theaters on May 26th, featuring Halle Bailey as Ariel, Daveed Diggs as Sebastian, Javier Bardem as King Triton, Jacob Tremblay as Flounder, Melissa McCarthy as Aunt Ursula, Jonah Hauer-King as Prince Eric, and Awkwafina as Scuttle. The film was directed by Rob Marshall, a Primetime Emmy Award-winning filmmaker, who also served as a producer alongside John DeLuca, Marc Platt, and Lin-Manuel Miranda.