THE LITTLE MERMAID
US, 2018, 85 minutes, Colour.
William Moseley, Poppy Drayton, Loretta, Armando Gutierrez, Shirley Mac Laine.
Directed by Blake Harris, Chris Bouchard.
The Little Mermaid is yet another retelling of Hans Christian Andersen story. Most of this film’s potential young audience were brought up on the 1989 Disney version, considers a classic – and remade as a live-action film.
The opening is an animated version of the story, narrated by Shirley Mac Laine as a grandmother with two granddaughters. The audience then sees a live-action version of Elizabeth, a mermaid growing up, coming to the surface, senior Prince in danger, rescuing him, hoping to marry him but finding that he married another girl on the beach whom he thought had rescued him. The magician Lock bargains with Elizabeth, her agreeing to sell her soul to him.
The other aspect of the plot is a young journalist, Cam (William Moseley) who is concerned about his niece, El (Loretta) suffering from disabilities. They go to Mississippi having heard about Lock and his cures, visiting the circus where he operates, interviewing a wide range of those who claim to have been cured. They encounter Elizabeth and decide to help her, circus entertainers helping to steal the vile with her soul, returning her to the sea. Elizabeth recommends Elle to swim as a way to overcome her disabilities.
A film for the younger audiences, girls identifying, boys possibly not.
1. Another version of Hans Christian Andersen story? The classic Disney film? The live-action remake?
2. The atmosphere of the early 20th century, homes, travel, Mississippi, the countryside, the circus, the sea? The musical score, songs?
3. The opening story, the style of the animation, the Hans Christian Andersen story, the two little girls listening, the grandmother telling the story?
4. Cam, journalist, travelling with his niece, her illness and disabilities? His wanting a cure for his niece? The circus, the reputation of Lock?
5. The audience knowing the story of Elizabeth, the mermaid, growing up, on shore, rescuing the Prince, wanting to marry him? The Prince assuming it was another girl who
saved him, marrying her? Lock, his bargain with Elizabeth, her selling her soul?
6. The performance at the Circus, the potion for cures, cam and the interviews, the range of people telling their stories, cures, but not quite?
7. Lock, his personality, sinister, his sidekick, the other members of the Circus?
8. The encounter with Elizabeth, her story, in the glass? Her soul?
9. Cam, the confrontation with lock, lock and his demands and threats on Elizabeth?
10. Ulysses and the helpers, getting the container with Elizabeth soul, the escape? Elizabeth and her being killed, freed from Lock? Her advice to tell to swim, overcoming her disabilities? Cam and his work, regrets?
11. The grandmother finishing the story, coughing – and the audience realising she is the older Elle?
