THE LITTLE MERMAID

US, 2023, 135 minutes, Colour.

Halle Bailey, Jonah Hauer-King, Javier Bardem, Melissa McCarthy, Noma Mumesweni, Art Malik, voices of: Daveed Diggs, Jacob Tremblay, Awkwafina.

Directed by Rob Marshall.

There are strongly divided opinions about the Disney remakes, live remakes of some of their classic animated films, especially from the 1980s and 1990s, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, The Lion King. On the one hand, the opinion that the animated classic should stay as they are, fairytales, with all the magic of animation, colour, design,. On the other hand, the live-action makes the stories more real, more realistic, enabling the audience is to identify with the tales and the characters.

Which means that opinions on The Little Mermaid are divided in these ways.

In fact, in many sequences, some of the action may be a bit frightening for the intended younger audiences, especially the ship, the storms, huge waves, the crew abandoning ship, the dangers for Prince Eric. But, these sequences make the story more credible. But, whether life under the sea, the realm of King Triton, his mermaid daughters, Is Angry sister, Ursula, is credible… Actually, once the camera goes under the surface of the ocean, into the deep, there are some wonderful sequences, the camera roving through the underwater beauty, we become readier to suspend disbelief, and are very much charmed when we meet Ariel herself, the youngest of Triton’s daughters, the little mermaid, vivaciously portrayed by singer, Halle Bailey (who does more than justice to the songs. (Disappointingly, there have been some protests about her casting, some saying an African-American in the role is wrong. What are the reasons for this?)

While the basic story is that of Hans Christian Andersen, he might be surprised at the location of the action in islands off the coast of South America. The kingdom where the young prince, Eric (British Jonah Hauer-King) is to become a ruler, his dominant mother, preparing him for his role, wary of his great desire to keep going to sea, but his being quietly encouraged by the chief minister played by Art Malik.

Ariel is very mischievous in her way, fascinated by the world above the surface of the water, by humans, and intrigued as she explores the shipwrecks on the ocean floor. She has a little confidante, Flounder (voiced by Jacob Tremblay), has a bird friend, Scuttle, an erratic character if ever there was one, (voiced by Awkwafina). King Triton himself, played by Javier Bardem, relies on his crab adviser, Sebastian, who gets a lot of the funny lines (voiced by Daveed Diggs). So, live action with three characters straight from the animation.

The plot is familiar, shipwreck, Ariel rescuing Eric, the father disapproving her wanting to go near humans, the jealousy of her aunt Ursula (Melissa McCarthy more than strident), her being given the opportunity to have legs and feet and to go on land, the romance, the experience of the court, her exhilaration in Eric’s company. And, despite the warnings from her three protective friends, the vengeance of Ursula.

One of the values of having this kind of version of fairytale is that it offers an opportunity for young audiences, even little audiences, to go to the cinema rather than watching on television, see the huge screen, the visual wonders of those sequences of the beauty of coral and plants, of fish and creatures under the sea. It is an encouragement for them to go to other films and watch them on the big screen. (But, this reviewer was conscious all the way through of the continual treks of parents and children to the toilet – no pause button, no commercials for toilet breaks! And, at 2 ¼ hours this version is quite long).

So, for audiences who enjoy life-action versions of animated classics, why not?

1. The popularity of the original animated film? Hans Christian Andersen’s story, characters, the style of the animation, Ariel as the Princess heroine from Disney, the songs?
2. The popularity of life-action Disney remakes? Arguments for and against? The possibilities for greater realism?
3. The importance of the visuals, the beauty of the underwater sea photography, the vitality of the underwater world? Plants, corals, fish, menacing fish, and the shipwrecks and their contents? The portrayal of King Triton, his daughters, the mermaid costumes? The contrast with Ursula, squid, ugly? The ship, storms and swelling sea? The contrast with the kingdom, the Palace, the town, the townspeople, costumes and decor?
4. The musical score, the songs, from the original film, Ariel’s songs, Eric, and the popular “Under the sea”?
5. The realism of the ship, the times, life on board, the characters, Eric and his work on the ship, the realisation that it was the Prince and heir, his hard work? The storm, the hardships, everybody overboard, the dog, the fire, Eric in the water, and his being rescued by Ariel?
6. The underwater kingdom, King Triton, his personality and rule, summoning his daughters, severity, forbidding them to go to the shipwrecks, to have anything to do with the humans? His exasperation with Ariel, loving her, but demanding off her? And the clash with Ursula? Ursula, her jealousy, ugly, wanting vengeance?
7. Eric, heir o the kingdom, his mother, the adviser and his support, Eric and’s prospects? His fascination with the rescue, wanting to find Ariel?
8. Ariel, going to the surface, watching Eric, the encounter with Eric, the deal with Ursula, three days, having legs, coming on land, Eric, spending time with Ariel, the carriage for the day, the outing, the romantic interludes, returning back? Ariel in the Palace? Eric’s mother’s reaction?
9. The three comic creatures, Scuttle, the awkward bird, flight, chatter, warning Ariel, urging her on? Flounder, the baby voice, the sea companion? Sebastian, orders from the King, his voice and accent, song under the sea, exasperation, working with Flounder and Scuttle, the time running out, their wanting Ariel to kiss the Prince and break Ursula’s spell?
10. Ursula, her form as the beautiful young woman, Eric under her spell, the preparations for the marriage, Ariel’s response?
11. Ursula, the exposure, the fights, dominating Ariel? Ursula, the confrontation with the King, destroying him?
12. The fairytale aspects, Ariel, her revival, her friends helping her, the confrontation with the young woman, her being exposed?, Ursula exposed and destroyed?
13. The revival of the King, his daughters, Ariel restored, his change of heart, giving her legs and feet, Eric and his realisation of the truth, the preparation for the marriage? The Queen Mother and her adviser, everybody happy?