The Little Mermaid
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The youngest of King Triton’s daughters, and the most defiant, Ariel longs to find out more about the world beyond the sea, and while visiting the surface, falls for the dashing Prince Eric. With mermaids forbidden to interact with humans, Ariel makes a deal with the evil sea witch, Ursula, which gives her a chance to experience life on land, but ultimately places her life – and her father’s crown – in jeopardy.
What critics thought
Critics landed all over the map on this one, with Halle Bailey's performance as Ariel being the one thing almost everyone agreed on — the disagreement was really about everything around her. Supporters saw a live-action remake that earns its place alongside the original through charm and nostalgia; detractors argued the murky underwater CGI, bloated runtime, and Lin-Manuel Miranda's new songs (especially the widely-derided 'Scuttlebutt' number) strip away exactly the magic the original had. Audiences, especially families, embraced it far more warmly than most critics did.
“Halle Bailey is all the reason that any audience should need to justify Disney revisiting this classic.”
Peter Debruge·Variety
“Another 'live-action' remake that's darker and less compelling than the animated original, but it's saved by Bailey's charming performance, McCarthy's sass and the story's own eternal magic.”
Helen O'Hara·Empire
“Every change − to aesthetics, to story, to soundtracks, to length − that is required to make these films 'live action' chips away at the magic of the originals. This relentless pursuit of realism doesn't make a good kids' movie: It may be dark underwater in the real ocean, but we want to see Ariel dance properly lit on the screen. The new films are too long, too monotone, too bland and full of photorealistic talking animals that range from boring to horrifying.”
Kelly Lawler·USA Today
“What's on-screen too often feels like wan, second-rate imitation, and the few differences seem motivated less by a spirit of imagination than one of joyless anxiety.”
Justin Chang·Los Angeles Times
“For all its pizazz, everything about this Little Mermaid is just more muted. Miranda's new songs are odd, too, and don't seem to fit.”
Lindsey Bahr·Associated Press
Genres
Adventure, Family, Fantasy
Cast & Crew
Rob MarshallDirector
Halle BaileyAriel
Jonah Hauer-KingEric
Melissa McCarthyUrsula
Javier BardemKing Triton
Noma DumezweniThe Queen
Art MalikSir Grimsby
Daveed DiggsSebastian (voice)
Jacob TremblayFlounder (voice)
AwkwafinaScuttle (voice)
Jessica AlexanderVanessa
Martina LairdLashana
Emily CoatesRosa
Alan MenkenComposer
David MageeWriter
Dion BeebeCinematographyThe Little Mermaid
The youngest of King Triton’s daughters, and the most defiant, Ariel longs to find out more about the world beyond the sea, and while visiting the surface, falls for the dashing Prince Eric. With mermaids forbidden to interact with humans, Ariel makes a deal with the evil sea witch, Ursula, which gives her a chance to experience life on land, but ultimately places her life – and her father’s crown – in jeopardy.
What critics thought
Critics landed all over the map on this one, with Halle Bailey's performance as Ariel being the one thing almost everyone agreed on — the disagreement was really about everything around her. Supporters saw a live-action remake that earns its place alongside the original through charm and nostalgia; detractors argued the murky underwater CGI, bloated runtime, and Lin-Manuel Miranda's new songs (especially the widely-derided 'Scuttlebutt' number) strip away exactly the magic the original had. Audiences, especially families, embraced it far more warmly than most critics did.
“Halle Bailey is all the reason that any audience should need to justify Disney revisiting this classic.”
Peter Debruge·Variety
“Another 'live-action' remake that's darker and less compelling than the animated original, but it's saved by Bailey's charming performance, McCarthy's sass and the story's own eternal magic.”
Helen O'Hara·Empire
“Every change − to aesthetics, to story, to soundtracks, to length − that is required to make these films 'live action' chips away at the magic of the originals. This relentless pursuit of realism doesn't make a good kids' movie: It may be dark underwater in the real ocean, but we want to see Ariel dance properly lit on the screen. The new films are too long, too monotone, too bland and full of photorealistic talking animals that range from boring to horrifying.”
Kelly Lawler·USA Today
“What's on-screen too often feels like wan, second-rate imitation, and the few differences seem motivated less by a spirit of imagination than one of joyless anxiety.”
Justin Chang·Los Angeles Times
“For all its pizazz, everything about this Little Mermaid is just more muted. Miranda's new songs are odd, too, and don't seem to fit.”
Lindsey Bahr·Associated Press
Genres
Adventure, Family, Fantasy
Cast & Crew
Rob MarshallDirectorHalle BaileyArielJonah Hauer-KingEricMelissa McCarthyUrsulaJavier BardemKing TritonNoma DumezweniThe QueenArt MalikSir GrimsbyDaveed DiggsSebastian (voice)Jacob TremblayFlounder (voice)AwkwafinaScuttle (voice)Jessica AlexanderVanessaMartina LairdLashanaEmily CoatesRosaAlan MenkenComposerDavid MageeWriterDion BeebeCinematographyStream
Rent & Buy