The Little Mermaid (2023) review

Here’s our 2023 film The Little Mermaid review, with no spoilers.

The history of The little mermaid gets the live-action treatment of the great Disney studio, with Rob Marshall behind the camera. Hall Bailey stars Ariel (one half of the singing duo Chloe x Halle) and more than holds her own here as a flame-haired, precocious mermaid. The remake might not have the same magic as the original, but it does have an entertaining core that’s hard to ignore.

The Little Mermaid (2023) review and plot synopsis

Much of that recognition can be owed to the Oscar- and Golden Globe-nominated screenwriter David Mageewho adapted the film from Disney’s 1989 animated classic.

Here the story stays fairly faithful to the source material, as Ariel is still the youngest daughter of the Nick Cannon of the Sea, King Triton (Javier Bardem) and his half-dozen daughters.

King Triton is having trouble keeping Ariel in his safe saltwater bubble. Ariel craves adventures that her current world cannot satisfy. Frequently visiting the surface world, she encounters a sinking ship and brave Prince Eric (A dog’s journey home Jonah Hauer-King).

After rescuing most of the crew, Eric is thrown unconscious into the water. Ariel saves him from drowning and takes him to safety.

The main actors are more boring than expected, and the fun of this remake mainly lies in the villainous twist and the funny supporting voice. Melissa McCarthy cackles well here as Ursula, who revels in the role with insanely funny jokes and a menacing, maniacal laugh.

The filmmakers hit the bull’s eye here; You can’t imagine anyone else playing this classic character.

Awkwafina gets the most laughs by lending her voice to the dopey dolt Scuttle. Many might object to Flounder’s new lean physique, but Jacob Tremblays Voice brings the adorable character to life.

Along with blind spotting Daveed Diggs plays the timid cancer Sebastian, and the group brings live entertainment to the screen, lending the film the levity it needs.

Is The Little Mermaid 2023 Movie Good Or Bad?

Much of the debate over whether the live-action remake is good or bad will come down to the film’s musical component. Lin-Manuel Miranda is Producer and has written four new songs with legendary composer Alan Menken, who has scored several animated Disney classics including the original. And yes, changes were made to Kiss the Girl and Poor Unfortunate Souls that were needed.

The best was “The Scuttlebut,” rapped by Awkwafina (and Diggs joins in). While Disney purists might hate it, let’s face it: this movie is aimed at kids and loads of fun. The same applies to the extravagant staging of “Under the Sea”. Halle Bailey captures the nostalgia of the original with “Part of Your World.”

Is The Little Mermaid 2023 Movie Worth Watching?

The live-action remake of Little Mermaid is worth seeing. Keep this in mind. The film is aimed at children and families. I would like to point out that for some reason the special effects get messed up by the film’s big closing sequence, which is odd that McCarthy’s Ursula suddenly can’t show any emotion.

However, Marshall, Miranda, Menken, Bailey and Hauer-King recapture a bit of Disney magic from the original, with its beautiful score, an updated mix of modernized and classic songs, and its heartfelt, exuberant romance. Hold a grudge that classics should never be remade, I’m on that team, but I can’t say the entertainment here is done well enough for the intended audience.

What do you think of the movie The Little Mermaid (2023)? Comment below.

More stories

• The ending of The Little Mermaid (2023) explained