The Little Mermaid Review: Rob Marshalls Take On The Disney Classic Is A Visual And Musical Spectacle
In recent years, Disney has made a habit of adapting its animated blockbusters into blockbusters. The trend first started with Maleficent (an original story) before spreading to remakes like The Lion King and Beauty and the Beast . This nostalgic subgenre touches the hearts of moviegoers who grew up watching the original film, but has had mixed reviews in terms of critical response. When director Rob Marshall's The Little Mermaid was first announced, it caused a huge response and excitement from fans.
The little mermaid
Release Date: May 26, 2023
Directed by Rob Marshall
Written by David Magee
Featuring: Halle Bailey, Jonah Hour-King, David Diggs, Melissa McCarthy, Javier Bardem, Acquarfina and Jacob Tremblay
Note: PG for action/danger and some spooky images
Duration: 135 minutes
Prior to the film's marketing campaign and the release of stunning underwater footage, most conversations surrounding the project revolved around its star, singer/actress Halle Bailey. The 23-year-old entertainer was the subject of racist criticism of his cast, which seemed to tarnish the film. But after seeing the film, conversation died down, especially among critics who questioned Bailey's ability to play Ariel.
Haley Bailey is outstanding as Ariel.
At just 23 years old, Haley Bailey has already had an impressive career. She is one half of the pop duo Chloe x Halle, which also includes her sister Chloe Bailey. And while The Little Mermaid marks the first time a female lead has appeared in a film, she's also been credited with starring in projects like Grown-ish . Her casting for the new Disney film has caused quite a stir online, but there's no denying her talent after seeing her performance as Ariel.
Bailey had big shoes to fill...or, in this case, change. But he was absolutely equal to the situation. The camera loves her while perfectly portraying Ariel's determination. The Disney Princess is a great fit for this film, being essentially an action star in a few select sequences. And even though Ariel doesn't have a voice, every look and reaction from Halle Bailey reveals her character's inner thoughts.
Of course, it's impossible to talk about Bailey's Ariel without mentioning her singing voice and the various musical numbers from The Little Mermaid . Rob Marshall rearranged and re-edited some of the songs, resulting in the first single, "Part of Your World". He takes it to the extreme and reinvents the iconic song with new vocal options that show just how talented he is. It was a star moment and Bailey pursued other acting projects.
Rob Marshall provides stunning new images, but he also provides some of the most iconic photos of the original Little Mermaid.
Rob Marshall also had big shoes to fill with The Little Mermaid , but he turned out to be the perfect director for the project. He has directed several musicals, including the Oscar-winning adaptation of Chicago , as well as other titles such as Into the Woods and Mary Poppins Returns . Though these latter projects didn't garner critical acclaim when they were first released, he showed a knack for adapting musical projects for the big screen. The Little Mermaid will be another adaptation that audiences will really respond to.
Already at the beginning of "Part of Your World" it becomes clear how much specificity Marshall has put into "The Little Mermaid". Each underwater sequence is carefully choreographed, with actors and camera angles working together. The visual effects are very beautiful and help immerse the audience in the new film, and the wide mesh used during filming helps give the underwater characters a sense of weightlessness.
Although The Little Mermaid makes some notable changes from the animated original, it's definitely something for fans of the 1989 classics. Rock and even Ursula's Control. in the final battle for the crown. This balance of new and old is quite effective - even more so than the almost wacky The Lion King remake.
The music for Little Mermaid is fantastic... for the most part.
Alan Menken's favorite musical number was part of the original The Little Mermaid when it first came out. Songs like "Poor Fortunate Souls" and "Kiss the Girl" were passed down from generation to generation and sung many times, including in the Broadway film adaptation. So one of the areas that Rob Marshall's film had to offer was the music.
And basically, that's exactly what it is. All of the original songs in the film are brought to life through beautiful visuals, and the cast perform their interpretations. Another recurring cast choice is Melissa McCarthy, but she really rises to the occasion and is extremely badass as Ursula the Sea Witch.
But while all the songs from the 1989 film are great on this new Siren , there are a few original songs included as well. This is a common practice in film adaptations of blockbuster musicals or animation, as it allows studios to submit new creations for consideration. Unfortunately, those moments don't impress as much as the tunes we all know and love. Prince Eric's new song Fathoms Beneath feels out of place. Next is The Scuttlebutt, a new pairing between Scuttle and Sebastian (played by Aquafina and Hamilton icon David Diggs respectively). While Menken was working with Lin-Manuel Miranda on these new songs, "Scuttlebutt" clearly didn't fit the musical language of the rest of the film. Diggs' fast rapping is very similar to some Hamilton songs. And the addition of new songs meant other favorites like "Daughters of Triton" were left on the cutting room floor.
Regardless, The Little Mermaid is a visual and musical spectacle that will delight countless fans of the original and is one of the best live-action Disney movies we've seen to date.
