{"id":39899,"date":"2023-05-27T11:22:16","date_gmt":"2023-05-27T15:22:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cinema-crazed.com\/blog\/?p=39899"},"modified":"2023-05-27T11:22:16","modified_gmt":"2023-05-27T15:22:16","slug":"the-little-mermaid-2023","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cinema-crazed.com\/blog\/2023\/05\/27\/the-little-mermaid-2023\/","title":{"rendered":"The Little Mermaid (2023)"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>After the disappointment that was \u201cPeter Pan & Wendy<\/a>\u201d I was hopeful and optimistic about the remake of Disney\u2019s \u201cThe Little Mermaid.\u201d I say remake because Disney has not bothered to really deviate from their successful formula. They haven\u2019t borrowed from Hans Christian Anderson\u2019s original story, but instead just remade their classic animated version from 1989. \u201cThe Little Mermaid<\/a>,\u201d despite my utter optimism and enthusiasm for it is yet another dull, assembly line repackaging of one of their classic interpretations that\u2019s given a new coat of paint and is extended, for some reason. Because nothing signals \u201csophisticated\u201d than making a movie longer–right? That makes it Oscar worthy–maybe? Simply stretch every nuance and sincere moment from the original animated movie and Bob\u2019s your uncle.<\/p>\n

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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. While mermaids are forbidden to interact with humans, Ariel must follow her heart. She 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.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Little Mermaid\u201d had my support from out the gate. Rob Marshall\u2019s remake looked great, it sounded great, and I loved the casting. But sitting through it, there\u2019s just so much more of the usual flaws that plague all of the Disney remakes so far. There are superfluous added sub-plots, the movie is just way too long (you\u2019re marketing this to kids but you hand them a movie clocking in at over two hours?), and there\u2019s the tendency of over explaining. The original Disney gems had the sense of moving the narrative along, all the while displaying confidence that the audience was smart enough to catch up. But \u201cThe Little Mermaid\u201d over explains everything.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s the over explanation about Ariel\u2019s mom, the over explanation about Prince Eric and his royal lineage, and even an over explanation about Sebastian watching over Ariel. Here he\u2019s no longer a dutiful guardian, but more a put upon servant who is forced to chase after Ariel. And I don\u2019t know why they felt the need to make Ursula relate to Ariel and Triton. She was already an iconic, purely evil, and devious sea witch, but to add the back story that she\u2019s some kind of outcast is just pointless and contributes nothing. That said, most the cast are at least great. Davide Diggs (replacing the immortal Samuel E. Wright) is great as Sebastian, Jacob Tremblay is fun as Flounder, Melissa McCarthy is fine as Ursula, and as for Halle Bailey?<\/p>\n

Halle Bailey is incredible. Bailey deserves huge credit for basically taking \u201cThe Little Mermaid\u201d and carrying it on her back the whole time. She\u2019s stunningly beautiful, vulnerable, sweet, sincere, and has an amazing singing voice. Her interpretation of my favorite Disney number of all time, \u201cPart of Your World,\u201d is gorgeous. She really packs in so much charisma and enthusiasm in a movie that sags and drags constantly. Poor Javier Bardem. He looks so bored here. I can\u2019t rave enough about Bailey, who\u2019s casting as Ariel is just fantastic from beginning to end. If you have any reason to watch this pallid (why is Disney so afraid of color now?) remake of the 1989 film, watch it for Halle Bailey. As for me, I\u2019ll stick to the animated classic.<\/p>\n