FilmSnobReviews

Title: The Little Mermaid
MPA Rating: PG
Director: Rob Marshall
Starring: Halle Bailey, Jonah Hauer-King, Melissa McCarthy
Runtime: 2 hr 15 mins

What It Is: Ariel (Bailey) is a young mermaid absolutely fascinated by the land of humanity. She is curious how the land dwelling people live on dry land. When she saves young Prince Eric (Hauer-King) she thinks he might be worth getting to know. Meanwhile the Prince wants to find the young woman who saved his life…not knowing it is our mermaid friend. Against her father, King Triton’s (Javier Bardem) wishes she wants to go on land and without his permission she makes a deal with her Aunt, the sea witch Ursula (McCarthy). Who, will possess Ariel’s siren song and voice if she doesn’t get a true loves kiss within a few short days.

What We Think: Meh. I don’t really care for these live action Disney remakes. There’s often, and this is the case here, way too much CGI and the animated characters don’t really translate well. Look at a character like the crab and Jiminy Cricket substitute Sebastian. I don’t BLAME Daveed Diggs as he’s just working with what he has. Who I do blame is the lovely Awkwafina. Her Scuttle is absolutely awful as if the new original song they added for her. Scuttle is what I wanted this character to do and never come back. On top of everything this film is also quite boring. Perhaps its biggest sin.

Our Grade: C-, It’s a children’s film designed and built for children. If you’re an adult even one of those vile Disney adults even that wont keep your attention. These live action remakes lack the heart and soul of their animated originals. They’re soulless shill made only for grabbing all the cash Disney can while they destroy Pixar, Star Wars and Marvel. See it if you REALLY have to, but otherwise it is definitively MEH.