In this article you will get "The Little Mermaid Review" with full details. The Little Mermaid is Disney's other live-action adaptations of its animated Classics is an engine running on Nostalgia while it is full of heart. The spirit is owed in a major way to the iconic music and ever relatable story of the original nothing that was added in to pat out its run time to a whopping two hours feels entirely necessary. It's not that this version of The Little Mermaid is bad it's arguably one of the better live-action Disney remakes. It's Beyond Holly Bailey's incredible performances Princess Ariel that makes as much of an impact as the same moments in the animated version.
Performance
Bailey's performance in "The Little Mermaid" is undeniably powerful. She truly shines as the heart and soul of the film, even during moments when her character is silent. The story has always revolved around themes of girlhood, loneliness, and the desire to prove oneself, and Bailey brilliantly captures these emotions. She brings a sense of curiosity and optimism to Ariel's character, while also beautifully portraying her moments of doubt. It's inspiring to see how Bailey's performance can resonate with new generations of children. Her rendition of "Part of Your World" is particularly unforgettable, as she infuses it with a wild and raw yearning that sends chills down your spine. It's a ballad that speaks to the longing for a life beyond the confines of one's circumstances.
However, it's disappointing that few other musical moments in the film reach the same level of impact. Another standout performance comes from the brilliantly funny Melissa McCarthy as Ursula, the sea witch. McCarthy cleverly brings this iconic Disney villain to life without attempting to imitate the previous version by Pat Carroll. Her take on "Poor Unfortunate Souls" is insanely fun, but unfortunately, the dark lighting in her lair makes it difficult to fully appreciate the sequence.
Visuals
One of the most disappointing aspects of "The Little Mermaid" is how lackluster the underwater scenes look, considering that almost half of the movie takes place in underwater. Even in the best moments, the ocean depths lack the emotional warmth we would expect. The visual effects used to depict the underwater world are questionable, and we only see a few other merpeople apart from King Triton, who is sternly portrayed by Javier Bardem. There's something awkward about how their faces appear on their animated bodies.
Moreover, the decision to make the sea creatures look realistic instead of giving them a more fantastical and human-like appearance takes away much of the liveliness of Atlantica, the merfolk kingdom. It seems unnecessary for Ariel's animal friends to look like they jumped out of a National Geographic magazine. Jacob Tremblay, and David Diggs, and Awkwafina brings ultimate energy to their roles as Flounder, Sebastian, and Scuttle, respectively. However, their performances are hindered by the dubious character design. Perhaps the intention was to make the story feel more realistic, but it begs the question of whether a Disney classic, especially one with talking fish, really needed to be grounded in such a way. A crab that looks life like simply cannot convey emotions in the same endearing manner as the original, cartoonish Sebastian.
By opting for a realistic visual style, Ariel's companions lose much of their humanity and feel more like props rather than fully developed characters. This issue is not unique to "The Little Mermaid," as we saw a similar stiffness in the live-action version of "The Lion King." While the vocal performances in both films are exceptional, the attempt to translate human emotions onto animal faces results in a loss of expression and connection.
The Surface
On the surface, the remake of "The Little Mermaid" takes a different approach. It expands on Prince Eric's island and his love for exploration in clever ways. Unlike the original, which mostly takes place within the castle walls, this version brings the island to life through set and costume design. The film sets the island in a vibrant Caribbean setting, filled with new sounds, sights, and friendly faces. This effort helps to provide a reason for Ariel's decision to leave the sea that goes beyond her brief interactions with Eric.
However, most of the new additions, while admirable, are not particularly memorable. Let's talk about the new songs. This is where the live-action adaptation had the opportunity to differentiate itself from the animated original, but unfortunately, it falls short. Eric has a theatrical solo that Jonah Howard King handles vocally, but the timing and lyrics of the song make the moment feel a bit silly. Another song, "Scuttlebutt," performed by Diggs and Aquafina, is a fun and quasi-rap that strongly resembles the style of Lin-Manuel Miranda, but its placement just before Ariel's devastating discovery of Ursula's treachery is questionable.
The only new song that seamlessly fits into the story is "For the First Time," a bubbly number performed as Ariel's internal monologue when she experiences the surface for the first time. What still works in this adaptation is that it serves as a reminder of what makes Ariel so resonant. It's more than just a romance; it's about the danger and desperation of feeling misunderstood and underestimated, and the profound relief that comes with finding a place where you truly belong.
Bailey's portrayal of Ariel showcases that "The Little Mermaid" has always been a story that narrowly avoids becoming a tragedy, as it famously does in the original fairy tale.
Conclusion
Hallie Bailey's brilliantly vulnerable performances Ariel is the star of the show in Disney's live-action remake of The Little Mermaid. Melissa McCarthy follows closely behind with a magnetic performance as Ursula as a whole however this version sometimes struggles to keep itself above water its problems lie in lackluster underwater sequences. Realistic sea creatures missing cartoonish charm and additions to the story that are quaint but not necessarily memorable what works best are the elements it takes from the original highlighted best by a show-stopping rendition of Part of Your World while this version doesn't always find its sea legs there's enough of those original ideas recreated here that it can't go too far wrong.
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