The Little Mermaid - Movie Review! [Kratos Angry Rant]
Disney's latest venture, The Little Mermaid (2023), aims to tap into the nostalgic appeal of their animated classics by bringing them to life on the big screen. However, this attempt falls short of capturing the enchantment and allure that made the original 1989 film so beloved. Instead, what unfolds is a lackluster and disheartening adaptation that fails to impress.
Halle Bailey takes on the role of Ariel, the mermaid princess yearning to explore the world of humans and falling in love with Prince Eric, played by Jonah Hauer-King. Bailey shines as the film's sole bright spot, delivering not the greatest acting skills only breathtaking singing talent and expressive eyes.
However, Bailey's exceptional talent is squandered by the film's weak direction, uninspired script, and lackluster visual effects. Rob Marshall, known for directing Mary Poppins Returns, struggles to create a coherent and engaging vision for this story. The script offers little innovation, merely mimicking the original film, with only four forgettable new songs added by Lin-Manuel Miranda and Alan Menken that fail to enhance the plot or deepen the characters.
The visual effects are another major letdown, rendering the underwater scenes dark, blurry, and far from realistic. The CGI renditions of Sebastian (Daveed Diggs), Flounder (Jacob Tremblay), and Scuttle (Awkwafina) are particularly unappealing, lacking any semblance of personality or emotion. These characters are reduced to mere sidekicks who make minimal contributions to the narrative.
The remaining human cast members are also uninspiring, save for Melissa McCarthy as Ursula, the cunning sea witch who deceives Ariel into trading her voice for legs. McCarthy attempts to infuse her comedic prowess into this villainous role, but is hindered by lackluster writing and a noticeable lack of charisma. She pales in comparison to the original Ursula, who drew inspiration from the iconic drag queen Divine and had a memorable song ("Poor Unfortunate Souls").
All in all, The Little Mermaid (2023) is an immense disappointment for fans of the original film and anyone who expects more from Disney. It squanders both time and talent, presenting a lackluster experience that should have remained submerged beneath the waves.