Disney has been releasing several live-action remakes of their animated classics over the past decade. These include the films from the early Disney Renaissance, such as Beauty and the Beast (2017), Aladdin (2019), and The Lion King (2019). Hence, it's no surprise that The Little Mermaid has gotten its turn.
Many Disney remakes copy the animated films shot-for-shot while adding filler scenes and details. That's what makes some remakes, such as Beauty and the Beast, nearly an hour longer than the original. While The Little Mermaid has a similar runtime, there is hardly any padding. Instead, the writers expanded the story to focus more on Prince Eric's goals.
The animated film was merely Ariel's story. In contrast, the remake is just as much Eric's story as it is Ariel's. Even though their parents undergo more internal transformation, Ariel and Eric reach their own goals with each other's help.
If the story also belongs to Eric, though, why is the movie still The Little Mermaid and not Ariel and Eric? Ariel finds a mini figurine which she referred to as "the little mermaid" while staying in Eric's castle. Besides, a quote about mermaids from Hans Christian Andersen appears right before the title card. Hence, the expansion doesn't take away meaning from The Little Mermaid.
Even though The Little Mermaid follows the same storyline as the animated film, there are enough changes to make this stand out. Besides expanding Eric's character, the scenes between Ariel's arrival on land and the Kiss the Girl number are different. Eric meets Ariel in the study room and goes to a beach party with her. Plus, Ariel's sisters have different names than their animated counterparts and Ursula is King Triton's sister. Scuttle is gender bent and a diving bird instead of a seagull as well.
There are also some new songs along with the ones we know and love. These include Wild Uncharted Waters, a solo in which Eric expresses his desires; For the First Time, which plays after Ariel arrives on land; and the Scuttlebutt.
However, two songs from the original are also absent: Daughters of Triton and Les Poissons. I like the removal of Les Poissons because it wasn't necessary in the animated film. However, removing Daughter of Triton was a mistake. They removed it to increase anticipation for Part of Your World. However, it's crucial to spend the first five minutes introducing the musical format. Otherwise, the songs come out of nowhere. There is also not a reprise of Part of Your World to close off the musical.
Even worse: while the animated film introduced us to Ariel under six minutes into the film, the remake did so past the six-minute mark (even without the song). It is crucial to introduce the protagonist as early as possible so that viewers can connect with them before their attention spans run out.
The casting is one of the remake's best aspects. Halle Bailey resembles the curious and energetic nature of Ariel despite her lack of rebellion and darker skin tone. Her singing, especially during the Under the Sea number, was strong. Melissa McCarthy as Ursula also lived up to her sinister personality.
As with some Disney remakes, The Little Mermaid includes extra elements from the original Hans Christian Andersen tale. For instance, King Triton turns into sea form before the final battle with Ursula. Jodi Benson, Ariel's original voice actor, also makes a cameo as a market vendor during the beach party scene.
Did the remake improve upon the original? In some ways, yes. By expanding Eric's backstory, they gave him and Ariel more romantic chemistry. Plus, turning Scuttle into a diving bird prevents Ariel from going to the surface before singing Part of Your World. That makes Ariel's choice to go to the surface upon hearing fireworks more powerful. Making Ursula King Triton's sister ensures Ariel does not make a deal with a total stranger. Finally, the film no longer mentions Ariel's age. Marrying at sixteen is problematic.
The remake also has diverse actors and even portrays diverse cultures. The drums at the beach party, especially, seem to stem from non-European culture.
However, there are also areas where the remake downgraded from the original. Flounder is completely expressionless, for instance. Watching sea creatures dance during the Under the Sea number also makes me cringe. Plus, it makes no sense for Ariel to sing at the end of For the First Time since she has lost her voice before then.While not perfect, The Little Mermaid is one of Disney's best live-action remakes. It has a similar feel to the animated film despite being more grand and intense. Disney fans and viewers who are nostalgic for the animated film and/or want another version or should check the remake out on Disney +.
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