'The Little Mermaid' Doesn't Sink
I was not expecting to enjoy this film at all. The last Disney cartoon to live-action adaptation I saw was Pinocchio. We all know how that turned out. Before Pinocchio, there was Aladdin, Beauty and The Beast, and The Lion King, all dreadful adaptations against their animated originals. The Little Mermaid doesn't suffer the same fate as its live-action counterparts. Thanks to a beautiful voice from star Halle Bailey, The Little Mermaid rises to the surface with enough talent in front of the camera to prove why its music is timeless.
For those unfamiliar with the classic tale, here's a breakdown. Ariel (Helle Bailey) is a mermaid who yearns to live the life of a human. When Prince Eric (Jonah Hauer-King) gets shipwrecked, Ariel saves the sinking Prince's life but takes off before he can speak to her. Ariel's father, King Triton (Javier Bardem), demands Ariel not to approach the surface world, for all humans are savages in the eyes of the sea people. But Ariel's insistence on a life outside the ocean persists.
Coming to Ariel's aid is Ursula (Melissa McCarthy). Ursula manipulates Ariel into helping her become a human by taking her voice and presenting an ultimatum. If Ariel can kiss the Prince where the kiss is one not from lust but true love, Ariel can remain a human forever. However, if this doesn't happen within three days, Ariel will transform back into a mermaid and must serve Ursula. No loving kiss means a life of servitude. Of course, Ursula doesn't believe Ariel will be successful in her adventure in the human world, especially when she takes Ariel's voice. How can Prince Eric fall in love with Ariel if she's unable to speak? Unfortunately for the evil Octopus, Ariel does win the Prince's heart, spoiling her plans.
The cast of the film is well-rounded. Halle Bailey has a wonderful singing voice attached to a charming personality. Melissa McCarthy gives a more subdued performance compared to her usual annoying screaming antics. Javier Bardem has an intimidating yet warm presence, perfect for King Triton, who's supposed to be a rough but loving father. As Prince Eric, Jonah Hauer-King only does a little singing. When he does sing, it's an easier song to do. Judging by the actor's vocals, he can't hold a candle up to Ms. Bailey's musical performance. It's not a big deal since the role of Prince Eric only requires the actor to be attractive and likable.
Daveed Diggs, who voices Sebastian Crab, retains the Jamaican accent from the original and is affable as ever. Jacob Tremblay, as Flounder, captures the childlike innocence of a young fish with his youthful voice. If there's one actor that doesn't work as well, it's Awkwafina as Scuttle. I like Awkwafina, but I found her irritating in this film. She sounds more naggy than optimistic, turning me off from the character.
Bringing the sea creatures to life for live action presents a problem The Little Mermaid contains. The classic Disney cartoons are meant to be just that, cartoons. As good as you can make everything look visually, a talking animal in live-action will always look awkward. The Little Mermaid's CGI is a mixed bag. The underwater scenery is more impressive than I expected it to be, but it's the non-human characters that seem off. Sebastian looks like a video game model speaking to Ariel. The same goes for Ariel's two other friends, Scuttle and Flounder. Talking animals is like CGI kryptonite. Look no further than The Lion King remake, where the talking furries were creepy to watch. A live-action lion can't smile the way a cartoon version can. The same goes for Flounder, who sounds like a child but can't evoke the same range of emotion a 2D animated version of the character can.
Still, what is present here is okay. There's enough focus on the human characters to keep the CG sidekicks from ruining the show, and the musical bits work except for some of the new songs, particularly a rap song written by Lin-Manuel Miranda that made me want to go for a pee break during the film so I wouldn't have to tear my ears out of my head. By clocking in at two hours and fifteen minutes, the remake is double the length of the original which ran at an hour and twenty-three minutes. The film doesn't feel its length as it takes its time to develop the relationship between Ariel and Eric.
The connection between the two seems genuine enough to work on screen where I wasn't checking my watch during the movie. There's enough personality in the newest version of The Little Mermaid to help the picture swim rather than sink. It's not a total success. Many problems with other live-action adaptations from classic toon musicals occur. There are phony-looking CGI characters, unnecessary songs, and added length that can be shorter than it is. Despite all those issues, the musical numbers (aside from the terrible rap one) are as catchy as ever. The chemistry between Ariel and Eric is present, and the supporting cast, from the voice actors to the on-screen characters, do a decent job at their roles.
One standout is the film's production design. The underwater sequences can at times be visually beautiful. The screen lights up with bright colors from the glowing jellyfish to Ursula's main chambers. Eric's castle is the real standout, as its architecture and location make for some gorgeous scenery. If there was a film that should be converted to 3D, it's this one. Seeing the colorful underwater world and the Prince's castle resting on a hill would be a visual feast for the eyes in three dimensions.
Director Rob Marshall has experience with musicals. He directed the Academy Award-winning Chicago and the poorly received musical Nine and Into The Woods. Even with mixed results on each film, Mr. Marshall has made musicals before, which Guy Ritchie and Rober Zemeckis have zero experience in. That may be why this film worked better than Pinocchio or Aladdin. With plenty of good music, impressive visuals, and a strong lead performance by Halle Bailey, the remake of The Little Mermaid is a delightful surprise, if not a small one.
