Disney has been on a roll with their live-action remakes of classic animated films, but not all have hit the mark creatively. However, with the new live-action version of The Little Mermaid, they’ve hit the jackpot. Even though it seemed like a risky move to try and recreate the beloved 1989 animated masterpiece as a big-screen live-action musical, director Rob Marshall was the perfect choice to take on the challenge. Marshall, who has a proven track record with movie musical adaptations like Chicago and Into The Woods, as well as his own experience treading on a Disney classic with Mary Poppins Returns, has made a movie that can stand next to the original and become a memorable part of our cinematic world.
The film sticks to the story with a script by David Magee, and the catchy Alan Menken and Howard Ashman songs like “Part Of Your World”, “Kiss The Girl”, and Oscar winner “Under The Sea” are now joined effortlessly by three new tunes from Menken and Lin-Manuel Miranda. The cast is perfectly chosen, with Halle Bailey as the title star, Ariel, who simply soars with her gorgeous vocals. The plot follows Ariel, the youngest daughter of King Triton (Javier Bardem), who becomes curious about the human world and stages a daring rescue of the dashing Prince Eric (Jonah Hauer-King) when his ship is caught up in a fiery disaster. But Ariel must deal with the evil Sea Witch Ursula (a wild Melissa McCarthy) who will stop at nothing to achieve her own naked ambition.
Marshall has staged one spectacular scene after another, including Ursula’s dazzling “Poor Unfortunate Souls” in a CGI production number to remember, as well as bringing “Under The Sea” to life in a way that actually stands up to the wonderful visuals still recalled from the animated film. Adding new songs to the mix can be risky, but leave it to Menken and new collaborator Miranda to make them work, especially a hot rap number for Scuttle and Sebastian called “The Scuttlebutt”. Bailey has a ‘star is born’ role here and makes Ariel her own, even with the memories of Jodi Benson still alive from her vocal performance in 1989 and a Broadway version of the tale.
The film is a big success in this new incarnation, with a talented team that includes cinematographer Dion Beebe, production designer John Myhre, editor Wyatt Smith, and costume designer Colleen Atwood. The Little Mermaid is a must-see film that will make a splash at the box office and in our hearts.
