The Little Mermaid: A Remake Done Swimmingly

The Little Mermaid: 4.5/5 ⭐️🧜‍♀️

Filled with a barrel-ton of gorgeous VFX, charming songs, and standout performances, watching The Little Mermaid should definitely be a Part of Your World (or at least, part of your weekend plans).

This would be a pretty fishy Disney review without mentioning the groundbreaking VFX in this movie— and WOW, was witnessing this production a moving experience. Every element, from the detailed sea creatures to the flexing of the mermaids’ scales, set a high standard for the rest of Hollywood. Viewing the film in 3D really made it, too, and I highly recommend it for anyone who wants the opportunity to delve into this beautifully sculpted world.

Exceptional performances include Academy Award Nominee Javier Bardem’s Triton, Broadway legend Daveed Digs’ Sebastian, and emerging actor Jonah Hauer-King’s Prince Eric. Out of Bardem, I anticipated no less— the man has a WAY with the big screen, captivating audiences from the mere way his face emotes; he truly brought Triton and Ariel’s father-daughter dynamic to a bubbly justice. Hauer-King provided an immaculate depiction of the beloved Prince of the land, reeling in the hearts of viewers from all types of uncharted waters. Finally, there was no doubt in my mind that Daveed wouldn’t make our favorite sassy crustacean a smash hit. I was a tad disappointed that the whole Sebastian v Chef bit wasn’t included in the movie, but I can imagine the extent of content that the filmmakers were dealing with.

I went into this film with quite low expectations, as Disney live action remakes usually rank low on my list of favorites— essentially, a hit or a miss. However, the spectacular qualities of the production made it hard to dislike! Hold onto your mermaid tails and stray away from the surface while enjoying this unforgettable, nostalgic remake of a childhood classic!