Review: THE LITTLE MERMAID, Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

Photo credit: Disney

Disney's The Little Mermaid hit cinema screens this weekend Besties, with the live action version of the 1989 animated film starring Halle Bailey in the title role. Based on the original story by Hans Christian Andersen, it tells the story of a young mermaid, Ariel, who makes a deal with sea witch, Ursula, to trade her beautiful voice for human legs so that she can explore the world above and impress the handsome Prince Eric.

Directed by Rob Marshall, with a screenplay by David Magee, the film is a brilliant update. Vibrant colours make it a cinematic dream (cinematography by Dion Beebe) as we venture under the sea with Ariel and her friends Sebastian (voiced by Daveed Diggs) and Flounder (voiced by Jacob Tremblay).

Bailey (as Ariel) has powerful vocals, whilst retaining the softness of her character 's charm and innocence, and Melissa McCarthy as villain Ursula is simply divine; the evil we love to hate as she tempts Ariel into her cunning plan.

Alan Menken’s classic songs automatically associated with the musical production remain, including ‘Part of Your World’, ‘Under the Sea’, ‘Kiss the Girl’ and ‘Poor, Unfortunate Souls’, but four new additional songs - written by Lin Manuel Miranda with Menken - bring a freshness to the overall feel of the piece. ‘Wild Uncharted Waters’, sung by Jonah Hauer- King as Prince Eric, is a nice ballad, if not a little kitsch in its portrayal. 

Our favourite moment of the film has to be Scuttle's rap ‘The Scuttlebutt’, voiced by Awkwafina - a truly hilarious moment!

This is a delightful film for the whole family to enjoy and we highly recommend you get yourselves to your local cinema as soon as possible to give it a watch, Besties; with laughs aplenty, a gloriously talented cast and songs that you'll be singing all the way home!

***** Five stars

Reviewed by: Rachel Louise Martin

Disney’s The Little Mermaid is in cinemas worldwide now, with UK details here.