The Little Mermaid (2023), Barbie movie as some would refer to it, continues where the animated film from 1989 left off. Directed by Rob Marshall with Halle Bailey in the lead role, the film once again focuses on Ariel, a feisty and youthful mermaid who wishes to leave the ocean. The film is filled with some beautiful cinematography, great performances and new music by Lin-Manuel Miranda and also Alan Menken.
Synopsis
The story is set in an underwater kingdom where Ariel (Halle Bailey) lives with her father King Triton (Javier Bardem). She is deeply in love with the human world and finds and hoards items from the shipwrecks while dreaming of living on the land. Her dreams turn into reality when she saves Prince Eric (Jonah Hauer-King) who gets caught up in a storm.
In need of Ariel to be a part of his realm, she agrees to an unsafe exchange with the sea witch Ursula who is played by Melissa McCarthy. Ariel is gifted human legs for 3 days under the condition of giving up her voice. Failing to kiss Eric would restraint Ariel in Ursula’s possession completely. With aid from her close allies Scuttle, Sebastian and Flounder, Ariel sets off on exploring the obstacles and the sacrifices that come in the way of pursuing her aspirations which eventually leads her to courage, self discovery and romance.
Cast & Crew
- Director: Rob Marshall
- Screenplay: David Magee
- Producers: Rob Marshall, John DeLuca and Marc Platt
- Music: Alan Menken and Lin-Manuel Miranda.
Main Cast:
- Halle Bailey as Ariel
- Jonah Hauer-King as Prince Eric.
- Melissa McCarthy as Ursula
- Javier Bardem as King Triton
- Daveed Diggs as the voice of Sebastian
- Awkwafina as the voice of Scuttle
- Jacob Tremblay as the voice of Flounder
Production and Release:
In 2016, Disney revealed that it was working on a live action version of The Little Mermaid as part of its initiative to remake its animated classic films. Rob Marshall, who directed Chicago and Mary Poppins Returns, was selected to direct the film and Alan Menken was recruited to compose the film score along with Lin-Manuel Miranda.
The shooting commenced in 2020 and in a bid to recreate the colorful Atlantica, the newly invented underwater world, motion capture and CGI technology were used to film the key sequences. The release of the movie was postponed due to the COVID-19 outbreak but it was released in cinemas on May 26. Three months after its release was available for streaming on Disney+.
Critical Reception
The Little Mermaid has been mostly well received with the performances, visuals as well as the music being rated particularly well. Halle Bailey’s Ariel seemed to take the critics and the fans by storm thanks to her impassioned portrayal of the character, especially praising her voice. She was able to add a sense of modern agency to innocence that the character exuded.
Hauer-King, alongside Bailey, also brought engaging chemistry to the role that had the viewers invested in their romance. Where the Little Mermaid always seemed to hint at bolstered the character of Ursula with deadly comic aspects, Melissa’s McCarthy’s impressive portrayal has revitalised the version of the character whereby explodes in respect to any original character.
Nonetheless, with new additions to the film, a few critics did believe that the charmed the viewers, but they were unable to replace tracks like “Part of Your World” and “Under the Sea.” There was also some complaint around pacing due to CGI with others deeming the film’s run time excessive.
Themes and Analysis
To encapsulate the essence of The Little Mermaid in under three words would boil down to courage, independence and self-discovery. Everyone wants to embrace freedom and to pursue choices, Ariel’s longing to venture out to the surface over the expanse ocean is synonymous to the struggle mankind goes through to take control of their life. It is a classic example of taking risks while still being earnest to oneself.
As it is often the case with other remakes, the film builds upon its predecessors, and this time takes new directions in terms of Ariel’s character development. She is not just driven and motivated by falling in love for Prince Eric, but she displays an insatiable curiosity to immerse herself in a world entirely different to hers and to go beyond her boundaries. She wishes to gain knowledge; and of the world and its people. This feels very relatable to the modern day audience.
King Triton’s parental instincts and his overbearing nature were out of love coupled with fear of loss, and this leads him to deliberately undermine Ariel. However, Ariel ultimately makes the King learn, through the journey, how important independence is and to respect that. So does Ursula, she demonstrates the pitfalls of manipulation and the potential that lies while achieving a dream by shortcuts, the inverse of free will.
From the vile songs of Kiss the Girl to Part of your World, not forgetting the huge global success of Under the Sea, all got rearranged to compliment Menken’s unforgettable score. New songs also emerged such as The Scuttlebutt which was comical in nature with a rap by Scuttle and Sebastian, and For the First Time which was sung by Ariel after she acquires human legs. These additions embellished the movie with humor and specificity because it provided an emotional variation.
Above all, the animation manages to be an interplay of aesthetics and graphics, as Atlantica is shown to be a glowing and colorful tapestry inhabited by diverse ocean life. Incorporation of elements such as Ariel’s magical tail and Ursula’s seam-free flowing fabric, gives us a sense of magic while complementing the initial animated version.
Earnings Report
The Little Mermaid has earned somewhere in the range of $570 million on a global scale, which places it on the list of more successful remakes by Disney. This film seemed to cater strongly to audiences in the united states especially with the introduction of Halle Bailey as Ariel, which otherwise faced backlash as a Black actress was picked for the role.
Social Perspective
The portrayal of Ariel by Halle Bailey initiated conversations around the need for inclusivity and representation in the film industry. While some were critical, a chunk of plans rose in support of Bailey’s plight as an Ariel and epitomized to children from disadvantaged communities. As an immense source of representation, Bailey sought out a new message that the film wanted to spread.
Proving further, the changing trend of entertainment is that consumers no longer are keen on the same bland stories, rather while remaking/ extending there is a need for diversity and inclusion to be added in these stories.
Conclusion
The Little Mermaid (2023) adapts the timeless Children’s story for a new generation by adding modern themes to it while also preserving Modern concepts. Halle Bailey’s performance highlights the purpose of the movie which was provided for Marshall and the rest of the cast by the loving adaptation in case they tried to watch a musical through Mary’s time classic. The movie combines breathtaking imagery, stimulating melodies and great depth, making it possible for the audience to participate in events that would otherwise be out of reach, in a movie called, The Little Mermaid.
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