Disney's recent string of live-action remakes have been met with mixed reviews from critics and general audiences. While these films have achieved tremendous commercial success, they are often criticized for lacking originality and failing to justify their existence. However, I actually love the fact that Disney is remaking these beloved classics because not only does it introduce these stories to a brand new audience but it also allows for fresh faces to retell and expand on these tales. The 2023 remake of The Little Mermaid has faced its share of criticism and controversy before the film even hit theaters, from concerns about the visual effects in the trailers to racist backlash against Halle Bailey's casting as Ariel. However, after years of discussion, one of my most anticipated films finally washed up to shore and cemented itself as one of the best live-action remakes yet.

Let's start with the debut leading performance Halle Bailey delivers as Ariel. We all knew she could sing, but her incredible voice is nothing short of breathtaking here, especially during her show-stopping rendition of "Part of Your World". I also really admire how much she brings a fresh interpretation to the beloved character. Bailey infuses Ariel with a deeper sense of soul, spirit, and spunk, convincingly portrays Ariel's yearning for a life on land, and authentically illustrates her dissatisfaction with her underwater existence without going overboard. However, it is in the second half of the film — when Ariel loses her voice — that Bailey truly shines. Silent performances are challenging for any actor, especially those in a lead role, but Bailey effortlessly conveys Ariel's innocence, curiosity, and vulnerability through her expert physicality and expressive facial expressions. Her portrayal allows us to fall in love with her alongside Prince Eric. 

Speaking of which, The Little Mermaid distinguishes itself by improving its narrative. An example of this is its increased dedication to the central love story. With an expanded runtime, we witness Ariel and Eric's relationship develop beyond their initial meeting, exploring their shared love  adventure and the unknown. This additional depth and backstory make their romance more substantial and meaningful. Bailey's undeniable chemistry with Jonah Hauer-King, who delivers a captivating performance as Eric, adds an enchanting spark to every scene they share. The screenwriters did not stop there, however, as they gave Ariel a lot more depth in this story with added aspirations for her aside from wanting to walk on land and be with Prince Eric. I also appreciated the incorporation of social commentary into the established story. In this adaptation, the casting of Halle Bailey adds another layer of meaning to the story, as it becomes not just an interspecies romance but also an ode to interracial love. The film allows the love story to speak for itself, highlighting the connection between two lost souls who find themselves in each other, regardless of their identities. This thematic delicacy adds depth and significance to the narrative, making it a delight to witness.

While Bailey and Hauer-King’s chemistry steals the show, one of the biggest reasons for this film’s remake was the ability to hear a new spin on our favorite tunes. The aforementioned “Part of Your World” is beautiful, other classics like “Poor Unfortunate Souls” and “Under the Sea” get fun new makeovers, “Kiss the Girl” continues to be my favorite number from the soundtrack, and even the three new tracks are all highlights as they add their own special element to the story. As mentioned earlier, Prince Eric is more fleshed out in this retelling and even gets his own song entitled “Wild Uncharted Waters”. This song really hammers home how strong the bond is between these two lovers from completely separate worlds. “For the First Time” is the perfect fish out of water song for Ariel as she begins to experience life as a human. Lastly, the hip-hop enthused “Scuttlebutt” adds a new flavor for the audience's ears and has been stuck in my head since first hearing it in the film.

While the songs both new and old are fresh and fitting, I must emphasize that this film largely works as well as it does thanks to the cast. For instance, I love how much Daveed Diggs commits as Sebastian. Whether he’s dropping a clever one-liner, blessing musical numbers with his smooth vocals, or even just going the extra degree in his delivery of every line, Diggs made sure I was always delighted to see Sebastian pop up on screen. Despite initial doubts about her casting, Melissa McCarthy holds her own as Ursula. McCarthy's portrayal maintains the unnerving and delightfully campy qualities of the character while adding her unique energy to the role. Alas, not every performance can be a winner. Javier Bardem has had an odd run of roles in the past few years, but you could never say he was not giving 100% — not even as a campy Lyle Lyle Crocodile character — until now. His performance as King Triton feels very phoned in and dull, and his lack of effort for this role is painfully evident. Otherwise, though, the performances are solid if not particularly noteworthy.

Regarding the other overblown controversy surrounding The Little Mermaid, the visual effects may not be great, they are far from an abomination. Yes, there are sometimes subpar visual effects that combine with sporadically dull cinematography to create lifeless imagery. Yes, some of the CGI characters (particularly Flounder) occasionally look terrifying. However, it's important to remember that The Little Mermaid is not aiming to replicate the visual spectacle of films like the stunning Avatar: The Way of Water. The underwater setpieces, which are often criticized based on compressed and poorly cut clips on social media, are far from eyesores. In fact, I believe they are a step up from Disney’s VFX team after last year's Black Panther: Wakanda Forever since they have significantly more movement, reflection, and color.

In the grand scheme of things, this film's beautiful retelling of a beloved story coupled with heartfelt performances creates an enchanting and sentimental experience that captures the essence of classic Disney magic. It's difficult not to be swept away by its sumptuous sentimentality and succumb to the allure of The Little Mermaid all over again.

8/10