Disney's latest live-action adaptation, The Little Mermaid, demonstrates a fondness for the original animated feature under the direction of Rob Marshall. Although presenting some unique elements, the film mirrors the pacing and narrative structure of Disney’s 1989 original. It's clear that the creators intended to target devoted fans, crafting a movie that rings familiar while incorporating novel aspects. However, the film illustrates the potential for visual effects-intensive movies to lose their enchantment. Filmmakers neglect the critical task of grounding their fantastical realms in an established and cohesive reality.
Drawing from Hans Christian Andersen’s 1837 fairytale, The Little Mermaid continues the tale of Ariel (Halle Bailey). She is the youngest and most curious daughter of King Triton (Javier Bardem), monarch of Atlantica. Ariel, is smaller than her sisters and imbued with a deep sense of love for her father and her companions Flounder (Jacob Tremblay) and Scuttle (Awkwafina). She shares strong resemblances with her animated predecessor. Her spirited curiosity about the human world and its customs often leads her into conflict with her family. They wish she would prioritize her royal responsibilities.
In a departure from the 1989 version, the new film sheds light on Ariel’s mother, whose tragic death was at the hands of humans. This is a narrative borrowed from 2008’s The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Beginning. It formed the basis for Triton’s deep-seated fear of humanity. This tragic backstory doesn’t overshadow Ariel’s present-day vivacity. In fact, it adds depth to Ariel and Triton’s clashing viewpoints about humans and their conscious decision to avoid them. It is similar to their avoidance of Ursula (Melissa McCarthy), the sea witch, and Triton’s sibling.
The realism of underwater films, like The Little Mermaid often arises from physically placing actors in actual water bodies, whether on set or in natural environments. When discussing the “live-action” aspect of Disney’s remakes, and their “realism”, we're examining how they can fabricate environments that pulsate with life and abide by an understandable set of rules.
For example, The Way of Water’s Pandora achieves its grounded realism through the intensive labor (and resources) invested into perfecting minute details such as the interaction of light, water, and wind with characters and their environment. The successful integration of these seemingly minor yet significant elements makes even the most alien landscapes feel authentic and believable.
The Little Mermaid’s creators have demonstrated a partial understanding of this principle. It is shown by Ariel’s undersea musical sequences where her red locks are animated with a playful charm, reminiscent of the original cartoon. However, the meticulous work invested in Ariel's hair is at odds with aspects such as the inconsistent lighting underwater and the overly polished sound design, resulting in an Atlantica that feels more like a well-equipped soundstage.
Throughout the film, Ariel displays a range of conflicting emotions. They are masterfully portrayed by Bailey's performance and occasionally disrupt the illusion of her underwater existence. It is during the first third of the movie, before Ariel's agreement with Ursula, that we fully appreciate Bailey's portrayal of Ariel. Her character exhibits a greater level of assertiveness and proactivity than her 2D version. Yet she retains the enchanting vocal cadence and musical talent that epitomize a Disney Princess. This makes her sacrifice to meet Prince Eric (Jonah Hauer-King) even more poignant.
Compared to the underwater sequences, the land scenes in The Little Mermaid are more coherent, if less captivating. The lack of chemistry between Bailey and Hauer-King weakens the believability of Ariel and Eric's blossoming romance. This is a critical element in the narrative. The abrupt initiation of the film's songs, rather than flowing seamlessly through the plot undermines its identity as a musical. This might disappoint some audiences.
Where The Little Mermaid ranks amongst Disney's live-action remakes largely depends on individual preferences. The film echoes Disney’s strategy of just enough of the original to satisfy both nostalgic adult fans and younger audiences.
Also starring Noma Dumezweni, Art Malik, Daveed Diggs, and Jessica Alexander, The Little Mermaid is currently showing in theaters.
