Little Mermaid review: Disney’s remake gets more than Halle Bailey right

Whenever a new Disney live-action remake of an animated classic comes out, there’s always a hullabaloo about what, if anything, changed from the source material. Specifically, fans question whether the latest remake updates anything to take modern standards into account, or a creator boasts that it does — whether it’s giving LeFou an “exclusively gay moment” in 2017’s Beauty and the Beast or canning the Siamese cat song in 2019’s Lady and Tramp.

For whatever reason, though, most of the filmmakers behind these projects seem determined to also “fix” the stories’ main heroines — usually losing what made them so appealing in the first place. One of the worst examples is Beauty and the Beast’Belle, the beloved bookworm character of young readers everywhere. Making her a book-lover wasn’t enough for the 2017 remake, which also turned her into an inventor for some reason — and then did absolutely nothing with that plot point.

In the case of new Little MermaidThe director Rob Marshall, and the screenwriter David Magee chose to modernize the character that was right for them.

Image: Disney

That isn’t Ariel, who for the most part keeps pretty much the same personality she had in the original, though she certainly gets more moments to flesh it out. Marshall and Magee know what makes Ariel so beloved in the animated Disney movie. She’s curious, passionate, and idealistic, and the 1989 movie takes great care to highlight those things, while also embracing her faults, like her absent-mindedness and stubbornness. Halle Bailey’s stellar performance as Ariel in the live-action version bolsters all of those points. Ariel’s performance is recognizable, even after some extra moments. She isn’t the one who needed to undergo a modern makeover, after all.

Eric is the one character in particular who needed some changes.

Eric, the animated version of him from the early 1990s is considered a legend in his time. He meets the minimum requirements to be a Disney Prince, in that he’s handsome and brave, and not much else. Ariel immediately fell in love with the Disney Prince when she saw him with his dog playing on a cruise ship. That’s pretty true to the original Hans Christian Andersen story — not to mention the Disney fairy-tale movies that came before — but in 2023, we need more evidence that this is a man worthy of Ariel’s time, and worthy of her giving up everything to try and be with him.

Giles Keyte/Disney

The 2023 live-action version of Eric, played by Jonah Hauer-King, isn’t just a hunk. He feels restless in his palace, and he wants to explore the world beyond his island nation, but he feels trapped by his mother’s rules. That’s a direct parallel to Ariel’s story, so it makes sense that she would relate to him. Her bargain with Ursula (Melissa McCarthy) is more about her desire to escape her father’s controlling rules about her being in love. (Ariel’s “Daddy, I love him!” line doesn’t make the cut in this version.) There’s a sense of comfort in knowing that there is at least one person on land who would understand her choice to leave the ocean. She sees Eric as more like a friend than soulmate.

This is the new Little MermaidAriel and Eric will also have more time to spend together. Instead of the dinner scene where Ariel bungles basic social interaction, now Ariel and Eric bond over Eric’s vast collection of trinkets he found on his adventures. As it turns out, they’re both total nerds when it comes to their interests, and they’re both just squirming to talk about what they love with someone. Ariel still can’t talk because of Ursula, but she’s still an active participant in the interaction, showing Eric a thing or two about his treasures from the sea, and eagerly poring over his maps. Their interactions are fuelled by a cute yet awkward attraction, which makes the romance more realistic and worth cheering for.

Giles Keyte/Disney

There are some superfluous changes to the live-action movie that don’t really add anything meaningful. For instance, Ariel’s sisters are rulers of their own seas, not Triton’s decorative choral singers, but they still don’t contribute much to the plot. Ursula has added motives, but that doesn’t come up beyond her introduction. Scuttle (voiced Awkwafina), the seagull, raps a little bit. Why not? If you think too hard about some of the more consequential world-building changes in 2023’s The Little MermaidAs the film unravels, it becomes clear that there is a plot.

Why is it that The Little Mermaid isn’t whether the fish look good, or what exactly fuels Triton and Ursula’s feud. The central romance between Ariel and Eric is what drives Ariel’s journey. Just because Ariel falls in love doesn’t mean she’s not a strong and beloved protagonist, and just because Eric is a handsome and dashing prince doesn’t mean he lacks the substance behind that charming smile. In updating their love story, 2023 Little Mermaid makes the love story more satisfying — and resonant for a new generation.

The Little Mermaid Swims is coming to theaters May 26.