Disney's The Little Mermaid (2023) - Nostalgia, Diversity, and Spectacle in Cinema

Disney's live-action remake of their beloved 1989 animated classic The Little Mermaid finally arrived in theaters on May 26, 2023. Directed by Rob Marshall, known for movie musicals like Chicago and Mary Poppins Returns this new take on the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale has been one of Disney's most highly anticipated projects. Fans have been eager to see Halle Bailey bring the mermaid princess Ariel to life in the flesh after she was cast back in 2019. The film has faced some backlash and controversy over the decision to cast a Black actress as Ariel, but Bailey and others affiliated with the film have spoken out about the importance of diversity and representation in cinema.

Grand Musical Spectacle

Early trailers for The Little Mermaid promised the movie would be a grand musical spectacle full of colorful underwater sequences and soaring musical numbers. The film delivers on that promise thanks to Marshall's pedigree with movie musicals. Production took place at the renowned Pinewood Studios in England, where massive water tanks were used to create the underwater world. The musical sequences, especially Ariel's big "Part of Your World" number, are true showstoppers filled with eye-popping visuals.

Of course, the music is integral to any version of The Little Mermaid. Alan Menken, who composed the Oscar-winning music for the original film, returned to create new songs alongside Lin-Manuel Miranda. The iconic songs from 1989 like "Under the Sea" and "Kiss the Girl" are reinvented in spectacular fashion. Miranda's lyrics blend seamlessly with Menken's music to make the musical numbers feel fresh yet familiar.

Mix of Nostalgia and Reinvention

Fans of the original will find plenty of nostalgic moments in the new live-action version. The story hits all the same beats, from Ariel saving Prince Eric from the shipwreck to making her bargain with Ursula to become human. The adorable sidekick characters like Sebastian the crab, Flounder the fish and Scuttle the seagull are back to lend comic relief. But the remake also adds new depth in some areas, like expanding Ursula's backstory and giving Ariel's father King Triton more complexity.

The cast is full of talented performers who recreate the voice work from the original animated cast. Halle Bailey brings beautiful vocals, innocence and spunk to Ariel. Melissa McCarthy makes Ursula her own while echoing Pat Carroll's theatrical voice work. Jonah Hauer-King is perfectly cast as the dreamy Prince Eric, while Javier Bardem brings gravitas as King Triton.

A Promising Start to More Live-Action Remakes

Reviews for this new rendition of the fishy fairy tale are decidedly mixed, but most agree this is one of the better live-action remakes Disney has done lately. The Little Mermaid has all the ingredients of a nostalgic trip under the sea, even if it never fully recaptures the magic of the animated classic. With the box office success of films like The Lion King and Beauty and the Beast, Disney is sure to keep cranking out live-action remakes of their vaulted animated catalog. For Disney purists dubious of this trend, at least this newest entry has dazzling musical sequences, charming characters, and strong performances to recommend it. The Little Mermaid should please both nostalgic fans and newcomers looking for a visually resplendent musical fantasy.