Halle Bailey Shines in Disney's Live-Action The Little Mermaid

The much-awaited Disney live-action movie, The Little Mermaid, has finally been reviewed by critics. The movie, directed by Rob Marshall and featuring Halle Bailey, is a 2023 release that has been highly anticipated by fans. The reviews are now out and Rachel Labonte from Screen Rant has shared her thoughts.

The Little Mermaid follows the same storyline as the remakes of Beauty and the Beast and Aladdin, with some additional content and new music. However, Halle Bailey delivers an outstanding performance, bringing depth to her character and adding to the grandeur of the film, despite the awkward visuals and the underwhelming climax. The Hollywood Reporter's Lovia Gyarkye praises the film for its faithfulness, while acknowledging its shortcomings. The Little Mermaid is similar to other Disney live-action remakes, playing it safe with familiar themes and representational awareness, but lacking in originality and inspiration. It can fill an evening, but may leave viewers with a sense of déjà vu.

The studio has made yet another attempt to reimagine their beloved classics, but previous rehashes have not always hit the mark. While some were pleasant but pointless, such as the 2016 version of The Jungle Book, others were truly disappointing and even frightening for children, such as Tim Burton's dreary, steampunk adaptation of Dumbo. However, The Little Mermaid stands out as a successful and distinct entity, paying homage to the original while also standing on its own. Halle Bailey, a 23-year-old singer with five Grammy nominations, brings an undeniable emotional force to the musical numbers and imbues them with a sense of urgency. On screen, she exudes genuine star power and outshines Jonah Hauer-King's Prince Eric.

Bailey's performance in the film is undoubtedly impressive, but there is a pervasive feeling of obligation that permeates everything surrounding her star-making role. The movie includes two aesthetically pleasing yet ultimately forgettable ballads, as well as a rap by Awkwafina's character Scuttle that, while technically proficient, lacks the spark of originality that one might expect from a Lin-Manuel Miranda production. Additionally, the animal characters are now rendered in photorealistic detail, which is admittedly impressive but also raises the question of whether such a costly endeavor was truly necessary. For instance, Jacob Tremblay's portrayal of Flounder could have easily been replaced by a simple Big Mouth Billy Bass, with no discernible difference in the range of facial expressions achieved.

McCarthy's performance as the deep-sea villain is a standout in the film. Her impeccable timing and ability to hit every expected beat while still surprising with every pause and inflection make her a no-brainer choice for the role. Along with Bailey's charming portrayal of the wide-eyed urchin, McCarthy's over-the-top octo-hussy brings the movie to life in a way that gives young audiences something magical to identify with and aspire to. While Disney's live-action remakes can sometimes look real, it's a strange worry for a story about mythical sea creatures. The studio's obsession with realism and technology can result in flashes of brilliance, but until they address the real problem at hand, these films will never achieve classic status on their own merit.

That issue remains: Does the movie create a believable world? Unfortunately, even with star-studded cast, musical numbers, and good intentions, "The Little Mermaid" falls short of blending seamlessly into the already beautifully crafted world of its predecessor, whether it's real or not.