The Little Mermaid tells a fascinating and classic story, this time in live action format. In the past, Disney got it right with the remakes of Beauty And The Beast, Aladdin, The Lion King etc. Here, they falter. Some scenes are cute and funny while the songs keep the interest going. However, at 135 minutes, it’s too long while the animated version, with the exact story, had a runtime of just 83 minutes. The narrative is clichéd and gives a been-there-done-that feeling. Moreover, the villain track is weak. Speaking of performances, Halle Bailey (Ariel) does a fine job as the protagonist, especially in the second half, in the absence of dialogues. Jonah Hauer-King is dashing and gives a decent performance. Javier Bardem (King Triton) is okay. Melissa McCarthy (Ursula) hams and goes over the top. Her track and appearance created an impact in the animated version, which is missing here. Daveed Diggs (as the voice of Sebastian, the crab), Awkwafina (voice of Scuttle, the gannet) and Jacob Tremblay (voice of Flounder, the tropical fish) are lovely. All in all, The Little Mermaid is an average fare.
My rating – ** ½ out of 5!