Plot & Storyline

Welcome to The Little Mermaid review The Little Mermaid opens with a scene of Ariel and her sisters performing a musical number for their father, King Triton. Ariel is clearly the most adventurous of the sisters, and she is fascinated by the human world. She has a collection of human artifacts in her grotto, and she spends her time dreaming of one day living on land.

One day, Ariel and her friends Sebastian, Flounder, and Scuttle swim to the surface to watch a ship sail by. On the ship is Prince Eric, who is celebrating his birthday. Ariel is immediately smitten with Eric, and she sings to him from the water. Eric is enchanted by Ariel’s voice, but he does not see her face.

A storm strikes and the ship is sunk. Eric is washed ashore, and Ariel saves his life. She sings to him again, but he still does not remember her. Ariel is heartbroken, but she is determined to be with Eric. Ursula transforms Ariel into a human, and she gives her a potion that will make her voice return if she receives true love’s kiss from Eric within three days.

Ariel goes to the surface and meets Eric again. He is instantly attracted to her, and they fall in love. However, Ursula has a plan. She has Ariel’s voice and she plans to use it to seduce Eric and marry him herself.

Ursula disguises herself as a beautiful human named Vanessa and uses Ariel’s voice to enchant Eric. Eric and Vanessa are to be married the next day, but Ariel’s friends Sebastian, Flounder, and Scuttle help her to get her voice back and stop Ursula’s plan. They confront Ursula at her wedding to Eric, and Sebastian sings Ariel’s voice back to her.

Ariel and Eric are finally able to be together, but Ursula is not finished yet. She transforms herself into a giant sea monster and attacks Eric and his ship. Ariel fights Ursula and sacrifices herself to save Eric. King Triton, who has seen how much Ariel loves Eric, transforms her into a human permanently. Eric and Ariel are finally able to get married, and they live happily ever after.

Characters

Ariel: Ariel is the protagonist of the film. She is a spirited and adventurous young mermaid who dreams of living on land. She is also fiercely independent and determined to achieve her goals. Over the course of the film, Ariel learns to accept herself for who she is and to appreciate the importance of family and friends.

Eric: Eric is the prince of a neighboring kingdom. He is a kind and compassionate young man who is looking for true love. He is also intelligent and resourceful. Over the course of the film, Eric learns to see beyond appearances and to appreciate the qualities that make Ariel special.

Ursula: Ursula is the sea witch and the antagonist of the film. She is a powerful and manipulative sorceress who is always looking for a way to get ahead. She is also cruel and vindictive. Over the course of the film, Ursula’s true nature is revealed, and she is ultimately defeated by Ariel and her friends.

King Triton: King Triton is the ruler of Atlantica and Ariel’s father. He is a loving and protective father, but he is also overprotective and controlling. Over the course of the film, King Triton learns to let go and to trust Ariel to make her own decisions.

Sebastian: Sebastian is a crab who is King Triton’s advisor and Ariel’s friend. He is loyal and supportive, but he is also a bit of a worrier. Over the course of the film, Sebastian learns to be more open-minded and to take some risks.

Flounder: Flounder is a fish who is Ariel’s best friend. He is timid and cautious, but he is also brave and loyal. Over the course of the film, Flounder learns to stand up for himself and to be more assertive.

Character Development

Ariel: At the beginning of the film, Ariel is disobedient and rebellious. She is also reckless and impulsive. However, over the course of the film, Ariel learns to be more responsible and to think about the consequences of her actions. She also learns to appreciate the importance of family and friends.

Eric: At the beginning of the film, Eric is obsessed with finding a princess to marry. However, over the course of the film, Eric learns to see beyond appearances and to appreciate the qualities that make Ariel special. He also learns to be more open-minded and to accept others for who they are.

King Triton: At the beginning of the film, King Triton is overprotective and controlling. However, over the course of the film, King Triton learns to let go and to trust Ariel to make her own decisions. He also learns to accept Ariel for who she is, even though she is different from him.

The character development in The Little Mermaid is subtle but effective. The characters change and grow over the course of the film, and they learn important lessons about life and love. 

Performances

The performances in The Little Mermaid are all excellent. Halle Bailey is radiant as Ariel. She brings a new depth and complexity to the character, and she sings beautifully. Jonah Hauer-King is also charming and likable as Eric.

Melissa McCarthy is over-the-top but hilarious as Ursula. She brings a lot of energy and personality to the role. Javier Bardem is also excellent as King Triton. He brings a lot of gravitas and dignity to the role.

The supporting cast is also very good. Awkwafina is funny and endearing as Scuttle. Jacob Tremblay is adorable as Flounder. Daveed Diggs is energetic and charismatic as Sebastian.

Overall, the performances in The Little Mermaid are all top-notch. The cast brings the characters to life and makes them believable and relatable.

Halle Bailey as Ariel: Bailey is a revelation as Ariel. She is a talented singer and actress, and she brings a new depth and complexity to the character. Bailey’s Ariel is more than just a pretty face with a beautiful voice. She is also intelligent, resourceful, and determined. Bailey’s performance is one of the highlights of the film.

Melissa McCarthy as Ursula: McCarthy is perfectly cast as Ursula. She brings a lot of energy and personality to the role. McCarthy’s Ursula is funny, over-the-top, and a little bit scary. She is a great foil for Ariel and the other characters in the film.

Javier Bardem as King Triton: Bardem is excellent as King Triton. He brings a lot of gravitas and dignity to the role. Bardem’s Triton is a loving and protective father, but he is also overprotective and controlling. Bardem’s performance is nuanced and believable.

The performances in The Little Mermaid are one of the things that makes the film so enjoyable. The cast brings the characters to life and makes them believable and relatable.

The visuals

The visuals of The Little Mermaid are stunning. The film is set in a vibrant and colorful underwater world. The filmmakers have used state-of-the-art special effects to create a truly immersive experience for the audience.

The underwater world in The Little Mermaid is teeming with life. There are colorful fish, corals, and other sea creatures everywhere. The filmmakers have paid close attention to detail, and the underwater world feels believable and realistic.

The human world in The Little Mermaid is also visually appealing. The filmmakers have created a lush and vibrant world that is both familiar and exotic. The costumes and set design are particularly impressive.

The film also features a number of musical numbers, and the visuals for these numbers are particularly impressive. The filmmakers have used a combination of live-action and animation to create truly magical and unforgettable sequences.

Here are some specific examples of the stunning visuals in The Little Mermaid:

 The opening scene of the film, which shows Ariel swimming through the underwater world, is breathtaking. The colors and the movement are simply amazing.

 The scene where Ariel and Eric sing “Kiss the Girl” is another visually stunning sequence. The underwater fireworks and the way the light filters through the water are breathtaking.

 The scene where Ursula transforms into a giant sea monster is also visually impressive. The filmmakers have done a great job of creating a truly terrifying creature.

Overall, the visuals in The Little Mermaid are stunning. The filmmakers have created a truly immersive and unforgettable experience for the audience.

In addition to the specific examples above, I would also like to commend the filmmakers on their use of color and light in the film. The underwater world is a vibrant and colorful place, and the filmmakers have captured that perfectly. The human world is also visually appealing, with lush greens and blues. The filmmakers have also used light to great effect, creating both beautiful and dramatic moments.

Overall, the visuals in The Little Mermaid are some of the best I have ever seen in a film. The filmmakers have created a truly immersive and unforgettable experience for the audience.

Music

The film features a number of classic songs, including “Part of Your World,” “Under the Sea,” and “Kiss the Girl.” These songs are all beautifully sung by the cast, and they are some of the most memorable songs in Disney history.

In addition to the classic songs, the film also features a number of new songs, including “For the First Time” and “Your World.” These new songs are just as catchy and memorable as the classics, and they perfectly complement the film’s story and characters.

The music in The Little Mermaid is one of the things that makes the film so magical and unforgettable. The songs are catchy, memorable, and emotionally resonant. They are sure to stay with you long after you have seen the film.

Here are some specific examples of the great music in The Little Mermaid:

 “Part of Your World” is a beautiful and moving ballad that perfectly captures Ariel’s longing for the human world.

 “Under the Sea” is a fun and energetic song that is sure to get stuck in your head.

 “Kiss the Girl” is a romantic and heartwarming song that is the perfect climax to the film’s love story.

 “For the First Time” is a beautiful and emotional song that perfectly captures the feeling of falling in love for the first time.

 “Your World” is a powerful and inspiring song that is the perfect way to end the film.

Overall, the music in The Little Mermaid is top-notch. It is one of the things that makes the film so magical and unforgettable. The songs are catchy, memorable, and emotionally resonant. They are sure to stay with you long after you have seen the film.