Story and tone

The young mermaid Ariel (Holly Bailey) is extremely curious about the human world. She shows interest in everything humanity does and stores her land treasures in a specific underwater cave.

However, her father Triton (Javier Bardem) has strictly forbidden his daughters to communicate with people in any way, because once upon a time, it was because of them that Ariel’s mother died. But when Ariel rescues a prince (Jonah Hauer-King) during a shipwreck, it is only a matter of time before the girl’s full immersion in the world on the surface becomes a matter of time. And the evil witch Ursula (Melissa McCarthy) wants to take advantage of this.

Almost all remakes of Disney cartoons are criticized for trying to follow the original sources too closely, while pushing too hard for realism. As a result, the charm of the original is destroyed, because no live-action film can reproduce the expression of animation or even come close to it. In this case, you need to look for your own approaches. A good example here is Cruella with its cynicism and focus on the fashion world.

“The Little Mermaid”, released in 2023, does not try to add something to the original story. The plot here is as simple as possible, and the authors seemed to hope that the audience would be familiar with at least some version of the Ariel story before going to the cinema. Because of this, some moments in the script are omitted, and the pace of the narrative itself feels rushed and confusing.

Visual imagination

On the other hand, the movie has eye-catching visuals. The local underwater beauty is captivating, and the flora and fauna combine both realistic and fantastical elements. This is especially evident in the fish Flounder and the crab Sebastian. They look comical on advertising campaigns, but in real life they look quite confident.

It may seem that this is how the film crew conveys the realistic aspect of underwater life. But this is exactly the situation when realism could be sacrificed for the sake of a colorful picture. After all, this is what cinema is all about. In addition, there are several “bright” scenes in The Little Mermaid, and they turned out to be unashamedly enchanting.

Holly Bailey’s acting, which was the topic of so many criticisms even before the film’s premiere, also raises no questions. Yes, it’s not something remarkable, but the girl managed to perfectly portray the image of an underwater creature who is learning the wonders of the world for the first time. The rest of the actors are also good, especially Melissa McCarthy. Perhaps Javier Bardem is not given much of a chance to show his potential.

Music and sound

And what is The Little Mermaid without songs, right? The movie features all of the iconic songs from the original, except in different musical arrangements and, obviously, with different voices. There are no complaints about them at all. Probably because Alan Menken, the composer of the original cartoon, worked on the songs. So, the local version of Under the Sea will surely be stuck in your head for at least a few days after watching it.

Pros

•  Eye-catching underwater visuals with a mix of realism and fantasy.
•  Strong and confident performance by Holly Bailey.
•  Melissa McCarthy stands out as an expressive villain.
•  Familiar songs preserved with updated arrangements.
•  Alan Menken’s involvement maintains musical continuity.

Cons

•  The story follows the original too closely without offering new ideas.
•  Some plot moments feel rushed or omitted.
•  Excessive realism occasionally weakens the fairy-tale charm.
•  Javier Bardem’s character lacks development.

Final verdict

The Little Mermaid (2023) turns out to be a careful and visually polished remake that prefers not to take risks. It relies on a familiar story, recognizable characters, and iconic songs rather than bold reinterpretation. While the pacing feels uneven and the realism sometimes dulls the fairy-tale magic, the film succeeds thanks to its strong lead performance, striking underwater visuals, and respectful treatment of the musical legacy. It may not redefine Disney’s live-action strategy, but it offers a pleasant and emotionally sincere journey for viewers who are ready to return to a well-known story once again.