When a multi-billion-dollar conglomerate takes on the challenge of reinventing a beloved movie, we tend to be a bit wary. And can you blame us? No one wants to have their childhood memories ruined by a subpar remake. But thankfully, the live-action The Little Mermaid didn’t leave us high and dry.

Same same, but different

First things first, we’ll answer the biggest question on everyone’s minds: how does Disney’s live-action The Little Mermaid compare to the 1989 original? Well, it hits almost all of the original’s story beats, but there are significant differences that make it stand out.

To start, the setting of the movie is completely different — it takes place in the Caribbean instead of Europe. The movie is colorful and vibrant. The diverse cast fits naturally into the storyline and it’s refreshing to see a different world come to life on the big screen.

Another major difference is the runtime. The live-action remake is 30 minutes longer than the original, which might sound daunting at first. However, the extra time is used effectively to flesh out the characters and their relationships. We came to know the characters even better than before, and the added context gives the story more emotional weight.

Halle Bailey is a revelation

We all need to take a moment to talk about Halle Bailey’s incredible performance. When it was first announced that the pop-star-actress was cast as Ariel, there were some serious doubts from the public. But let me tell you, she put those doubts to rest faster than Ursula could say “poor unfortunate souls”.

Producer John DeLuca and Director Rob Marshall themselves said in a press conference that even after seeing hundreds of other actresses, nobody came close to matching Halle’s audition. DeLuca shared that when Halle first auditioned and sang “Part of Your World” for them, he turned to Marshall and “there were tears streaming down his face.”

Said Marshall:

“The first actor we saw for this role was Halle. The first thing she did is she came in and sang for us. And she sang that song. She shut her eyes and started to sing the song. And… I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. I just thought, she’s so deeply connected to what she’s singing about. It’s so emotional. It’s so beautiful.

And I thought, ‘Oh my gosh, we’ve been doing this for five minutes. Have we found Ariel?’

And we had. But we didn’t know that. But then we saw hundreds of other actors after that, and Halle kept coming back in. And we saw every ethnicity. We saw everybody. And she claimed the role for hers. That’s what happened.”

After seeing the film, we wholeheartedly believe them. Halle was born for the role, completely embodying the essence of Ariel. From her voice to her playful and curious persona, she nailed it.

A stellar cast

Even though Halle’s performance was easily the best thing about the movie, the rest of the cast held their own. Melissa McCarthy had big tentacles to fill, but she was an absolute delight as Ursula, injecting humor into the beloved villain while still maintaining her intimidating presence. Javier Bardem gave a powerful performance as the overprotective King Triton, leaving us teary-eyed. And let’s not forget about Jonah Hauer-King, who gave Prince Eric more depth than we’ve seen before.

But we can’t talk about the cast without giving a shoutout to the feathered, finned, and shelled(?) sidekicks. Daveed Diggs (Sebastian), Awkwafina (Scuttle), and Jacob Tremblay (Flounder) gave their all to the voice work. Despite their characters’ disturbingly hyperrealistic character design, they made it work.

New songs for a new generation

Alan Menken, the composer of the original movie, teamed up with Lin-Manuel Miranda to create new songs for the film. Our verdict? Some songs were better than others.

One standout song is “For the First Time”, which perfectly captures the wonder of Ariel as she explores the surface world. The lyrics are poignant and the melody is beautiful, making for a truly magical musical moment.

Another new track is “The Scuttlebutt”, performed by Awkwafina and Daveed Diggs. It’s signature Lin-Manuel Miranda — upbeat and catchy with clever wordplay. (But if you’re not a fan of Miranda’s work, don’t worry; it’s a short song.)

On the flip side, Eric’s solo song “Wild Uncharted Waters” didn’t quite hit the mark. (If we had to be brutally honest, the tune and lyrics were pretty generic; it felt like it was written by an AI.) However, it was fun to watch Hauer-King give an ’80s music video-worthy performance.

What does life look like under the sea?

As much as we loved the film, we have to say that in quite a few scenes, it’s clear that the actors aren’t really underwater, and the effect was a bit jarring. However, there are plenty of magical moments to make up for it.

The “Under the Sea” segment is a true standout, with vibrant colors and stunning visuals that transported us straight into Ariel’s world. We also have to give a shoutout to “Poor Unfortunate Souls”, which was breathtaking and haunting.

The final face-off between Ursula, Ariel, and Eric is thrilling and scary, with stunning visual effects that bring the story to life in a whole new way. Even though we already knew how it was going to end, we were on the edge of our seats as the battle unfolded.

Watch out for Easter eggs

This new film is also full of fun surprises and Easter eggs. One of the coolest things about the movie is how it pays tribute to the talents of the 1989 film. Jodi Benson (the original voice of Ariel) makes a cameo appearance as a local villager.  Samuel E. Wright (the original voice of Sebastian) also makes an appearance as a fisherman.

The bottom line

In conclusion, Disney’s live-action The Little Mermaid is a magical and breathtaking experience. In our opinion, it’s the most joyful Disney live-action reimagining so far. From the outstanding performances of the cast to the stunning visual effects, this movie captures the essence of the original while still bringing something fresh to the table.

We left the cinema feeling like we had just experienced something truly special. We clapped, we cheered, and we left misty-eyed and smiling. If you’re a fan of the original or just want to treat yourself to a genuinely good film, do yourself a favor and go see Disney’s live-action The Little Mermaid in the cinemas — you won’t regret it.

The Little Mermaid premieres in the Philippines on May 24, 2023. Catch it in cinemas near you.