The Modern Mermaid - Review of Disney’s new The Little Mermaid

Disney fans worldwide have flocked to cinemas over the past couple of weeks to see if life under the sea really is better than anything we’ve got going up here. From the captivating movement of Halle Baileys underwater locks, a collection of new tunes and Melissa McCarthy as Ursula (need I say more?), this film is a treasure trove for the Disney universe. Along with diversity throughout the casting, including the various daughters of Triton representing different seas across the globe and the sassiest crustacean, Sebastian, providing a sprinkle of one liners that keeps all ages entertained, Ariel’s love of the land provokes an important question. Should we harbor the same curiosity for the seas? As she poignantly asks, “are we only food for slaughter?” to which the answer unequivocally should be, no. However, the demands of modern times and population growth seem to dictate otherwise. Rather than exploiting the sea, we should seek harmony with it, recognizing that we all share this Earth. This is a vital message in the modern world as oceans are struggling under our human footprint as the fish (including merpeople) have just as much of a right to this earth as us. I can feel a sequel bubbling following the environmental quest of Eric and Ariel as they travel the seas, mending what has been broken by years of exploitation of the ocean. Celebrating the beauty of our seas in the stunning visuals this adaptation provides may pull at the heartstrings of many, encouraging a questioning of what we are doing to protect them during the climate crisis.

Parallel to the environmental message that this new adaptation brings, the empowered female message is amplified from the original. Ariel saving Eric at the start of the film proves the damsel does not always need to be in distress, but that she is very capable of lifting herself and a Prince out of the stormy sea and safely on land…albeit to gaze at him and declare her undying devotion to becoming part of his life. She also saves his dog so maybe that was more of a selling point. However, Ariel's shift in dialogue in the adaptation proves that the male gaze that the original disney princesses embodied has been erased in the new film, providing a more positive message to young girls about their own empowerment. The smooth transition from the vastly naive response to why Ariel saves Eric, “But Daddy, I love him!” to a conversation about prejudice and discrimination; Triton stating: “He’s a human, you’re a mermaid”, Ariel responding “That doesn’t make us enemies”, brings to the forefront a much better reason for rescuing Prince Eric than his dashing looks…which, to our relief, he still has in the remake.

All in all, the new disney remake preserves the magic of the original tale while also skillfully accentuates elements that align with the contemporary world. It took what the 1989 animation lacked in its message and presented a world in which everyone is welcome to dive into. Despite the negative reviews regarding the changed setting and casting, this film continues to cast its spell on countless young girls who finally feel seen in a timeless Disney role. Just a quick scroll through the TikTok thread of the trailer release confirms that Halle Bailey is the perfect fit for the role. The seaweed is always greener in somesones elses idea of a remake, but Bailey effortlessly embodies Ariel's gentle innocence and fierce independence that originally captivated the hearts of fans. And really, isn’t that what a modern day disney remake is all about? Let’s not be too crabby about the adjustments.