Estimated read time: 4-5 minutes
We all have those moments that stick with us forever. We can't always pinpoint why the memory is engraved in our consciousness, but it's there all the same.
One of these moments happened for me in November 1989, when I was 6 years old. I remember walking into Movies 9 in Sandy with my parents and older brother. I remember walking through the south doors and the popcorn smell immediately hitting me in the face. I remember hearing the soda machine dispense a large drink and seeing the Nestle Crunch bar in the glass display case calling my name.
The other thing that stood out was the large cardboard display with a young, red-headed mermaid perched on a rock in the sea.
While "The Little Mermaid" of 1989 was not my favorite movie — though, I did enjoy it a great deal — that movie experience is clear as day in my mind nearly 34 years later. This nostalgic memory is possibly why I am partial to the animated feature and likely a culprit in my skepticism about this new live-action version of the original animated film. That, and the fact I have not been a big fan of most of these remakes.
In the middle of last week, I grabbed my two daughters — ages 12 and 6 — and we bought popcorn and drinks before sitting down in front of the theater's big screen. The girls were excited and I was anticipating two hours of boredom before I could hear about how much my girls liked it. My pessimism, however, was unfounded. My quick judgments and assumptions were dashed as I laughed, danced and tried my best not to sing out loud with my girls.
Here are a few reasons this grouchy, old critic enjoyed this new, live-action version of Disney's "The Little Mermaid."
The visuals
One of the attractions of the original animated movie is the vibrant colors and exotic locales. The underwater bits are a visual feast, and we'd love to vacation in Price Eric's kingdom. The new version does the original justice in this respect. The underwater scenes are colorful and detailed. The "Under the Sea" number is visually impressive, and the Italian coast where they filmed the above-water scenes makes me wish these reviews paid better so I could take a holiday.
Another visual element that drew me in were the scenes at sea with the ships. When we first meet Eric and his crew sailing the great blue deep with a gorgeous sailing ship, it's difficult to not get lost in the magic of the period. I'm a sucker for these vessels, and watching them in "The Little Mermaid" was exciting for this geek.
Daveed Diggs and Awkwafina
A couple of the best parts of the animated film were the characters Sebastian and Scuttle. The prim and proper crustacean and the disheveled and loud-mouthed seabird gave us the biggest laughs. Thankfully, the filmmakers found adequate replacements in Daveed Diggs, as Sebastian, and Awkwafina, as Scuttle. I don't think they outdid Samuel E. Wright and Buddy Hackett, but these two actors found their own voices and took on the characters. They both earned big laughs from my girls and me.
There is also a short new song with Scuttle and Sebastian that has Lin-Manuel Miranda's fingerprints all over it, and it's delightful. That moment is a highlight of the movie.
Some missteps
This version of "The Little Mermaid" did take me by surprise in lots of good ways, but some flaws kept it from being great. The one I'll point out is the length of the film.
The movie runs 2 hours and 15 minutes, and it did not need to. The pacing is good, for the most part, but some scenes drag on longer than necessary and manage to lose the audience's attention. It wasn't enough to ruin the movie, but it's noticeable when it happens.
Should I go see it?
Yes, we know the story and how it ends, but the writer and director of this film have found a way to keep it interesting. There are enough new elements to keep us engaged, enough jokes to keep us smiling, and enough action to keep us entertained. The actors do a fine job in their roles and make for an entertaining movie, despite some flaws.
So, should you see it? If you're looking to get out with your family, this is a great film to do it with. My girls had a ball, sang the whole way home, and kept asking me, "Dad, do you remember when ...?"
I'm happy that the new "The Little Mermaid" gave me another engraved memory, but this time it was me taking my kids instead of my parents taking me.
"The Little Mermaid" is officially rated PG for action/peril and some scary images.
