The Little Mermaid fairytale comes to life again at Wisbech’s The Light Cinema
FILM REVIEW: THE LITTLE MERMAID (PG)
STARRING: Halle Bailey, Jonah Hauer-King, Melissa McCarthy, Javier Bardem, Art Malik and (voices) Daveed Diggs and Awkwafina
RUNNING TIME: Two hours, 15 minutes DIRECTOR: Rob Marshall
First things first. This film was not made for 53-year-old men. Having said that, I think I enjoyed it as much as the nine-year-old sitting next to me.
I’ve not seen the 1989 original so, unlike many, I went into this with nothing to compare it to and can only judge on this version, which was excellent.
Actors and CGI creatures mix seamlessly, mermaids and mermen come to life and there’s wonderful colour throughout this beautiful film, which for all those getting snobby about remakes, is actually based on the 1837 Hans Christian Andersen fairytale anyway.
There’s singing too of course, including the famous ‘Under The Sea’. And, above all else, it’s a heartwarming love story and none of us are too old for one of these, right?
For those who hadn’t caught up with the story over the last two centuries, it revolves around young mermaid Ariel, who makes a deal with sea witch Ursula to trade her beautiful voice for human legs and discover the world above and meet again a prince she rescued from a shipwreck.
Halle Bailey is captivating as Ariel, her smile always on the verge of a laugh and her powerful voice perfect for the part, while Jonah-Hauer-King was a great fit as the handsome, rugged prince Eric. For other 50-somethings out there, he actually resembles a young Patrick Duffy, who, coincidentally starred in Man From Atlntis in the Seventies. Google it.
Melissa McCarthy is suitably sinister as the sea witch, Javier Barden regal and powerful as Ariel’s father King Triton and Art Malik impressive as Eric’s confidante Sir Grimsby.
I’ve mentioned in my last two reviews (Guardians of the Galaxy 3 and Spider-man: Across the Spiderverse) how I am starting to totally accept CGI characters, and they play a big part here too, with Awkwafina giving real life to seabird Scuttle and Dave’s Diggs giving his vocal skills to King Titon’s assistant, a crab named Sebastian.
The whole film was wonderful entertainment for all ages, and like all good fairytales, gave us the happy ending we craved.
Rating: 8/10
By Jeremy Ransome