A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this movie.
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Educational Value
very little
Young viewers will learn about Hans Christian Andersen's Little Mermaid story (and how it isn't Disney's story but a fairy tale that has been retold many times). But there's also an inaccurate portrayal of racial segregation in Mississippi during the early 20th century.
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Positive Messages
a lot
Positive messages about teamwork and standing up for others. Promotes the idea of believing in your powers/gifts and defending others against danger and evil.
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Positive Role Models
some
Cam is a devoted, loving uncle; Elle is a curious, kind child. Elizabeth and a couple of the other circus acts are courageous enough to take a stand against Locke.
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Violence & Scariness
some
One presumed death. Locke's henchman threatens a performer with his whip. In a big fight, people use their supernatural abilities to injure others. Two men fight with their fists and whips. A man is tied to a tree. Another man is pushed and plunges into the sea. The mermaid nearly dies when she transforms but isn't near the water to swim. A little girl's life also seems at stake. Sorcery involves the stealing of a soul. A couple of creepy, potentially disturbing characters.
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Sex, Romance & Nudity
very little
Longing looks and a couple of quick kisses.
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Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that The Little Mermaid is a loose, live-action interpretation of Hans Christian Andersen's classic fairy tale that's set in early 20th-century Mississippi and will likely appeal to kids who enjoy all things mermaid. There's some action violence, including a high-stakes pursuit, a magical battle between two characters with supernatural abilities, a fistfight, a man who uses a whip to injure others, and a presumed death. Two circus-related characters are creepy/potentially disturbing, and at one point it seems like both a little girl and a mermaid may die from illness. But (spoiler alert!) unlike the original Andersen story, all ends well here. Romance is limited to longing looks and a couple of quick kisses, and there's no swearing or substance use. The movie has an African American supporting character, but at no point is the Jim Crow segregation of the era adhered to or signaled, creating a sanitized view of Southern life at the time. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails.
What's the Story?
In this take on THE LITTLE MERMAID, a grandmother (Shirley MacLaine) tells her granddaughters an abbreviated version of Hans Christian Andersen's classic mermaid tale, following it up with a "true mermaid story" of her own, which proceeds to unfold on-screen. In the early 20th century, Cam Harrison (William Moseley), an English reporter living in the U.S. with his sickly young niece, Elle (Loreto Peralta), is assigned to travel to Mississippi and research a circus act's "healing waters." Cam and Elle, who loves mermaids, fairies, and other creatures, attend the circus, where mysterious ringmaster Locke (Armando Gutierrez) announces the main event: the "living mermaid of the Mississippi." Cam interviews local residents who've been temporarily cured of ailments and illnesses by the healing waters. Cam and Elle meet the "mermaid," Elizabeth (Poppy Drayton), who tells Elle that where she comes from, there's a legend of a human girl born with the heart of a mermaid. As Cam and Elle get closer to Elizabeth, it's clear that Elizabeth really is a mermaid -- and that the ringmaster is actually a wizard who can control her.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about whether there are any role models in The Little Mermaid. If so, what character strengths do you think they display?
Talk about the differences between this version of The Little Mermaid and other versions, like Disney's. How does this one compare?
What do you think about the circus/carnival setting? Why are circus folks so interesting to viewers/readers?
How accurately do you think the movie portrays its historical setting? Is it OK to water down uncomfortable realities in movies for kids and families?
Movie Details
- In theaters: August 17, 2018
- On DVD or streaming: November 20, 2018
- Cast: William Moseley, Poppy Drayton, Shirley MacLaine
- Director: Blake Harris
- Inclusion Information: Female actors
- Studio: Freestyle Releasing
- Genre: Family and Kids
- Topics: Magic and Fantasy, Princesses, Fairies, Mermaids, and More, Fairy Tales, Friendship
- Run time: 85 minutes
- MPAA rating: PG
- MPAA explanation: action
- Last updated: October 8, 2022
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