Disney’s live-action The Little Mermaid delivers a familiar story with a fresh perspective. Does this reimagined classic bring depth to the surface, or should it have remained “under the sea?” Is the new Little Mermaid movie kid-friendly? I’m breaking down all of the thematic elements, including its PG rating, in myThe Little MermaidParents Guide and Movie Review. Here’s what parents need to know to help YOU decide if it’s appropriate for kids. As always, no spoilers!
The Little Mermaid Parents Guide + Review
It’s a new day, and another Disney live-action remake is brought to the surface. This time the stakes are higher than ever as Halle Bailey has been scrutinized since it was announced she was cast as Ariel. I can only imagine the pressure she felt to ultimately prove her worth of this iconic role.
Halle delivers a flawless performance as Ariel. She truly embodies the character and brings so much depth and feeling to this timeless princess.
Disney live-action films are often criticized for being a carbon copy of its animated predecessor. Umm hello, Pinocchio. When this happens, nothing new is brought to the story. I find these reimagined movies work much better when they are modernized and bring something fresh. Aladdin is a great example of understanding the assignment.
How is the Live-Action The Little Mermaid Different from the Animated Movie?
The Little Mermaid starts off with the familiar story we all know and love, but implements subtle changes along the way. For starters, the characters have more dimension, primarily Prince Eric (Jonah Hauer-King). Eric is given a backstory, and has more personality.
Ariel and Eric’s relationship is more believable as friendship is at the focus. We literally can see the two of them falling in love with one another, rather than immediately being lovestruck.
While Ariel feels trapped under the sea, Eric feels trapped within the castle. Although vastly different, they both lead similar lives and are able to relate to one another.
The characters in the live-action The Little Mermaid are incredibly diverse. And while I’m a huge advocate for diversity, there was something that made me perplexed. King Triton (Javier Bardem) has 7 daughters from the 7 seas. Each of his daughters ethnicity coincides to the sea she represents. Now while the idea of this seems pleasing, logically I was scratching my head. Either King Triton adopted these daughters, or he is quite the ladies man.
Pushing that aside, onscreen representation is always incredibly important, as is interracial relationships. The chemistry between Halle and Jonah is unmatched, specifically in the “Kiss the Girl,” scene. It’s just pure magic. You’ll be on the edge of your seat saying, “just kiss the girl, already!”
The Visuals and Soundtrack
How does under the sea look in CGI? Well, okay for the most part. Sebastian’s (Daveed Diggs) “Under the Sea” song is a fun time and one of the standout scenes in the movie. Ursula (Melissa McCarthy) looks pretty amazing as the wicked sea witch. But Flounder (Jacob Tremblay)? Oh my goodness, poor Flounder. Ariel’s squishable little sidekick looks seriously ill. The voice acting was great, but his appearance was very lackluster.
The cinematography overall depicts as a combination of live-action and animation. Under the sea looks much more animated than CGI live-action.
Aside from your favorites from the animated film, Lin Manuel Miranda introduces us to three new songs in The Little Mermaid. Eric gets his own song this go around, and it only adds to the dimension of his character. The other two are okay, but nothing to write home about.
With that being said, Halle singing “Part of Your World” is guaranteed to give you chills. That girl has some serious pipes and she doesn’t hold anything back. Another phenomenal performance is led by Melissa McCarthy’s Poor Unfortunate Souls — it’s deviously wicked.
Is The Little Mermaid Kid-Friendly? Here’s Your Parents Guide:
Everything is more real and intense in live-action films. Does this make the new Little Mermaid movie too scary for kids? Here’s what parents need to know before watching The Little Mermaid with their children.
The Little Mermaid has an MPA rating of PG for action/peril and some scary images. It has a runtime of 2 hours 15 minutes…almost one whole hour longer than the 1989 animated classic. Let’s break down the thematic elements and take a closer look.
Language
Disney gave us a true family friendly film in the language department with no profanity whatsoever. There were a few insult words like: brat, idiot, stupid, and fool.
Violence
The violence in The Little Mermaid is very much on par to the OG movie. Viewers can expect to see a shipwreck, fire, blowing up objects, and moments of peril. However, keep in mind this is a live-action film, and therefore everything is much more intense and realistic. There’s a big difference between animated violence and live-action. Ursula’s transformation from human to sea witch is quite terrifying.
Mature Content
Death is discussed in The Little Mermaid. There is flirting and one kiss between characters. Overall, the content is appropriate for all ages.
What is the Age Recommendation for The Little Mermaid?
Although the content is appropriate for all ages, I don’t necessarily seeing this readaptation holding the attention span of little ones. The Little Mermaid is 2 hours 15 minutes in duration — that is entirely too long, and honestly, it was felt. Taking the above into consideration,I would recommend The Little Mermaid for ages 6 and up. However, if you feel your little ones might get antsy sitting for over 2 hours in a theater, you might want to wait for the convenience of Disney+.
Is there an end-credit scene in The Little Mermaid?
There is no post credit scenes in the live-action The Little Mermaid. You can scuttle your butt right out of the theater. Sorry, I had to.
Overall Thoughts
Disney’s live-action The Little Mermaid is a beautiful adaptation of a beloved classic. Halle Bailey blows her FINtastic performance out of the water. Packed with loads of nostalgia, yet delivers a fresh perspective and a powerful message on uniting together. The Little Mermaid is a true celebration of love, family, and diversity. Life is the bubbles in this reimagined film that invites us all to be part of their world.
The Little Mermaid Synopsis
The youngest of King Triton’s daughters, Ariel is a beautiful and spirited young mermaid with a thirst for adventure. Longing to find out more about the world beyond the sea, Ariel visits the surface and falls for the dashing Prince Eric. Following her heart, she makes a deal with the evil sea witch, Ursula, to experience life on land.
I HOPE YOU FOUND THIS THE LITTLE MERMAID PARENTS GUIDE AND MOVIE REVIEW HELPFUL FOR YOUR FAMILY. THE LITTLE MERMAID IS NOW SWIMMING IN THEATERS!
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