The Little Mermaid is a title I chose to review because of how musical it is at its core. Even the more reluctant characters, like Sebastian the crabby, crabby crab, would "rather be writing symphonies". (His words, not mine.)
I know I viewed this film many time as a child, but could barely remember the events of it other than the major plot points, of course. I specifically remember that most males my age when I was a kid weren't interested in it, and it didn't help that the movie released when I was one, eight years prior to Hercules release, the feature we reviewed in our first installment of Disney As Adults.
In The Little Mermaid, we see a young mermaid heroine shirk her responsibilities as the seventh singing daughter of King Triton (yeah, really) so that she can adventure around throughout the oceans in places she shouldn't like ship wrecks and similar places of interest.
Ariel's father has warned her time and again never to breach to the surface, so naturally it is our protagonist's ultimate heart's desire and the direction of this film's plot.
A formidable villain is served up in the form of Ursula, the sea witch. She's a pretty bad lady, but she could definitely use a little body positivity.
Naturally, it was 1989 so it would be impossible for an overweight villain to go the entire film without being characterized for their size or shape. Despite this, Ursula is a Disney villain worth facing, as she torments Ariel and proves just how dangerous she can be throughout the film.
The first song in the film,
Part of That World is likely to nostalgically take you back to your first viewing, if you've ever seen the movie before. Upon hearing it, I recognized that that is one of the parts of the movie I was most familiar with. It's one of those songs you don't forget.
It wouldn't be a Disney film if Ariel didn't fall in love with the first man she met, of course. Well, not met, but at least laid eyes on. Scuttle the Seagull doesn't see it.
In comparison to the last film we reviewed,
Hercules, The Little Mermaid is wholesome through and through,
Hercules served up it's humor by mixing in smarter, witter jokes.
The Little Mermaid is more concentrated on Ariel's journey. The colorful fish and animals allow for humor and fun to be interjected while retaining a level of purity that the Disney brand is known for.
The popular number
Under the Sea is one to sing and dance to if you're watching alone. Honestly, it's kind of hard not to start jamming, it's a pretty rad song delivered by the musical crab. Though, this song made me realize that I never really paid attention to the lyrics before and was really just jamming out to the beat. There's a good portion in which Sebastian details how their fish brothers and sisters are prepared for eating in the surface world.
Looking back, it's probably a good thing that this much flew under the radar for me and likely any other kid listening to the song because most of the characters in the movie are, in fact, sea life.That could be Flounder you're talking about, crab.
Although, taking a moment to consider Sebastian's claims from the view of someone living "up there" (particularly in 2019) it's certainly hard to argue with the crab. However, kids will probably find this as a throwaway line and not be plunged into depression from it.
Ursula's eels are pretty creepy. Like every Disney Villain, she wouldn't be anything without her henchmen. Slithering to deliver Ariel to their master, these demons are partially responsible for the mermaid losing her voice and fins, even if Ariel saw it as a win for getting her on land.
I mean, honestly? Do they look trustworthy? Maybe spending your entire life singing with six sisters under the sea is fuel for naivite.
Ursula sings an entire song about how she tricks people into giving her their
Poor Unfortunate Souls but Ariel really can't take a hint. Also, I should point out that at least an entire verse of the song is about how men on land don't like women who talk too much. It's to an end, sure, but it's far too heavy handed and could have gone with simply a single line or two.
Yeah, the whole thing is pretty much like that - pretty eye roll inducing and definitely distracting from the movie, at least for me as an adult. Kids probably find it funny, but many parents in 2019 might be uncomfortable with the messages that are portrayed at times in this movie, despite it featuring a female lead.
Shortly after reaching land, Sebastian's nightmares come true, as he winds up face to face with a platter of what looks to be his family members, served to eat. It's a horrifying scene for Sebastian to endure - but it's admittedly quite funny (if you don't mind the on-the-nose french Chef, of course). It's worth weathering the scene to see the
Tom and Jerry like mess the two cause in the kitchen, which is rather humorful.
Arguably the height of Sebastian's time in the film is his song
Kiss the Girl, which he performs, crooning to the human male Eric in hopes to literally get him to kiss the girl, delivering the smooch of true love to Ariel which is what she needs to avoid Usula's curse.
It is rather off for his character, who has wanted her to return to King Triton the entire film, to now help woo the man of her dreams to essentially allow her on land forever. But I guess when you think about it, he probably doesn't want her to be cursed forever either. What did the poor unfortunate souls look like again?
Oh yeah. Those horrifying nightmare products. He probably didn't want her to wind up as one of those either, so I guess it would make sense that he would help. Also, maybe he just wanted an excuse to make music again.
The climax of the film isn't one I will spoil here, but I found it to be painfully predictable. While the music was fun throughout the movie and the characters and animals delivered
some laughs, the story suffered from a weak plot and one-dimensional characters.
The Little Mermaid will always be a Disney classic, but today it is probably one that's better off viewed as a child and kept that way. Some of the songs are great, while paying attention to the lyrics brings others down. The main characters naivete is at times unbelievable and while Ursula is a powerful witch, her dialogue can be downright cringe-worthy. This is a good one if you're looking for a singalong or to captivate young ones, but find yourself something with a little more substance this holiday season.
Ariel, the fun-loving and mischievous mermaid, is enchanted with all things human. Disregarding her father's order to stay away from the world above the sea, she swims to the surface and, in a raging storm, rescues the prince of her dreams. Determined to be a human, she strikes a bargain with the devious sea witch Ursula and trades her fins and her beautiful voice for legs. With her best friend, the adorable and chatty Flounder, and her reluctant chaperone Sebastian, the hilarious, reggae-singing Caribbean crab, at her side, Ariel must with the prince's love and save her father's kingdom - all in a heart-pounding race against time.
The Little Mermaid is currently streaming on Disney+.