First Reviews for ‘The Little Mermaid’ Are Not What We Expected
We’re days away from The Little Mermaid landing in theaters on May 26th, and the reviews have started creeping in.
Photo: Disney
The Little Mermaid marks Disney’s newest live-action remake of a classic animated film, following recreations such as The Jungle Book, The Lion King, Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, Pinocchio, and more. Not every live-action iteration has received positive reviews and The Little Mermaid may be falling into that camp as well.
Initial Little Mermaid Reviews
Disney just shared a series of new posters amid the news trickling in about initial reviews, so we’re sharing the posters below along with some of the new reviews!
Photo: Disney
On Rotten Tomatoes, out of 93 current reviews, The Little Mermaid currently has a 70% rating. Note that this is not final — more reviews will be published as the release date gets closer.
Photo: Rotten Tomatoes
According to many of the reviews, Halley Bailey shines as Ariel. Moira MacDonald, writing for the Seattle Times, said, “Bailey gives a glowing performance of effortless starshine; her singing voice has both sweetness and power, and her smile is the sort on which dreams dance.”
Photo: Disney
Writing for Empire Magazine, Helen O’Hara said, “Another ‘live-action’ remake that’s darker and less compelling than the animated original, but it’s saved by Bailey’s charming performance, McCarthy’s sass and the story’s own eternal magic.”
Photo: Disney
Alternatively, in the San Francisco Chronicle, Carla Meyer wrote, “‘The Little Mermaid’ origin story lacks room for this more feminist take. It simply is not deep enough.”
Aisha Harris for NPR wrote, “My nostalgia for the 1989 Little Mermaid, a movie I can quote by heart, has probably never been stronger than it is now. Neither has my wearied sense of déjà vu.”
Photo: Disney
We’ll be watching closely as more reviews pour in, and remember that you don’t have to agree with any of these critics!
Photo: Disney
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