On May 26, Disney’s most significant release of the year, the live-action The Little Mermaid, is set to swim into theatres. Millions of fans worldwide are counting down the days until they can finally see Halle Bailey’s performance as Princess Ariel. Last night, an elite group of fans, critics, and celebrities were invited to the movie’s premiere. Now, the public is finally hearing the first reviews of the new Disney film.
The Reviews for ‘The Little Mermaid’ Are Here
After years of anticipation, Disney’s The Little Mermaid remake is finally here. The film, directed by Rob Marshall, stars newcomer Halle Bailey as Ariel and Melissa McCarthy as the evil sea witch, Ursula. Since its announcement, the film has been shrouded in a massive amount of controversy and excitement, and now fans of the original film are asking: does it live up to the hype?
According to reviews of those attending the film, the live-action “The Little Mermaid” is stunningly beautiful and captures the magic of the original film. The cinematography and visual effects are said to be breathtaking, with the underwater scenes being particularly impressive.
But it’s not just the visuals that are getting praise. The film’s cast, led by Bailey, also received high marks. Bailey’s performance as Ariel is said to be pitch-perfect, with her vocal range and acting chops wowing viewers. Meanwhile, McCarthy’s take on Ursula is said to be delightfully sinister, with her ability to capture the dark humor of the character shining through. Another stand-out is Daveed Diggs, who plays Sebastian the crab.
Fans Are Calling ‘The Little Mermaid’ the Best Live-Action Yet
.@HalleBailey was born to play Ariel. Her siren vocals alongside her gentle and confident charisma aid for a knockout performance in #TheLittleMermaid. She is the embodiment of a Disney princess and brown skinned girls will dare to dream bigger because of her portrayal. ?? pic.twitter.com/LnbBdhTHSM
— ?????? ?????? (@WrittenByTerry) May 9, 2023
Some who attended the premier have shared their thoughts on the movie on Twitter. One view is even claiming that this is “The best live-action remake by a mile.”
I was blown away by #TheLittleMermaid. Some visual issues aside, it’s the most romantic and, dare I say, magical Disney has been in years. The best live-action remake by a mile. Daveed Diggs is the MVP. Halle Bailey is a superstar, and her Part of Your World is a showstopper. pic.twitter.com/496HuuTfcd
— Brandon Lewis (@blewis1103) May 9, 2023
The consensus from fans is that Halle Bailey is the perfect Ariel. One fan even said there was mid-movie applause after Bailey’s rendition of “Part of Your World.”
My favorite part of #TheLittleMermaid was when the audience at my screening spontaneously broke out into applause after Halle Bailey’s rendition of “Part of Your World” and I hope you all have that experience pic.twitter.com/sDdMiYw6Lp
— Zoë Rose Bryant (@ZoeRoseBryant) May 9, 2023
This positive reception is exactly what Disney needed to receive in order to push this film to box office success.