Halle Bailey Enchants In New Disney Film

It has been almost 34 years since Disney’s animated storytelling of The Little Mermaid first captured the hearts of moviegoers – and the new live-action version (arriving only in theaters on May 26) is sure to make a splash with audiences all over again.

First of all, Halle Bailey as Ariel is absolutely superb. From the moment she sings “Part of Your World” early on in the film, you are immediately hooked by her enchanting vocals. Some of Bailey’s best acting in the film comes when she is not even saying a word, through her strong facial expressions alone, making the moviegoer feel like they really understand Ariel’s passionate desire for something more.

Regardless if you were aware of Bailey’s music background before The Little Mermaid of not, she brings a gentleness and innocence to her performance, but also a tenacity within her voice that no other previous live-action Disney film has been able to portray to this level. Plus, with the surprise ways this new film honors the original 1989 animated version, 2023’s The Little Mermaid does not feel like it is trying to be exactly like its predecessor, but rather respects the core of the beloved story while being its own modern vision.

Melissa McCarthy taking on one of the most iconic Disney villains is no easy feat, but she embodies Ursula with the perfect mix of being sinister yet often humorous. Coming from such a popular comedy background, McCarthy really does add to the “Poor Unfortunate Souls” character in a way that only McCarthy could. There are even nostalgic moments in the new film, where McCarthy says a witty Ursula line and it sounds near exact to the way Pat Carroll would say it, the late actress who voiced Ursula in the animated film.

Jonah Hauer-King is also a pleasant addition to this live-action tale, bringing Prince Eric to life on the big screen. The actor not only brings a pleasant musical voice to his “Wild Unchartered Waters” solo, but he performs throughout the film with a vulnerability, where moviegoers cannot help but root for their happy ending.

Javier Bardem brings a necessary intensity to Ariel’s father King Triton, while Awkwafina’s performance as the voice of the nosy seagull Scuttle by far lands her the most laughs throughout The Little Mermaid. That being said, Daveed Diggs as Sebastian the crab is the most consistent comic relief with his talented vocals, often seen in the company of Ariel’s sidekick Flounder, voiced by Jacob Tremblay with his perfectly cast, boyish voice (even if the CGI of a live-action fish is a bit tough to fully embrace beyond the much thicker animated version that remains cemented in many of our Disney-thinking minds over the past three decades).

With the music soundtrack composed by longtime trailblazers Alan Menken and Lin-Manuel Miranda, songs like “Kiss the Girl” with its slightly updated lyrics and “Under the Sea” performed by Miranda’s longtime Hamilton pal Diggs are two of the top crowd-pleasing songs in this live-action take. Circling back to “Part of Your World” performed by Bailey – her rendition of this classic Disney song will undoubtedly be the standout song that fans will remember and gleefully sing-along to for many years to come.

From the beautifully imaginative eye of director Rob Marshall, sure – The Little Mermaid has its highs-and-lows, but overall, it is the most captivating live-action Disney film yet and is a must-see up on the big screen to fully appreciate this colorful cinematic world in all of its glory.