THE LITTLE MERMAID Review Roundup: Here's How The Movie Is Currently Faring On Rotten Tomatoes

THE LITTLE MERMAID Review Roundup: Here's How The Movie Is Currently Faring On Rotten Tomatoes

The reviews are in for The Little Mermaid, and that means the movie has generated an all-important Rotten Tomatoes score! How is Disney's latest live-action effort faring? You can find out right here...

By JoshWilding - May 23, 2023 09:05 AM EST
Filed Under: Disney
Source: Toonado.com

Disney's live-action remakes have always had something of a tough time with critics. When they adhere too closely to the animated classics they're based on, it's a boring retread. However, if they attempt to reinvent the wheel, then those hoping to see the cartoon brought to life are left underwhelmed. 

Finding the right balance is something the House of Mouse has struggled with, but there are plenty of critical and commercial hits (such as Aladdin and The Jungle Book). 

The Little Mermaid has generated a lot of headlines, both for the decision to cast Halle Bailey as Ariel and for various changes which have been made to the songs and story. Now, though, the reviews are in, so what are critics saying about this latest live-action remake? Here's a roundup first shared over on Toonado.com!

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Between Bailey’s wide-eyed urchin and McCarthy’s over-the-top octo-hussy, the movie comes alive — not in some zombified form, like re-animated Disney debacles 'Dumbo' and 'Pinocchio,' but in a way that gives young audiences something magical to identify with, and fresh mermaid dreams to aspire to. - Variety

The live animation techniques are weakest on land, as when Ariel and Eric spend the evening on the lagoon. The inert quality of these scenes makes Ursula’s subsequent appearance to wreak havoc feel more welcome than it probably should. At last, I thought, a reminder of the more vibrant world our little mermaid left behind. - The Hollywood Reporter

McCarthy, as Ursula, offers her best tribute to the character’s original inspiration, the drag queen Divine. It’s a commendable performance that will make you wonder what might have been if Disney had the guts to feature an actual drag queen in the role. But it speaks to a wider issue here: Bailey aside, this Little Mermaid is yesterday’s fish served up dry and inedible. [2/5] - The Independence

The Little Mermaid doesn’t lack for talent or audience goodwill – director Rob Marshall did wonders with Mary Poppins Returns – but the siren call of supposedly surefire box office has sunk it nonetheless. There is dry land in sight though, and it’s the same outcrop on which the House of Mouse was built: the realisation that some stories – the most magical ones, in fact – are best told with animation. [2/5] - The Guardian

The Little Mermaid retains the heart and spirit of the animated classic, while adding new elements that offer a fresh perspective on familiar events. Thanks in large part to Bailey's outstanding performance, this adaptation has the potential to captivate a new generation of Disney fans. [4/5] - Digital Spy

[In] a clamshell, this is a fun, fresh adventure, one of Disney's best live-action remakes by a nautical mile. [4/5] - Total Film

The human world, it's a mess, but with Halle Bailey, life under the sea is better than anything Disney live-action has done in nearly a decade. [A-] - Entertainment Weekly

The CGI animation is stunningly done, technically speaking, but the heart and spirit of such beloved characters like Flounder is sadly compromised. Running at a reasonably tight two hours, The Little Mermaid adds enough spin, talent and new story to make the remake a more worthy endeavour than most – but the bulk of its success is down to Bailey who is surely flipping her fins to stardom. [4/5] - Metro

As with all these Disney remakes, the main question is: is it as good as the original? This time, the answer is very nearly, so dive in an enjoy the swim. [4/5] Radio Times

With these and many other reviews counted (102 in total as we write this), The Little Mermaid has a 70% Rotten Tomatoes score. If it can gain an additional 5% in the days ahead, it will soon be "Certified Fresh," though this is still a great start for the remake. 

The current Critics Consensus reads, "With Halle Bailey making a major splash in the title role, Disney's live-action Little Mermaid ranks among the studio's most enjoyable reimaginings."

Will you be heading to theaters this weekend to watch The Little Mermaid

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MyCoolYoung
MyCoolYoung - 5/23/2023, 9:07 AM
More MSheU amirite? You go woke you artichoke with your best blokes or whatever it says
Midnaslament
Midnaslament - 5/23/2023, 9:08 AM
here come the incels. let them flood.
Tonic24k
Tonic24k - 5/23/2023, 9:43 AM
@Midnaslament - Yep...saw the trailer during GotG 3 and it looked pretty good. I'm not the demographic so I won't see it in theaters. But it definitely looks like it has potential. There's no GOOD reason to hate on this film up to this point. All the reasons I've seen since its first look are either racist or because suddenly remaking a legacy animated film into live action is a problem. All nonsensical.

And at the end of the day, it's a kids movie and all the hate is coming from adults. Lol. It's pitiful.
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