A young mermaid makes a deal with a sea witch to trade her beautiful voice for human legs so she can discover the world above water and impress a prince.
With the anticipation of Disney’s newest production of Ariel (Halle Bailey) again being exposed to the wrath of humanity, I wondered just how much director Rob Marshall could seize from under the sea to make the delightful storyline still worthy of its elemental magic. After only a few moments of trauma on the high seas in the first few scenes, it is understood that the blend of old and new was necessary and pivotal in retelling the story of life on the sea versus life beneath the sea. What began as a group of rowdy seamen tending to the daily risks of living on the water turned into a remarkable story of survival on several different levels.
As the original storyline plays out, Prince Eric (Jonah Hauer-King) is living an unfulfilled life and is at his wit’s end while trying to find more meaning beyond what is expected from those within his reign, which he has focused on most of his life. At the same time, Ariel, who is the youngest daughter of King Triton (Javier Bardem), is feeling out of place as she doesn’t appear to have the same interests as her sisters and is more than a little curious about the life that exists above the waters. Having been told repeatedly by her father that humans are cruel and inhumane is just enough for Ariel to risk it all to find out why they have been given such a bad reputation.
What comes into play next is the route both Ariel and Prince Eric must take to realize that their lives are remarkably different for a good reason. When Eric’s boat capsizes amid an awful storm, Ariel has a panoramic view of the destruction and is the only one who can save Eric after he is tossed overboard. When she sings him back to life on the shore, she must get away before his rescuers discover her. When she goes back down under the sea, she cannot unsee the possibility of life with humans, and once Eric’s life is restored, he cannot unhear the melodic voice attached to the woman who saved him. While Eric fights tooth and nail to find the woman who saved him, Ariel fights to hide that she has betrayed her father. When King Triton suspects that she has fallen in love, he inflicts wrath upon her, and in the end, she is forced to decide to give up her mermaid life to be with the man she loves, and he is forced to give up the life he knows to have her by her side. In the end, they both bring greater perspectives on love and sacrifices that must be made to have the best life possible.
Disney, on its own merit, can always depend on the magic of music to save the day; however, there appeared to be a substantial risk involved in recasting Ariel as an African-American female. This female, who just so happened to be a trendy and successful recording artist, was Halle Bailey, who, along with her sister Chloe Bailey are young proteges of Beyonce Knowles. After much ado about casting, it appears that the universal language of music and the heart of Ariel have met head-on, and the magical allure of Halle’s voice, along with her mermaid-like mannerisms, has proven to be a force to be reckoned with in every song and circumstance presented in the film. Along with the elements that made this film a massive success with its original version, the reimagined versions of Ursula (Melissa McCarthy), Flounder (Jacob Tremblay), and Sebastian (Daveed Diggs) all contribute to this beloved story using humor, wit, and wisdom and fortitude to convey values that will never be lost in translation. Ultimately, this magical story of human nature and survival of the fittest has proven once again to be an endearing and heartwarming classic for all ages to enjoy!
In Theaters Friday, May 26th
