Thank God the creators of yet another Disney product smelling like pure commerce found actress Halle Bailey. Murder and fire was screamed beforehand. A mermaid of color? Unacceptable, according to many fans who apparently regard the 1989 cartoon as a museum piece of religious value.
Even they have to admit that Bailey was more than an inspired choice. Her facial expressions alone make that often unsightly computer ocean a magical place. And not only does her version of the beloved song Part Of Your World for a layer of goosebumps, she also impresses as an actress by finding the right balance between innocence, curiosity and fighting spirit. Without suddenly becoming outspokenly feminist. Compared to Bailey’s Ariel, the drawn mermaid is only a superficial tuttebel.
A smirking Melissa McCarthy (Bridesmaids) as villain Ursula also deserves kudos. If only this could be said about the rest of the cast as well. Oscar winner Javier Bardem (Skyfall, No Country For Old Men) is at a loss as Ariel’s petulant daddy Triton. On the other hand: which actor, with a crown on his head and a trident in his hand, just above sea level, could credibly deliver an emotional monologue about ‘giving away’ your daughter to the big bad outside world?