BE A PART OF HER WORLD.

After saving a human prince (Jonah Hauer-King) from a shipwreck, mermaid princess Ariel (Halle Bailey) wants to be part of his world. An ambitious remake of the 1989 Disney animated film, with many attractive ingredients. Whenever the familiar songs from the original appear, Rob Marshall puts on great Broadway-style performances. The film has appealing, convincing underwater scenes, and Melissa McCarthy is a terrifically evil Ursula; the final showdown with her may be a little intense to younger audiences. Downsides include weaker new songs, a protracted running time and a prince who lacks charisma.

2023-U.S. 135 min. Color. Widescreen. Directed by Rob Marshall. Screenplay: David Magee. Cinematography: Dion Beebe. Music: Alan Menken. Costume Design: Colleen Atwood. Cast: Halle Bailey (Ariel), Jonah Hauer-King (Eric), Javier Bardem (Triton), Melissa McCarthy (Ursula), Norma Dumezweni, Art Malik. Voices of Daveed Diggs, Awkwafina, Jacob Tremblay. 

Trivia: Lin-Manuel Miranda wrote the lyrics for the new songs. Jodi Benson, the voice of Ariel in the original, has a cameo as a market vendor. Harry Styles was considered for the part of the prince.