The Little Mermaid

Voices of: Jodi Benson, Christopher Daniel Barnes, Pat Carroll, Paddi Edwards, Samuel E. Wright, Buddy Hackett, Jason Marin, Kenneth Mars
Directed by: Ron Clements, John Musker
Rating: G
Genre: Animation, Family
1989

Times Seen:
Tim: 4

Summary: Ariel (Jodi Benson) dreams of leaving the ocean to experience life as a human.

Review:

Tim: Disney's The Little Mermaid is a landmark film and still remains one of the greatest animated movies of all time. It feels like this movie kicked off an incredible run for Disney Animation, which also included Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, and The Lion King. I guess you have to mention The Rescuers Down Under, which was decent. I remember this period, seeing this movie when I was about 7 years old. Going to Disney movies became a must-see, as every film they were churning out was an instant classic. This run ended with Pocahontas, a film that even at 12 years old, I recognized wasn't very good.

It's hard for me to describe how much I love this movie. It's just such an important part of my childhood. I'm probably underestimating the number of times I've seen this movie (I always want to be conservative). It's an incredible film- the characters are wonderful, it delivers a powerful message, and the songs are some of the best of all time. This is a movie where everything just comes together and results in an entertaining, wonderful viewing experience. This is a fantastic movie.

It's pretty easy (and somewhat warranted) for the story to receive criticism by today's standards. A young girl gives up what makes her special for a man. I agree that's not the ideal message for younger viewers, but I think it's also too simplistic. This is a story about a young girl who doesn't feel like she belongs in the world she lives in and dreams about escaping into a different world, filled with different people. That is incredibly relatable to many young people. It's a story about those who care for that young girl, who sacrifice to help her. It's a story about a community as much as anything. There's at least some hint that you shouldn't give up too much of yourself (or enter into Luciferian bargains with sea witches) for someone else, although this message is lost because it all works out in the end. Still, there's a lot to consider in this meaty story.

The characters are so iconic. Ariel is an incredible, memorable character. You care about her throughout the film. Her father Triton is memorable. Ursula is one of the scarier, more memorable Disney villains. Sebastian steals the whole show, and Flounder is the friend everyone wishes they had. Eric is cool, I guess. As a whole, these are such terrific characters. I think about the difference between these characters and many of the weaker animated films that come out these days, filled with characters you can barely remember by the time the credits roll.

In any conversation about The Little Mermaid, you have to focus on the music. This features some of the best music in any Disney animated film. "Part of Your World" is a fantastic number that conveys a lot of emotion and helps us to understand the character of Ariel. "Under the Sea" is the most showstopping number and it's unforgettable with the colors and the whole vibe. It's my favorite scene in the film. "Kiss the Girl" is a pretty fantastic sequence as well. "Under the Sea" won the Academy Award for Best Original Song (beating "Kiss the Girl") and the film's soundtrack won Best Original Score. That's impressive and a testament to the music in this film.

The Little Mermaid is an incredible movie and remains one of the all-time great animated films. I watched this movie recently, 30 years after its initial release and it holds up just as well today. It's a movie I love and reminds me of my childhood.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 8.5



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, The Lion King