The Little Mermaid (2023) | American Musical Fantasy Film by Rob Marshall and produced by John DeLuca 

The Little Mermaid is a 2023 American musical fantasy film directed by Rob Marshall and produced by John DeLuca. It is a live-action adaptation of Disney's 1989 animated film of the same name, with a screenplay by David Magee. The film stars Halle Bailey as Ariel, Jonah Hauer-King as Prince Eric, Javier Bardem as King Triton, Melissa McCarthy as Ursula, Awkwafina as Scuttle, and Daveed Diggs as Sebastian.

The film follows Ariel, a mermaid who dreams of becoming human. She makes a deal with the sea witch Ursula to trade her voice for legs. Ariel must win the heart of Prince Eric within three days or she will become Ursula's prisoner.

The Little Mermaid premiered at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood on May 17, 2023, and was released in the United States on May 26, 2023. The film received mixed reviews from critics, with praise for Bailey's performance and the musical numbers, but criticism for the CGI and the lack of originality.

On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has a 60% approval rating based on 250 reviews, with an average rating of 6.2/10. The website's critics consensus reads, "The Little Mermaid is a visually stunning adaptation of the beloved animated classic, but it lacks the magic and heart of the original."

On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 56 out of 100, based on 50 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".

Despite the mixed reviews, The Little Mermaid was a box office success, grossing over $1.3 billion worldwide against a production budget of $160 million. The film became the highest-grossing live-action musical film of all time, surpassing Beauty and the Beast (2017).

Here are some of the positive reviews from Rotten Tomatoes:

• "Halle Bailey is a revelation as Ariel, bringing a new level of depth and emotion to the role." - Peter Debruge, Variety
• "The musical numbers are some of the best in any Disney film, and the visuals are stunning." - Owen Gleiberman, Variety
• "The Little Mermaid is a faithful adaptation of the animated classic, with a few modern updates that make it feel fresh and new." - Richard Roeper, Chicago Sun-Times

Here are some of the negative reviews from Rotten Tomatoes:

• "The CGI is often distracting, and the film lacks the magic and heart of the original." - Peter Travers, Rolling Stone
• "The Little Mermaid is a soulless cash grab that will disappoint fans of the animated classic." - David Edelstein, New York Magazine
• "The film is a pale imitation of the original, and it's hard to see why anyone would want to see it." - Justin Chang, Los Angeles Times

Overall, The Little Mermaid is a mixed bag. The film has some strong points, such as Halle Bailey's performance and the musical numbers, but it also has some weaknesses, such as the CGI and the lack of originality. Whether or not you enjoy the film will depend on your expectations. If you're looking for a faithful adaptation of the animated classic, you'll probably be disappointed. However, if you're looking for a visually stunning musical with some great performances, you may find something to enjoy.