Today, The Little Mermaid hits our screens, and while we will withhold judgement until we’ve actually seen the movie, we do know that we’ll be amongst those first in line for tickets. Why? Because at the very least, this has the bones of the classic fairy tale to work within. And, well, what under-10-year-old doesn’t love a mermaid?
To recap, The Little Mermaid is based on the classic tale by Hans Christian Andersen, first published in 1837, and tells the tale of Ariel, a mermaid who longs to be part of the human world; saves and then falls in love with a shipwrecked prince; gets duped by an evil sea witch who turns her into a human for a brief time in exchange for her voice, which Ariel can only have back if she entices the prince to falls in love with her back. The sea witch – Ursula – of course, has no scruples about being true to her word or about playing dirty. The original tale has, shall we say, a rather different – somewhat less happily ever after – conclusion than the 1989 Disney rendition, upon which this (also Disney) re-make is based.
This new film, which is now in the long line of Disney live-action remakes, stars Halle Bailey in the role Ariel. The actress has, in the process, had to fight off the predictably depressing but vocal slew of criticism that she is neither a redhead, nor white, as the character was drawn in the 1989 cartoon (oh-so grittily realistic) iteration. However, the songs, or at least some of them, have been written by Lin-Manuel Miranda, who seems quite rightly to be Disney’s go-to for musicals now, having penned the hits for Moana and those for Encanto (the best thing about the film by far). Melissa McCarthy plays Ursula, the sea witch, which promises to be good casting. Yet despite all these many positive things, and the fact that Bailey has been highly acclaimed for her performance, the early reviews have, thus far, been mixed. (Have no doubt, in spite of this, we will not be deterred from our front row seats).
The central criticism is pegged around the question of whether endless re-makes have any integrity or whether they are merely cynical and lazy ways to make shedloads of profit at the box office. The children watching, of course, do not remember the originals, and for them, these will always be new stories. Equally, for some parents, the nostalgia is all part of the appeal. Others, meanwhile, argue that we should be telling new stories for a new generation.
The answer, perhaps, lies somewhere in between. Stories have, after all, always been recycled – see Pygmalion vs My Fair Lady; Pride & Prejudice vs Bridget Jones; Toni Morrison’s Desdemona vs Othello; and all the many, many retellings from Greek and Roman literature currently in vogue, to name but the few teetering around the tip of the iceberg. The difference, perhaps, lies in the straight remake as opposed to stories that have inspired retellings from fresh perspectives. There is also the nagging question of whether it would bother us so much if Disney wasn’t quite so intent on the remake to the exclusion of newer films destined for the big screen; a mix might be nice.
The classics are, though, the classics – and whether they’re worth remaking is often down to the execution rather than the original material. We will judge for ourselves this weekend – but one thing’s for sure: if you hear some enthusiastic if not quite tuneful singing along to Part Of Your World from down the aisle, that’ll be us – and for that, apols in advance. (Just thank your lucky stars that we don’t know the Lin-Manuel additions. Yet.)
Our Top Three Children’s Remakes
Matilda The Musical
Oh, the sheer joy of this film, which was based on the mega-hit stage show of the same name. The excellent framework of one of Roald Dahl’s very best stories is embellished here with the genius of Tim Minchin’s song writing, which makes this a film for the ages. Alisha Weir as the titular Matilda and Emma Thompson as the terrifying Miss Trunchbull give absolutely stellar performances.
The Railway Children Return
Originally released in 1970, The Railway Children – based on the 1907 story by E Nesbitt – tells the story of three children and their mother as they move to Yorkshire after their father is arrested on charges of being a spy. This reprise is amiable and sweet – and stars Jenny Agutter, who takes up her role as Bobby once more, but this time as a grandmother in the Second World War when a trio of evacuees arrive in the village.
The Parent Trap
Ok, we’re going back in time a bit with this one – but The Parent Trap (1998), which stars a prelapsarian Lindsay Lohan, is testament to the fact that remakes are nothing new in Hollywood. This one is a retelling of the original 1961 movie, which starred Hayley Mills. Charming and sweet, both still stand up for a good Sunday afternoon family viewing session.
By Nancy Alsop
May 2023
