rating:
(out of
4 stars)United States; 1989
Directed by Ron Clements & John Musker; produced by Howard Ashman, John Musker; written by Ron Clements, John Musker
Starring (the voices of) Rene Auberjonois, Christopher Daniel Barnes, Jodi Benson, Pat Carroll, Paddi Edwards, Buddy Hackett
Below you will find a temporary review for this film. The real (better, more complete) review will be online very soon.
Disney's happy version of Hans Christian Andersen's 'The Little Mermaid' is
a relieve after the somewhat disappointing 'The Black Cauldron' and 'Oliver
& Company' ('The Great Mouse Detective', between those two, has its
moments). It feels like a new start that continues with great animated
classics like 'Beauty and the Beast', 'Aladdin' and 'The Lion King'.
In this version we follow the mermaid princess Ariel (Jodi Benson, both
talking and singing) as she falls in love with a human prince named Eric
(Christopher Daniel Barnes). Her father, King Triton (Kenneth Mars), hates
humans and orders his loyal servant Sebastian (Samuel E. Wright) to keep an
eye on her. After King Triton has destroyed Ariel's cave with artifacts from
the human world she makes a deal with Sea Witch Ursula (Pat Carroll). She
gets a pair of legs, the witch gets Ariel's voice; exactly the thing that
made Prince Eric fall in love with her. Of course the witch has some greater
plans with both Ariel and King Triton.
This story is told in a grant way with musical numbers that belong to the
best Disney songs ever produced. Oscar-winner "Under the Sea",
Oscar-nominated "Kiss the Girl" and "Part of Your World" belong to the best
remembered songs belonging to a film. The comedy here is quite good as well,
especially the characters Flounder (Jason Marin) and Scruttle (Buddy
Hackett), a fish and a seagull, bring constant smiles to your face. Although
the ending is rushed and a little less good than the things we have seen
earlier it does not spoil anything. This loving movie with its loving
animation is one of the most enjoyable Disney films I have seen.