'Incredibly Spotty': Reviews For Woke Disney's 'The Little Mermaid' Are Looking To Disappoint Fans In Major Ways

The initial reviews for Disney’s remake of ‘The Little Mermaid’ have come out, and to very few people's surprise, they’re not that positive. 

The film is still awaiting its global release, which is scheduled for May 26th, but according to Variety, the film’s director Rob Marshall held an exclusive screening inviting notable attendees such as Emily Blunt and Matt Damon, as well as others. 

Movie critic Courtney Howard was one of the guests in attendance, saying the movie had a very mixed bag. In a tweet she put out following the movie, she said: “Charming, but incredibly spotty.” Howard praised the actor's performances, saying “Halle Bailey, Jonah Hauer-King, Melissa McCarthy & Javier Bardem put their heart & souls into a film that can’t escape its animated legacy. Best when it leans into campy bonkers, yet limits its fantasy elements for no reason.”
 

#TheLittleMermaid: Charming, but incredibly spotty. Halle Bailey, Jonah Hauer-King, Melissa McCarthy & Javier Bardem put their heart & souls into a film that can’t escape its animated legacy. Best when it leans into campy bonkers, yet limits its fantasy elements for no reason. pic.twitter.com/c7Bt2BO5rq

— Courtney Howard (@Lulamaybelle) May 9, 2023
 

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Other critics shared a similar opinion with Howard. Kirsten Acuna, a correspondent for Insider, tweeted that the movie had great performances but was “mostly a paint-by-numbers remake” that isn’t as good as the original. 
 

#TheLittleMermaid is filled with a few great performances from Halle Bailey and Melissa McCarthy, but it's a mostly paint-by-numbers remake that's isn't as good as the animated masterpiece. pic.twitter.com/YY4ielYXiR

— Kirsten (@KirstenAcuna) May 9, 2023

Simon Thompson, a journalist for the likes of Variety and Forbes, called the movie “Endearing but uneven” and that it “doesn’t deliver the magic of the animated classic.” He made a similar note as other critics that “Halle Bailey and Melissa McCarthy are great.”
 

Endearing but uneven, #TheLittleMermaid doesn’t deliver the magic of the animated classic but there are plenty of creative touches from Rob Marshall to float the audience’s boats. Halle Bailey and Melissa McCarthy are great. Daveed Diggs and Awkwafina provide solid comic relief. pic.twitter.com/kt1pVURZiL

— Simon Thompson (@ShowbizSimon) May 9, 2023

Disney has made many other live-action movies from their animated classics like ‘The Lion King’ and ‘Beauty and the Beast,’ which have received criticism and backlash for their unimpressive remake and clear cash grab attempt from Disney preying on fans' nostalgia.

Disney's most recent live-action remake, ‘Mulan,’ drew perhaps the harshest criticism of all. The movie cut major beloved parts of the original movie, as well as being shot in a region of China where Uighur Muslims were being put into internment camps, per Vogue. The movie caused many to accuse Disney of being pro-China, as well as their hypocrisy after threatening to stop filming in Georgia if they passed anti-abortion legislation, per Reuters.

Mulan was also a massive loss for the company, with the budget of the movie being in the ballpark of $200 million, but only making $70 million at the box office. 

The movie has still had some critics praising the movie, but the overall perception has been a lukewarm launch for the movie. Disney has been getting increasing criticism for their imaginative remakes, with fans asking for the company to instead create new products. Time will tell if these trends continue, as well as if the ‘The Little Mermaid’ remake will be a success.