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Most of Disney’s live-action remakes of their beloved animated classics have felt more like hollow cash grabs rather than pleasant trips down memory lane. Either these films stick too close to the original film and struggle to stand out or just have subpar elements that keep it in the shadows of its superior predecessor. The live-action remake of The Little Mermaid hits differently though and showcases strengths that help it stand alongside the legacy of the 1989 original.

Now, the overall story of The Little Mermaid isn’t too different from the original and pretty much follows almost directly in its footsteps. It still follows Ariel (Halle Bailey) – the rebellious mermaid daughter of King Triton (Javier Bardem) – as she yearns to walk within the human world above her. After saving an equally adventurous prince named Eric (Jonah Hauer-King) from drowning, Ariel turns to sea-witch Ursula (Melissa McCarthy) to help her get to the surface – which comes with unexpected consequences. However, even for the central plot structure basically remaining the same, this remake does add new elements to The Little Mermaid’s story.

There’s a lot more to Eric’s story and personality that are developed, and it helps create a genuine connection between him and Ariel outside of their romantic feelings. It’s easy to connect with their shared spirit of adventure and exploration and it’s a lot of fun to watch these two roam the island together. Both longtime fans and newcomers will really feel like they get to see a more personable and open Eric and Ariel – which helps viewers make a stronger connection to their relationship and shared aspirations. Plus, there’s a new song with Eric that’s honestly awesome and it’s kind of akin to the “Evermore” moment in Beauty and the Beast – despite a little overacting during the sequence. The development of Eric and Ariel’s relationship as well as their solo arcs is definitely given a good amount of the spotlight here and it works in making these two have some good depth and tender feelings.

The visual storytelling is also very strong with Ariel and her sisters showcasing good lore-building through their aesthetics and organic racial diversity. The inclusion of the Caribbean’s cultural atmosphere also helps tie this story to reality in a simple yet effective way. There are some shortcomings within the storytelling though that don’t go unnoticed. There are a couple of oversights within certain interactions that completely defy logic and the film does tend to break the rules it establishes in cheap and unnecessary ways. There’s this section of the film where Ariel isn’t supposed to speak due to a spell and the film just avoids sticking to that and it’s kind of lame.

Still though, the story maintains its heart, humor, and good pacing well largely because the performances are so engaging and evoke the energy of the original without completely copying it. Bailey is absolutely flawless as Ariel and there’s no doubt that she was the perfect choice to play her. She manages to have the energy and voice similarity to Jodi Benson’s performance in the original while still bringing her own voice and charm to the role. Her rendition of “Part of Your World” will no doubt be iconic and it’s great how this performance really showcases Bailey’s range since there are parts of her performance where she’s forced to act without speaking. It’s a big breakout moment for Bailey that she totally owns, and she brings great emotion, charisma, and care to her performance that’s absolutely infectious. Even better is that Bailey is supported by a cast that’s mostly great in their roles.

Hauer-King helps show Eric as more than just another “Disney prince” and thrives in making him a more emotionally driven and thoughtful character. His chemistry with Bailey is great and the vibes of their romance are filled with good-hearted innocence and an adventurous spirit ready to break free. Alongside Bailey, McCarthy also puts in one of the best performances of the film as she evokes all the energy of Pat Carroll’s iconic voice work as Ursula. Sometimes McCarthy can be a little too over the top in her comedic performances and she can come off kind of corny. Luckily, that’s not the McCarthy we see here, and she totally thrives in this type of villainous personality. She is an absolute scene-stealer with the great humor and evil charm she brings to every moment she’s on-screen. Also, her rendition of “Poor Unfortunate Souls” is great and an amazing nefarious musical number that’s given great energy and visuals.

The film’s use of CGI for creating atmosphere for its underwater sections does work in creating some memorable set pieces and showing color that pops. Even for the film’s stark realism with its depictions, the vibrant color palette definitely makes this story’s warmness still come through. The only place where the photo-realistic CGI falters is in a familiar place – the non-human characters. Frankly, all of Disney’s live-action remakes have made their non-human characters too realistic-looking and stripped them of their charm. The Little Mermaid suffers from this as well and it’s unfortunate that the film can remind viewers how unsettling sea life can really look – especially during “Under the Sea.”

However, for the main animal characters, their jarring looks eventually become more charming as the voice performances really help make their personalities so loveable. Daveed Digg’s performance as Sebastian is great and there are plenty of funny one-liners and interactions that he has with other characters that audiences will love. Awkwafina also has some funny lines as Scuttle and even though she struggles to hide her voice and sticks out badly compared to other voices, she’s a good addition to the cast. She even kills it in a new song for Scuttle that would seem kind of corny at first but is annoyingly catchy.

Honestly, even though the CGI characters tend to take the bulk of the songs, the warm vibes and delightful nature of the songs stay strong. There’s no bad song in this film and the good mix of fun visuals and the great voice performances keep the energy and heart high. Even for the character designs being a little off, it’s fair to say that no fan of the original will be disappointed by what they see and hear with the old and new songs in the film. Jacob Tremblay is probably the weakest of the main trio as Flounder but it’s mostly because he’s forced into the background. There isn’t much for the character to do in the film and frankly, it doesn’t matter how adorable Tremblay tries to be because Flounder’s awful design is so off-putting.

The only main character that could’ve been utilized better is Triton. Bardem’s performance has a monotone feel to it and there needed to be more interaction between Triton and Ariel to make the ending feel a little more earned. While the ending still boasts the great emotional payoff for the themes and events of Ariel and Eric’s journey, Triton’s part in it feels a little thin.

Disney’s remake of The Little Mermaid isn’t without its flaws or shortcomings, but its strengths are so prevalent and likeable that it easily can be seen as the best of Disney’s live-action remakes yet. It finds a great balance in harnessing the energy and nostalgia of the original while still charting its own path through some great story and music additions as well as the great performances led by Bailey and McCarthy. The Little Mermaid is a great way to revisit this classic tale and it confidently compliments the original rather than finding itself stuck in its shadows.

Watch the Trailer Here: