--- title: "The Little Mermaid: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/the-little-mermaid-1989/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/the-little-mermaid-1989" critics_score: 75 critics_reviews: 11 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # The Little Mermaid (1989): what the critics said Critics' score 75 from 11 reviews: 7 positive, 4 mixed, 0 negative. Most critics like it, and several treat it as the point at which Disney animation recovered its nerve. The praise clusters on the music: Alan Menken’s score and Howard Ashman’s lyrics come up repeatedly, and “Under the Sea” is named more often than any other sequence. The animation is called lush and fluid, and Ursula’s design is picked out as the visual high point by more than one reviewer. The reservations are about story rather than surface. Empire finds the prince dull and the ending hurried, and Collider agrees the storytelling is the weak part while judging the charm enough to carry it. The AV Club, though warm, calls the film thin. The one real dissent comes from Slant Magazine, which finds it calculated and cloying, though even there Ursula is welcomed as relief. The spread is otherwise narrow; nobody argues it is less than good entertainment. ## Radio Times — Kilmeny Fane-Saunders Rating 5/5. Fane-Saunders celebrates the film as the start of a new golden age for Disney features. She praises its impressive animation and Alan Menken’s catchy, show-stopping score, especially “Under the Sea.” [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-toh9yo/the-little-mermaid/) ## The AV Club — Noel Murray Rating A-. 11 October 2006. Murray finds the film thin and visually shallow, but says its spirit of renewed entertainment remains infectious. He singles out Howard Ashman’s wit and the rousing “Under The Sea” sequence for praise. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/the-little-mermaid-1798202067) ## The Independent — Ben Walsh Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 5 September 2013. The review finds the film charming and beautifully paced. It particularly praises its energetic adventure and lasting appeal despite newer animation surpassing it. [Read the review](https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/reviews/dvd-bluray-review-the-little-mermaid-collection-u-8800822.html) ## Total Film — Total Film Rating 4/5. 17 July 1998. The critic praises the film as Disney at its best and calls it wonderful entertainment. The songs and characters stand out, while its humour keeps the story from becoming too sugary. [Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/the-little-mermaid-review/) ## Variety — Variety Staff Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 31 December 1988. The review considers it Disney’s strongest animated feature in years and gives a clearly positive verdict. It praises the lush, fluid animation and singles out Ursula’s design as a visual highlight. [Read the review](https://variety.com/1988/film/reviews/the-little-mermaid-1200427784/) ## Empire — William Thomas Fi1m's normalised score 78/100 (inferred from the text). 1 January 2000. Thomas calls the film a charming, sparkling family classic that delivers laughs, scares and songs. He praises its memorable music, comic sea-life characters and imposing Ursula, while noting the prince is dull and the ending hurried. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/little-mermaid-review/) ## The New York Times — Janet Maslin Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 15 November 1989. The article is identifiable as a review of the 1989 film, but its verdict and specific praise or complaints are unavailable in the page provided. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/1989/11/15/movies/review-film-andersen-s-mermaid-by-way-of-disney.html) ## Time Out — CM Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). The available page identifies this as a film review but provides no critic’s verdict. Its description highlights the adaptation’s calypso rhythms and sweeping ballads. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/the-little-mermaid-1) ## RogerEbert.com Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). The page could not be accessed, so the critic’s verdict is unavailable. No praise or complaint can be verified from the supplied text. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-little-mermaid-1989) ## Slant Magazine — Eric Henderson Rating 2/4. 5 October 2006. Henderson gives the film a sharply negative assessment, calling it calculated and emotionally overbearing. He singles out Ursula’s flamboyant performance and design as a welcome diversion from the film’s cloying tone. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/the-little-mermaid/) ## Collider — Rob Vaux Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 19 October 2013. Vaux finds that the film’s shortcomings are outweighed by its enduring charm and legacy. He especially praises the songs and animation, while noting weaknesses in the storytelling and some character portrayals. [Read the review](https://collider.com/the-little-mermaid-diamond-edition-blu-ray-review/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/the-little-mermaid-1989.md