--- title: "The Little Mermaid: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/the-little-mermaid/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/the-little-mermaid" critics_score: 71 critics_reviews: 14 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 (2023): what the critics said Critics' score 71 from 14 reviews: 10 positive, 4 mixed, 0 negative. The reviews agree on one thing almost to a person: Halle Bailey. Nearly every critic singles out her Ariel as the film’s strongest element, with praise for her singing and for a warmth that several say gives the character more inner life than the 1989 cartoon. Melissa McCarthy’s Ursula is the other name that keeps coming up. Beyond the two leads, the mood cools. The commonest complaints are the running time, the heavy computer-generated effects and the new songs, which more than one critic finds flat. A good number see it as one of Disney’s better live-action remakes, though few think it matches the original. The spread is wide for a film with no outright negative reviews: Deadline credits Rob Marshall’s direction with making it work, while the Los Angeles Times finds it padded and imitative, a creative dead end, and Vulture finds everything around Bailey dull. The middle ground is admiration for the star and a shrug for the rest. ## Radio Times — Dave Golder Rating 4/5. 22 May 2023. One of the more successful Disney live-action remakes, largely faithful and lifted by strong performances, especially Halle Bailey’s charismatic Ariel. The new songs are singled out as the main letdown. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movies/the-little-mermaid-halle-bailey-review/) ## Total Film — Molly Edwards Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 22 May 2023. It is a fun, fresh and joyous reimagining strong enough to surpass the original, with standout performances from Halle Bailey as Ariel and Melissa McCarthy as Ursula, plus vibrant visuals. [Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/the-little-mermaid-2023-review/) ## Variety — Peter Debruge Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 22 May 2023. Halle Bailey delivers a star-making turn as Ariel with a powerful rendition of 'Part of Your World,' and Melissa McCarthy is delicious as Ursula; together they anchor the remake despite its bloated length and maximalist visual effects. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2023/film/reviews/the-little-mermaid-review-halle-bailey-melissa-mccarthy-1235620560/) ## The New Yorker — Richard Brody Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 25 May 2023. Halle Bailey infuses Ariel with energy, passion, and vocal power that gives the film more dramatic substance and inner life than the original, though it is less charming and the direction lacks flair. [Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/culture/the-front-row/the-little-mermaid-has-a-stellar-lead-performance-and-something-of-an-inner-life) ## The Times Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 22 May 2023. Halle Bailey gives a full-throttle performance supported by a stellar cast including Javier Bardem and Melissa McCarthy. [Read the review](https://www.thetimes.com/culture/film/article/the-little-mermaid-remake-film-review-disney-halle-bailey-s7kmg32hn) ## Empire — Helen O'Hara Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 22 May 2023. The film is a longer, darker and less compelling live-action remake than the animated original. It is saved by Halle Bailey’s charming performance, Melissa McCarthy’s sass and the story’s own eternal magic. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/the-little-mermaid/) ## Time Out — Shaye Weaver Rating 3/5. 22 May 2023. The review calls it an enjoyable but hardly groundbreaking return that adds just enough fresh elements while failing to live up to the original animated classic. Halle Bailey’s courageous and playful Ariel is singled out as the star attraction. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/the-little-mermaid-2023) ## Los Angeles Times — Justin Chang Fi1m's normalised score 50/100 (inferred from the text). 22 May 2023. Halle Bailey makes a lovely Ariel with strong pipes and empathy, but the remake is padded, imitative, and visually garish, feeling like a creative dead end even as 'Under the Sea' remains rousing. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2023-05-22/little-mermaid-review-disney-halle-bailey-melissa-mccarthy) ## Financial Times — Danny Leigh Rating ★★★☆☆. 25 May 2023. Halle Bailey delivers a charming and charismatic performance that stands out as the film's strongest element, but the rest is a bland and grindingly efficient live-action Disney remake undermined by boring CG and weak supporting turns. [Read the review](https://www.ft.com/content/0f4633dc-0632-49f7-97e5-8619405eaf39) ## Screen Daily 22 May 2023. The critic finds Disney’s live-action remake fails to make much of a splash due to slow pacing, over-wrought emotion and an outdated story that struggles to stand apart from the original. Technical achievements and lively supporting characters like Sebastian and Scuttle receive praise. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/the-little-mermaid-review/5182460.article) ## The Guardian — Peter Bradshaw 22 May 2023. The critic finds Halle Bailey the film's sole unmitigated triumph and a strong case for the live-action remake approach, but concludes that the CGI-heavy reworking fails to recapture the magic of the 1989 original. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2023/may/22/the-little-mermaid-review-ariel-disney-halle-bailey) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Lovia Gyarkye 22 May 2023. The critic finds it a ho-hum adaptation buoyed by Halle Bailey's lovely lead turn, but it suffers from déjà vu and risk-aversion. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/the-little-mermaid-review-halle-bailey-melissa-mccarthy-1235484161/) ## Vulture — Angelica Jade Bastién 22 May 2023. Halle Bailey is a delight, but everything around her is mercilessly dull and misguided; the remake curdles the original with minor changes and lacks imagination. [Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/2023/05/what-happened-to-the-frothy-pleasure-of-the-little-mermaid.html) ## Deadline — Pete Hammond Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 22 May 2023. The critic praises Rob Marshall's direction for making the live-action remake work, highlighting Halle Bailey's stellar performance as Ariel and the successful staging of musical numbers. [Read the review](https://deadline.com/2023/05/the-little-mermaid-review-rob-marshalls-live-action-take-disney-animated-classic-1235368418/) ## Digital Spy — Iona Rowan Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 22 May 2023. This is Disney's best live-action remake, retaining the heart of the original while adding fresh elements and strong performances, especially Halle Bailey's magical turn as Ariel. Some visual effects feel rough and the film runs a bit long. [Read the review](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a43900572/little-mermaid-review/) ## Collider — Ross Bonaime Rating B. 22 May 2023. The critic finds it one of the rare Disney live-action remakes that captures the magic of the original, though it can't match the animated classic. They single out the expanded character development, particularly making the romance between Ariel and Eric feel mutual and deeper. [Read the review](https://collider.com/the-little-mermaid-2023-review/) ## /Film — Vanessa Armstrong Rating 7.5/10. 22 May 2023. The critic finds the live-action remake well done, praising Halle Bailey's performance as Ariel and the vivid presentation of the songs, while noting improvements to the story's relationships; criticizes Javier Bardem's wooden portrayal of King Triton. [Read the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/1292418/the-little-mermaid-review/) ## The Wrap Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 22 May 2023. The critic notes the darker, more realistic tone, praises Halle Bailey and Melissa McCarthy's performances, but criticizes the new songs as flat. [Read the review](https://www.thewrap.com/the-little-mermaid-review-halle-bailey/) ## Den of Geek — Don Kaye Rating 2.5/5. 25 May 2023. The film is long and perfunctory, suffering from creative exhaustion under Rob Marshall's direction. Halle Bailey delivers a sincere, heartfelt performance as Ariel, and Melissa McCarthy is a delight as Ursula. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/the-little-mermaid-review-halle-bailey-bright-part-of-disney-remake-world/) --- © 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.md