Synopsis:  A young mermaid makes a deal with a sea witch to trade her beautiful voice for human legs so she can discover the world above water and impress a prince.

     What movie have you sat down to watch where you had less than no expectation and was pleasantly surprised that you enjoyed it?  For me it is the latest Disney effort to turn one of its classic animated features into a live action film The Little Mermaid.

     While the 1989 original is a staple of my generation’s childhood viewing it is a movie I do not particularly care for the film.  Combine that with how tired I am of Disney turning classic animated films (Aladdin, Alice in Wonderland, Dumbo among others) into live action features created a mindset of why bother when I walked into see The Little Mermaid.  After the two hour and ten minute runtime expired I was glad I had journeyed to the theater to see it.

     Visuals alone made the movie worth fighting for a parking space.  The highlight of the film was Halle Bailey as Ariel.  This will undoubtedly rocket the young actress to super stardom, not only among those of my generation but for a whole new generation of movie goers. 

    The supporting cast was equally matched.  Melissa McCarthy, as the movies antagonist, continued to prove her range beyond the comedic mega star she has become.  I had heard she can sing but did not believe it until her voice bellowed though the surround sound.  Javier Bardem looked like he was having fun in the role of King Triton.

    Let’s talk about the voice over cast.  Awkafina leads a trio of takent including Jacob Tremblay and    Daveed Diggs, as the voices of the animals helping the hero on her journey. All were like spices on a steak, adding something special to an already excellent dish.  Yes I get the irony in talking about CGI characters in a live action remake.

     I have become tired of live action remakes lately.  Early on there have been some I enjoyed.  Maleficent presented a different take on the Sleeping Beauty story and Alice in Wonderland was visually appealing.  However there are some features that I felt were simply awful.  The O in the Dumbo adaptation was totally unnecessary.  Aladdin is a happy middle ground, though it made me miss Robin Williams all over again.

  With all that said I will see you at the movies!