The Little Mermaid Remake Fixes One Of The More Problematic Issues

Disney remakes have long been the thing to get people talking. While some people love them more than most, others wish they would come to an end once and for all. Whatever the case, ‘The Little Mermaid’ has been one of the most divisive remakes to come from the company in a long time - and it’s finally here.

The fantasy movie has done a lot to change the original story and add some modern twists to the classic fairytale. It turns out ‘The Little Mermaid’ remake fixes one of the most problematic issues, too, with many pleased to see just how far the franchise has come.

The original Little Mermaid changed Disney at the time

When ‘The Little Mermaid’ first hit the big screen back in 1989, it changed everything. It was a tale of a young girl going against what her father wanted to explore what life was like above the surface, but that’s not all. The hand-drawn animation, vibrant colors, and unforgettable musical breaks added something that hadn’t been seen before and turned it into an instant hit. It wasn’t long before ‘The Little Mermaid’ inspired a brand new generation of Disney, with the likes of ‘The Lion King,’ ‘Aladdin,’ and ‘Beauty and the Beast’ just some of the hits that followed.

Ariel’s original reasoning has been highly criticized

While ‘The Little Mermaid’ might have been the thing Disney needed at the time, people have been less receptive to the animated hit in the years since. Recently, plenty have criticized the idea that Ariel merely gave up her voice so she could follow a man - Prince Eric. Kiera Knightly and Mindy Kaling are just two celebrities who have spoken about not letting their children watch the original movie, even calling it “problematic.’ They’re not alone. Director Rob Marshall - the man behind the live-action ‘The Little Mermaid’ remake - believes Ariel giving up her voice for Eric was “baked into the original,” and he wanted that to change.

Did Ariel really give up everything for Prince Eric?

It takes just minutes for viewers of the original ‘The Little Mermaid’ for viewers to learn Ariel is obsessed with the human world. She essentially gives up her voice during the solo of ‘Triton’s Daughters’ because she’s busy collecting thingamabobs and gizmos from a shipwreck. Of course, Ariel even sings her iconic ‘Part of Your World’ long before she even sees Prince Eric, telling the world she wants to “explore the shore up above” and how she wants to be “where the people are.” In fact, Ariel only takes up Ursula’s offer to hand over her voice because her dad, King Triton, destroys her entire collection of human treasures, with the mermaid feeling understood by those around her. Instead, she wants to be where she won’t be made to feel different, but many stand by the idea it’s all in aid of Ariel finding Eric.

The Little Mermaid remake puts more emphasis on Ariel’s true passion

Rob  Marshall wanted to make sure there was no confusion about what Ariel really wanted in ‘The Little Mermaid’ remake, starting with Ariel spotting Eric on the ship as they enjoy a firework show. However, instead of going through her “he loves me, he loves me not” moment, Ariel tells Sebastian all about how the ship rolled around and how they “filled the sky with fire.” The result? We know Ariel is truly captured by what humans do, not one human in particular. Of course, Ariel still hands over her voice, but this time through the song ‘For the First Time,’ and she doesn’t rush to find Eric on the shore. Marshall instead puts a lot of focus on Ariel exploring all the things she’s wanted to see for so long on land.

The new director wanted to give Eric more substance

Another thing that Rob Marshall aimed to do with his ‘The Little Mermaid’ remake was to give Prince Eric more substance. Instead of being some eye candy for the mermaid, this version of Eric feels trapped by his mom’s rules and wants to explore what life is like away from his kingdom. In fact, the prince even has his own treasure collection, giving the pair a lot to bond over instead of just their initial attraction.

Ursula’s curse almost gets forgotten in The Little Mermaid remake

By the end of the movie, it can be easy to forget about Ursula’s curse. After all, Ariel seemingly forgets that she needs to kiss Prince Eric to break free, meaning that when they finally do lock lips, it feels like it’s something Ariel wants instead of something she has to do. The elements certainly help to make the pair’s relationship even deeper and might have us rooting for them to make it in the end more than ever before.

‘The Little Mermaid’ remake fixes one of the more problematic issues, and it could be just the thing so many need to put their minds to rest. The problem? Some will still argue it’s a problem that didn’t need to be addressed in the first place.