Blu-ray Review: The Little Mermaid
It's not everyday that a movie celebrates its 24th anniversary but the animated gem The Little Mermaid gets to do just that with its first-ever trip to Blu-ray. Released on November 15, 1989 in 994 theaters, the Disney toon wasn't a runaway hit at first with its third place debut behind the new Eddie Murphy comedy Harlem Nights and sleeper smash Look Who's Talking.
But word-of-mouth carried the film on and on at the box office through the entire holiday season and beyond ending with a $84.4M domestic gross which was fantastic for an animated movie at the time. More importantly, Mermaid won two Oscars for Song and Score and revived the Mouse House's move into new toon movies opening the door for modern classics to follow like Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, and The Lion King with grosses climbing higher with each pic.
Though based on a formula which today has become so overused (stubborn daughter defies father/parent and wants to live out her own life and not follow what's expected of her), The Little Mermaid remains a shining star with its story, characters, music, and color. Whether seeing it for the first time, or reliving a favorite, the Under the Sea gang provides loads of fun for audiences of all ages.
Bonus materials are plentiful on the high-definition disc. Teen queen Carly Rae Jepsen takes up Ariel-like hair for a music video of her version of "Part of Your World" for a new generation of kids. Some behind-the-scenes docs give a look at the animators and filmmakers who created Mermaid, though some could easily be mistaken for infomercials for Disney's HR department. Though enjoyable, nothing stood out as a must-see with the exception of the popular intermission feature headlined by Sebastian the Crab.
But overall, the Blu-ray is sure to be used over and over again by long-time fans and newcomers alike.
Blu-ray Title: The Little Mermaid
Review by Gitesh Pandya
Run Time: 83 minutes
Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment
NOW AVAILABLE
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