GoldenJCJ

Yep. There could be race issues at play with that or, despite Aladdin being a somewhat decent movie, Mena just isn’t a very good actor with the charisma of a damp paper towel.

Inhumans99

I think he is a solid actor who just can't catch a break. He is most definitely frustrated that since he starred in a billion dollar grossing film that the only roles he has had to date are a handful of TV show roles and movies like Hotel For The Holiday (which I recently saw on Freevee) and The Royal Treatment, which was a Netflix film. As cute and light and breezy as I felt both films were, it is indeed quite a step down from acting in a billion dollar grossing film to acting in a Netflix original, lol.

He has not been able to ride a wave to super stardom since he was in Aladdin. Of course, his tweets are not helping his case.

He is biting the hand that I have to imagine fed him pretty well when he got the role of Aladdin. Halle Bailey now joins the club of actors/actresses who have stared in a live action remake of a beloved Disney animated film, and he should be cheering on Halle Bailey for also being in a film that will probably also go on to make about a billion dollars (or say nothing at all).

I am sure race plays a part in his inability to easily grab another leading role in a tentpole, but yikes...his complaining on social media is not a good look.

joe_b

Disney just uploaded the soundtrack on their VEVO Youtube page. The new songs from Lin-Manuel Miranda aren't great - with the exception of a second (brief) reprise of Part of Your World right before Triton turns Ariel human. That one might be effective depending on how it's used in the scene.

The new solo for Eric (Wild Uncharted Waters) reminded me of that tedious Evermore song they added to the live action Beauty and the Beast. The Scuttlebutt song has Awkwafina screeching her way through a rap number that gets tiring after about thirty seconds. They've also added an inner-monologue song for Ariel as she is learning to walk on land. Bailey sings the hell out of it, but nothing here is Best Original Song material.

As expected, several annoying alteration/cuts were made to the original lyrics to make it more PC. They've dropped the "Yes, on land it's much preferred for ladies not to say a word" verse from Poor Unfortunate Souls.Melissa McCarthy is hamming it up while doing a subpar Pat Carroll impression. They also changed "There is one way to ask her" to "Use your words boy and ask her" in Kiss the Girl. Because remember, boys: verbal consent is important before going in for a wet one.

CristonCole

The new Awkwafina song is positively wretched. Jesus Christ, my ears are still bleeding..

TomOpus

And you were expecting what from a non-professional singer?

Decker

Awkwafina's first rap album came out two years before her feature film debut.

CristonCole

Gee, I dunno… maybe not such an execrable song and have it somehow make its way into such a high-profile film such as this? Because I know Ms. Lum CAN sing. I was somewhat of a fan hers when she used to do small openings and gigs at 9:30 Club here in D.C. ages ago, before she even took up her popular “stage name” that we all know her as now. She had stage presence and could sing, semi-rap and spit comedically decent bars and rhymes when she wanted to. This new song is just shit.

TomOpus

Then everyone should be okay with her song. I don't follow rap so I don't know what's good or bad rap. Not my style. But I do see her as a comedian, which I assume is her main job in the movie.

I'd have to see it in context before I'd be shitting all over it. (Not referring to you).

GoldenJCJ

They must have cut the TV ads before the change. I’ve seen a few ads for this over the last few days and they’re still using the pasty white Flounder.

Obi-Wanma

There was no change. It's a joke.

GoldenJCJ

The joke is that CGI!

And aside from the eyebrows, the “joke” Flounder is still better.

devilshalo

I just never thought of Flounder as a Sergeant Major. He's closer in color to a juvenile Queen Angelfish. Of course, with a name like Flounder, shouldn't he be a real flounder?

dex14

Reviews: https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the...e_mermaid_2023

tanman

Everything is just so toxic nowadays it's ridiculous. In some ways I kind of get the people that might be getting upset. It's probably the same people that are trying to defend the movie from racist scum so it's probably some knee jerk reaction. But those people are almost just as bad as the people they are likely trying to attack because they are just reacting to any kind of criticism.

TomOpus

I have Friday off. Will try to catch it then.

RichC2

​​​The critics describing Flounder as "Ozempic Flounder" made me laugh.

whotony

I don’t think the makers of this movie have actually ever seen a real flounder

Josh-da-man

Yeah, they either look like you told an AI to make a Picasso fish, or it's a fish that's had a really bad day.

They're tasty, though.

RichC2

Yeah, you're right.

tanman

That's hilarious because I remember the same criticism levied at the original flounder.

GoldenJCJ

I wonder if these chuckleheads have even seen a real mermaid.

RocShemp

I always assumed Flounder was a random fish named Flounder rather than an actual flounder. After all, Sebastian wasn't named Tropical Ghost Crab.

Could be worse.

DJariya

Saw the advanced screening tonight. Got a double sided movie poster and a souvenir Dolby ticket.

It was delightful. Halle Bailey was incredible. Great voice and presence. She’s a star in the making. She also introduced the movie beforehand. I liked the “real” animations of Sebastian and Flounder. They IMO worked for this movie. Also, Melissa McCarthy was a solid live action version of Ursula. Did not notice the running time at all. It flew by. If you have kids, especially girls, I think this is absolutely worth taking them to. I really don’t have much else to add. It’s a solid movie.

tanman

Great to hear because I have some serious doubts.

Curious what you thought of the other Disney live action remakes?

Spiderbite

Obviously not. Everyone who has knows that mermaids are all Caucasian.