a dazzling undersea adventure

Rating: Null/10 (5 July 2020)

Sweet, straightforward Disney concoction set under the sea about a lovely and rebellious young mermaid named Ariel who, though forbidden by her father (a strict ruler who despises humans), is fascinated by life on the surface and falls for a human prince. This leads her to make a dicey bargain with Ursula, a bitter sea witch whose machinations could jeopardize Ariel's very existence. With only a limited amount of time, Ariel must rely on skittish fish Flounder and crabby crab Sebastian if she hopes to make her dream come true. Joyful animated feature with indelible characters, pitch-perfect vocals, and snazzy musical set pieces, plus as an added bonus important themes like parenthood and teen angst that will strike a chord in both kids and adults. Some additional backstory and a few more complications in the plot could've elevated this even more, but it's hard to complain while viewing such jubilant storytelling. ***