Barbie in a Mermaid Tale 2

Review

Common Sense Media says

Less shopping, more friendship in undersea Barbie adventure.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

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Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

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Parents say

Not yet rated

Kids say

AGE
14
QUALITY
 

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this Barbie tale is actually less consumerist and superficial than other installments in the ever-growing direct-to-DVD franchise. The sequel to Barbie in a Mermaid Tale features a little violence, but nothing scarier than an evil mermaid who can make others' worst "nightmares" a reality (usually a mental or emotional fear). One of Merliah's friends is a bit ditzy, but overall the characters work together to defeat the nefarious, self-obsessed villain.

  • Educational value0
    Barbie movies are for entertainment purposes, but kids may learn a few incidental things like that the national dishes of Australia and Hawaii are pickled beetroot and poi.
  • Positive messages3
    Like most Barbie movies, this tale focuses on teamwork -- here, between Merliah and her surfing rival Kylie. The various mermaid ambassadors also work together against Eris' villainous pursuit to control the ocean. Merliah's friends aren't bothered by the fact she's a mermaid. Merliah is willing to help Kylie, even though she stole Merliah's magical necklace.
  • Positive role models3
    Merliah and her mother, Calissa, are visions of elegance, intelligence, and grace. They're intelligent and kind and only use their physical strength when defending themselves or others. Merliah, like all typical teenagers, is competitive and would like to prove she's better at surfing than Kylie, but in the end she does what's right for the merfolk even though it means she won't surf again.
  • Violence & scariness2
    There's mild violence when Eris lures Kylie to the whirlpool and traps her. The huge electric fish that follow Eris have enormous teeth and act menacingly. Eris' battle with Calissa and the mermaid ambassadors unleashes their biggest "nightmares."
  • Sexy stuff0
    The girls wear bikinis, but there's (for once) no love interests or opposite-sex flirting in the story.
  • Language0
    Not applicable.
  • Consumerism3
    All Barbie videos are made with the underlying intent of creating more awareness of the newest Barbie line and selling the dolls and their accessories. However, there's less overall consumerism in this sequel than in the original, where the girls spent most of their free time shopping.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking0
    Not applicable.
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What's the story?

In this sequel to Barbie in a Mermaid Tale, Merliah (voiced by Kelly Sheridan) the half human, half mermaid once again impresses judges in international surfing competitions. Her biggest rival is Kylie (Ashleigh Ball). With her magical necklace that allows her to turn into a mermaid whenever she wants to, Merliah checks in with her mermaid mother, Calissa (Nicole Oliver), in their underwater home of Oceana. Calissa invites Merliah to a special "changing of the tides" ceremony with all of the mermaid ambassadors of the sea, but Merliah declines in order to compete in a prestigious surfing invitational in Australia. The night before the competition, the evil Eris' (Kathleen Barr) fish lackey convinces Kylie to steal Merliah's necklace and transform into a mermaid. That leads to Eris being freed from her whirlpool prison and getting ready to take over the ocean -- if Merliah can't stop her.

Is it any good?

 

As a rule, sequels to straight-to-video films aren't exactly going to wow audiences, but BARBIE IN A MERMAID TALE 2 is surprisingly less obnoxious and superficial than other films in the Barbie universe. There are no cute merman or human hunks to impress, and we're spared the many shots of the protagonist and her friends shopping that were so blatant in the original. And unlike Princess Charm School, which was all about make-overs and Cinderella-style transformations, this sequel is a call to action, a reminder of what's really important.

The movie takes a realistic look at how competitiveness can consume someone to the point that they're willing to do anything to win. There are also valuable lessons in tolerance (Merliah's friends don't mind that she turns into a mermaid), generosity, and courage. The animation in these videos is never as thorough as that in feature animated films, but the characters in Barbie in a Mermaid Tale 2 are more substantial than other Barbie creations, and the story is sweet and refreshingly romance free. 

Explore, discuss, enjoy

  • Families can talk about the movie's messages of friendship and competition. How does Merliah overcome her desire to beat Kylie? What does Merliah's selflessness teach kids about doing what's right?

  • Talk about how to separate the movie from the products it's advertising. We've got tips on how to manage product placements and advertising in pop culture.

  • How does this particular movie compare to others in the Barbie universe? Do you like that there are no boy-girl relationships or romantic themes?

This review of Barbie in a Mermaid Tale 2 was written by
Teen, 15 years old
March 31, 2012
AGE
18
 
Adult women only
Do not watch.Girls wear extremely innapropriate clothing.
What other families should know:
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Parent
April 6, 2012
AGE
5
 
Pure product placement
Product placement and bad role model for girls.
What other families should know:
Was this review useful?
Helped me decide (10) | Had useful details (19) | Read my mind (27)
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Kid, 9 years old
May 8, 2012
AGE
9
 
the best
i think its the best barbie film i have ever seen
What other families should know:
Was this review useful?
Helped me decide (16) | Had useful details (14) | Read my mind (23)
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This review of Barbie in a Mermaid Tale 2 was written by
Topics:magic and fantasy, princesses and fairies, ocean creatures
Studio:Universal Studios Home Entertainment
Director:William Lau
Cast:Ashleigh Ball, Kathleen Barr, Kelly Sheridan
Genre:Family and Kids
Run time:74 minutes
DVD release date:March 6, 2012
MPAA rating:NR
This review of Barbie in a Mermaid Tale 2 was written by
 
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