The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea (G, 2000)

common sense media says

An uninspired rehash of the first movie.


parents & educators say
  • 33% say violence is an issue
  • 33% say there are positive messages

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that kids will see some scary scenes with mild peril including a pair of sharks who attempt to eat people and animal characters. Melody also nearly meets her end by drowning. Melody also runs away from home after a disagreement with her mother.

Positive messages: Melody runs way from home after an argument with her mother. Her parents cover up and lie to her about her mermaid roots in order to protect her.
Violence & scariness: A menacing shark attempts to eat other characters. Melody nearly drowns when she's trapped in an undersea cave.
Sexy stuff: Not applicable.
Language: Not applicable.
Consumerism: Ariel is a very popular Disney Princess, whose brand reaches far and wide. Expect to see Princess branding on consumer merchandise, food products, etc. as well as in books, websites, and other media.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Not applicable.

More on The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea

What to talk about

Talk to your kids

Families can talk about sequels. Why is a sequel rarely as good as the original? Did you think this movie was as good and The Little Mermaid. Where you disappointed to see so little of Ariel? Why do you think this sequel wasn't released in theaters when the first movie, which won a lot of awards, was?

What's the story?

What's the story?

This direct-to-video sequel to Disney's animated hit The Little Mermaid reverses the first movie's plot when, against her parents' wishes, Ariel's daughter Melody tries to become part of the world under the sea. The festivities celebrating the birth of Melody, Ariel and Eric's daughter, are interrupted by the arrival of the sea witch Morgana ("Ursula's crazy sister!"), who attempts to kidnap the child. The attempt fails, but Ariel decides that, until the threat of Morgana is eliminated, Melody is forbidden from going near the ocean and kept in the dark about her mermaid heritage. Twelve years later, Melody ignores these rules and swims in the ocean regularly. When Ariel discovers what she's been up to, harsh words are exchanged, and Melody runs away, escaping in a boat out to sea. Morgana finds Melody and fulfills her wish to become a mermaid, but dupes the girl into stealing King Triton's magical trident. A guilt-ridden Ariel must now return to the ocean to make peace with Melody and prevent Morgana from gaining absolute power over the merdom.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 

Apart from some minor variations, the story of LITTLE MERMAID II is a shameless retread of the plot of its Academy Award-winning predecessor. This sequel doesn't come close to matching the original movie's tuneful charm. Kids may be disappointed to discover that Ariel has little more than a supporting role here. Ariel's new authoritarian role is a bit off-putting, as is her decision to lie to Melody about her family's history. Although she lies to protect her daughter, the filmmakers seem to have forgotten that the Ariel of the first movie was playful and imaginative. When the evil Morgana makes a sarcastic comment about Ariel being "cruel and deceitful," some kids just might agree with her!

Two new characters, Tip the Penguin and Dash the Walrus, will amuse younger viewers with their slapstick aquatic antics. Sadly, Sebastian the crab, one the best characters in the first movie, is reduced to complaining endlessly about having to look after yet another headstrong teenager. All of the voice actors who helped give the first movie so much charm have returned, and their skill somewhat compensates for the clumsy script. Many kids will be able to relate to Melody's sense of insecurity.

Movie themes & details

Movie Details
Studio: Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment
Director: Jim Kammerud
Cast: Jodi Benson, Samuel Wright, Tara Strong
Genre: Family and Kids
Run time: 75 minutes
Theatrical release: September 19, 2000
DVD release: December 15, 2008
MPAA Rating: G

This review was written by Paul Trandahl
 
 

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What parents & educators say

4
Based on 3 parent & educator reviews:
  • 33% say violence is an issue
  • 33% say there are positive messages
  • 33% say they noticed product placement

Most useful reviews by all members

Nectaria
teen, 17 years old
 

toons27
parent of 6 year old
 
A Waste of paper and ink
This movie is the worst sequel I've ever seen! The music was very cheesy. The plot is a rip-off of the first movie only kiddiefied and reversed. I like the character, Melody, but I wished she had more originality. I'm really annoyed that she's too much like Ariel. I'm really angry that Ariel became a mean parent-just like her father! Whoever directed this trash, must have forgotten that in the first movie, Ariel was fun, loving, spunky, and loved the sea. Eric, one of my favorite disney princes, is reduced to being a prop only dumber than Ariel! In the first movie, he was so awesome (and sexy)! In the second movie, he was just an empty vessel, mindlessly agreeing everything Ariel says. This movie is a waste of paper and ink.

darrenc95
teen, 16 years old
 
Boring sequel, not worth the time
A complete rip-off of the first movie, very unimaginative, and the new characters aren't even interesting.

golden96
teen, 15 years old
 
:)
Love it!

 
Cristopher's best movie
I love this movie & best movie in 2000.

leftbehindcrazed8
teen, 14 years old
 
melody's gone melody's gone melody's gone!!!
Used to be obsessed!!!! Although not even close to the original movie, still kid friendly with the same humor kids will like. I love the music in this movie, and the villain (Morgana) isn't as scary as Ursula was. So, great movie for kids 6+!!!!

4kidshater
teen, 14 years old
 
A rehash of the first movie, a bad disney sequel, not like Toy Story 2
I hate this movie.It's a rehash of the first movie kiddified and revesered to be like a edited R-rated movie. It's like the Deer Hunter(1978) becoming The Deer Lover and National Lampoon Vacation becoming National Kid Vacation . I say rent it.

hamstergurl09
teen, 17 years old
 
If I Was Hans Christian Anderson, I Would Be So Pissed Off At Disney Right Now.
I HATE THIS MOVIE! The Little Mermaid needed no sequel. This seems to occur often with Disney. They constantly put out sequels of movies that needed no sequel just to make money. These types of sequels absolutely suck. This is an absolute abomination to the story of the Little Mermaid. Never watch this movie. It's terrible.

Rosebud95
teen, 16 years old
 
Same plot
This movie was good, but the plot was basically the same as the 1st one, it was just the opposite. It might have been better if it was more different then the first one.

rebma97
teen, 14 years old
 
This movie has basically the same plot from the first movie, only it's Ariel's daughter instead of Ariel. And Melody seems to have stolen Ariel's personality; Ariel now the parent her father was to her. Ariel isn't adventurus, she is basically a female version of King Triton (except he didn't lie to Ariel). This really disapointed me because I loved the old Ariel. While I had loved this movie when I was younger, now I'm starting to think it isn't that good. Melody is now the protagonist, and the story is just the same except Melody wants to be a mermaid. It is entertaing, but Ariel's change of personality is dissapointing, and her friends are more like minor characters.

EspumaMarina
teen, 15 years old
 
Of Course not as Good as the First
It was better than most Disney Sequils, but I think they could have made it better, some songs are catchy, most annoying, The animation could have been much better, but some parts were really pretty. It was pretty much like Ariel wanting to be human, except its her daughter, and she wants to be in the sea. What I think is weird is that her mother keeps her from the sea (to protect her from the villan) yet Melody can talk to a crab and seagull, and they build a wall instead of just moving away. At the beginning baby Melody was about to be eaten, I noticed Triton didn't do much about it, he has that stick thing, why didn't he just turn the shark into a little fish before? (Sorry if I'm spoiling anything) I mean this would have been an excellent story, they just needed to change it a little. Like Melody is really nieve, not even trying to think theres a reason shes banned from the ocean. Its weird how they change settings so quickly, first she's in a tropical paradise, then she's in an arctic tundra (she's bareshouldered so its weird how she doesnt seem cold at all) then she's in Atlantica, then she's back home, then she's back to the arctic tundra.. and when her mom goes to look for the run away Melody, she doesn't seem cold either! Plus its also weird how her arctic friends dont ever seem unconfortable in the climate changes. Ariel lost her charm, turned into a strict/ trying to be understanding, parent. Much like Simba in Lion King 2. If they changed a few things it would have been better, but it wasn't horrible, no yucky romance thes time.

Skylar123
teen, 14 years old
 
No Lovebirds!
I really appreciate that it isn't the Disney lovebirds here, as is common in classics. And I could really relate to the determined Melody! They draw whole new themes such as "running away" and its cons and "listening to those who love you". So, though there are some "disobedience" scenes, I think youngsters tend to learn NOT to do the things Melody does, especially if discussed by parents to REALLY young kids.

 
Learning About Growing Up
My daughter loves this. She is three and loves Ariel and everything about her. Ariel has never been a very good role model princess, and this sequel continues on the same path of rebellion and disobedience. However, it is less scary than the original, the music is memorable, and my daughter LOVES the relationship between Ariel and her baby, and then later Ariel and Melody as her daughter. She thinks it is great that Ariel is a mommy now and that has provided an interesting lesson for her on growing up and being a mom. It's nice for her to see her favorite Princess being an adult (firm, caring, and making her own mistakes even then).

MovieFan777
teen, 16 years old
 
A Great Sequel!!!
This great sequel to Disney's original classic is fun, adventurous, and really may be better than the original! But that's probably because I grew up with this film and not the original. Still this film is sure to put smiles on the kidos faces!

Disney Lover
teen, 17 years old
 
Best Disney Sequel!!
I love this movie so much. I definately think that it is one of Disney's strongest straigh-to-movie sequels if not the best one. Melody is a character that kids our age can relate to. The only thing is her running away, but come on, it's not like The Little Mermaid II is going to persuade us to run away. This is a sweet tale about how one girl's wish to become a mermaid becomes true. The only thing I would even begin to think about when it comes to your "cleanliness" rating is Ariel and Eric kissing in the last scene. But that's not bad either. I just love this movie so much!!

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