 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
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The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea
- Review Date: October 2, 2005
- G
- Genre: Family and Kids
- 2000
Common Sense Media says
An uninspired rehash of the first movie.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
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.
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?
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.
What families can talk about
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?
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AGE
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.
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AGE
Boring sequel, not worth the time
A complete rip-off of the first movie, very unimaginative, and the new characters aren't even interesting.
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AGE
Cristopher's best movie
I love this movie & best movie in 2000.
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AGE
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+!!!!
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AGE
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.
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AGE
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.
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AGE
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.
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AGE
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.
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| Topics: | magic and fantasy, princesses and fairies, music and sing-along, ocean creatures |
| 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 date: | September 19, 2000 |
| DVD release date: | December 15, 2008 |
| MPAA rating: | G |
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