Barbie in a Mermaid Tale 2
By Sandie Angulo Chen,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Less shopping, more friendship in undersea Barbie adventure.
A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this movie.
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Barbie in a Mermaid Tale 2
Community Reviews
Based on 3 parent reviews
Exactly what we’re trying to move our girls AWAY from
Cute movie
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 this one 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.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
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?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming: March 6, 2012
- Cast: Ashleigh Ball , Kathleen Barr , Kelly Sheridan
- Director: William Lau
- Inclusion Information: Female actors
- Studio: Universal Studios Home Entertainment
- Genre: Family and Kids
- Topics: Magic and Fantasy , Princesses, Fairies, Mermaids, and More , Ocean Creatures
- Run time: 74 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Last updated: June 2, 2023
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