Parents' Guide to

Scales: Mermaids Are Real

By Sandie Angulo Chen, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 8+

Mermaid coming-of-age drama is forgettable but mild.

Movie PG 2017 92 minutes
Scales: Mermaids Are Real Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

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age 9+

Based on 8 parent reviews

caskali
caskali Adult
September 4, 2020
age 12+

Wow, that was uncomfortable

The entire movie is about a 12-year-old girl going through a rite of passage while predatory adult men (known as the "hunters") violently pursue her and plan to do whatever it takes to get her healing blood for themselves. There's a scene at the end of the movie where the armed hunters have grabbed some mermaids. Two of these mermaids are a mother and her 11-year-old daughter. They are being forcibly held against their will and the hunters are taunting the mom and saying they're taking her child for her blood. Look, I'm a mom. I've watched plenty of second-rate movies with some plot holes. They don't bother me in the slightest. However, my kids and I signed up for silly mermaids on a Friday night and found a movie that, at best, has a creepy vibe and uncomfortable message. No thanks.

This title has:

Too much violence
Too much sex
LBB1968
LBB1968 Parent of 9 and 9-year-old
March 20, 2020
age 8+

Awesome mermaid movie

I think this would be a good movie for anyone 8 and up, as long as they don't get scared easily. There are some hard moments that people can get scared by but there is a happy ending. It's not too lovey-dovey and there is a good message in it. There is kindness and compassion in it. Thank you for reading my review.
See all 8 parent reviews

What's the Story?

In SCALES: MERMAIDS ARE REAL, 11-year-old Siren (Emmy Perry) lives a fairly content life in a town near the ocean. She's an orphan, but her adoptive mom, Tiffany (Elisabeth Rohm), was her biological mother's best friend, and they get along beautifully. Middle school has its ups and downs, especially now that Siren has had to stand up for the sweet new kid, Adam (Jack Grazer), who has a disability (brittle bone disease). Then things start to get weird in science class when it seems the water in a beaker is moving toward her of its own will. After Siren starts to exhibit an odd, overwhelming pull toward water, Tiffany, as well as Siren's best friend, Crystal (Nikki Hahn), and Crystal's mom, Quinn (Kimberly Hidalgo), reveal that Siren is, in fact, a "half-breed" mermaid, and that the town is full of them (Tiffany isn't one of them). Siren's powers of transformation (gills, tail, a need to be in the ocean for three years at a time) will come when she turns 12, which will happen in just a couple of weeks. As Siren adapts to this staggering new information, she discovers that Adam's father is part of a group of "mermaid hunters" who want to capture the sea creatures for their blood, which can supposedly heal the sick.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (8):
Kids say (25):

Although it has a tween-friendly, easy-to-follow plot, this mermaid adventure also has some weak performances that make it difficult to invest in the story. Aside from Rohm, who has all too frequently been typecast as a burdened mom, and Morgan Fairchild, who's best known for her TV work in the '80s and early '90s, the cast isn't particularly memorable. Perry's delivery, along with that of several of the adult supporting characters, is stiff and overdone, making Scales seem less polished than a Nickelodeon or Disney TV movie.

If this and the Weiner Dog franchise are any indication, writer-director Kevan Peterson specializes in the kind of family fare that kids might enjoy but parents will want to skip. There's nothing particularly joyful or compelling about this mermaid story, and the low-budget magical aspects are corny and eye-rolling (is receiving a sparkly bikini top really the highlight of mermaid "perks"?). Scales includes a rather uninspired romance between Siren and Adam, who calls her "pretty" so often that it's almost creepy. Their friendship starts off sweet, with Siren keeping his bullies at bay, but the puppy love is unnecessary, considering they're just 11-12 and new acquaintances. While this movie could appeal to tweens who are interested in mermaid tales, there are far better films in the magical sea-creatures genre.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about Scales: Mermaids Are Real's emphasis on sisterhood and how fellow female mermaids help and protect one another. Do you think the movie offers a positive representation of girls and women? Which characters are role models?

  • Why do you think stories about mermaids and magic are so popular with kids? How does Scales compare to other mermaid-themed films?

  • Talk about the movie's messages regarding puberty and growing up. Do you agree that those changes can make adolescents feel unsettled and moody (even when they're not transforming into mermaids)?

  • Were any parts of the movie scary to you? How much scary stuff can kids handle?

  • How does the movie handle bullying? Kids: Have you experienced anything like that in real life?

Movie Details

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Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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