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Parents' Guide to

The Little Mermaid (2018)

By Sandie Angulo Chen, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 8+

Watered-down retelling has poor acting, production values.

Movie PG 2018 85 minutes
The Little Mermaid (2018) Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

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age 8+

Based on 19 parent reviews

JIT
JIT Adult
May 31, 2023
age 8+

I couldn't watch an old cartoon so I just watched this version and I liked it. I think The Little Mermaid 2018 is the cutest movie I have ever seen.

I'm not a mermaid fan or believe in them personally, but this movie made me feel happy that I watched it. True the acting might not be the best, but I think they did a good job on the whole mermaid thing, Ha! Ha! Even though this movie is pretty mithical I say its a good movie to watch, especially if you have young kids. I mean Cam, Ell, and Elizabeth are great characters in the movie so why not watch it. Give it a try!

This title has:

Great role models
Scarlet Holmes
Scarlet Holmes Adult
April 9, 2022
age 7+

Original Mermaid Story

I don't know why this movie has such a poor review. It is a watered down story of The Little Mermaid - but movie isn't Hans Christian Anderson's original story included the tragic death of the little Mermaid, and the almost death of her prince. Anyway, I loved the movie, mostly because it wasn't like The Little Mermaid. True, there is a Mermaid, and she does fall in love - but the rest of the story is quite original. There's mystery, intrigue, a carnival, and an escape plan. It's one of the better Mermaid movies out there, I think.
See all 19 parent reviews

What's the Story?

In this take on THE LITTLE MERMAID, a grandmother (Shirley MacLaine) tells her granddaughters an abbreviated version of Hans Christian Andersen's classic mermaid tale, following it up with a "true mermaid story" of her own, which proceeds to unfold on-screen. In the early 20th century, Cam Harrison (William Moseley), an English reporter living in the U.S. with his sickly young niece, Elle (Loreto Peralta), is assigned to travel to Mississippi and research a circus act's "healing waters." Cam and Elle, who loves mermaids, fairies, and other creatures, attend the circus, where mysterious ringmaster Locke (Armando Gutierrez) announces the main event: the "living mermaid of the Mississippi." Cam interviews local residents who've been temporarily cured of ailments and illnesses by the healing waters. Cam and Elle meet the "mermaid," Elizabeth (Poppy Drayton), who tells Elle that where she comes from, there's a legend of a human girl born with the heart of a mermaid. As Cam and Elle get closer to Elizabeth, it's clear that Elizabeth really is a mermaid -- and that the ringmaster is actually a wizard who can control her.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (19 ):
Kids say (13 ):

Unless your child is the breed of mermaid fan who must see everything possible about the mythological sea creatures, this is one Hans Christian Andersen retelling that families can skip. Despite veteran actors like Drayton (Downton Abbey), Moseley (The Chronicles of Narnia), Gina Gershon, and the brief presence of the legendary MacLaine in the framing story, the acting feels phoned-in, particularly among the supporting ensemble. As the villainous Locke, Gutierrez (who's also one of the movie's producers) gives a particularly amateurish performance. But it's not just the stale overacting that's the problem here, it's the cheesy special effects, the clunky script, and the off-putting historical elements.

For example, why did writer-director Blake Harris need to hire two Brits to play the principal roles when the movie is set in America? Plus, he set the film in the Jim Crow-era Deep South, only to water down the history of segregation by including a black character who's not only close friends with white townsfolk but allowed to eat in the same restaurants and celebrate on the riverboat with everyone else. This isn't the sort of diversity audiences need; this is ignoring the painful history of Mississippi's racial segregation. Bottom line? There's very little to endear most viewers to this disappointing spin on The Little Mermaid.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about whether there are any role models in The Little Mermaid. If so, what character strengths do you think they display?

  • Talk about the differences between this version of The Little Mermaid and other versions, like Disney's. How does this one compare?

  • What do you think about the circus/carnival setting? Why are circus folks so interesting to viewers/readers?

  • How accurately do you think the movie portrays its historical setting? Is it OK to water down uncomfortable realities in movies for kids and families?

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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