TLDR;
In this episode of Two Dudes Watch Cartoons, Evan and Alex discuss the live-action remake of The Little Mermaid, addressing the casting controversy, the movie's strengths and weaknesses, and its place among other Disney live-action remakes. They also touch on the broader context of Hollywood's reliance on existing IP and the ongoing writers' strike.
- Casting controversy and racism surrounding Halle Bailey as Ariel.
- Disney's live-action remakes as cash grabs and their artistic merit.
- The Little Mermaid remake's length, filler content, and musical numbers.
- Performances of the cast, particularly Melissa McCarthy as Ursula and Daveed Diggs as Sebastian.
- The writer's strike and its implications for the entertainment industry.
Intro [0:19]
Evan and Alex introduce the episode, focusing on the live-action Little Mermaid remake. They acknowledge the controversy surrounding the movie and express their excitement to share their thoughts. They clarify they will discuss both the live-action and animated versions, assuming most listeners are familiar with the original story.
Initial Reactions to Casting [1:16]
Alex shares his positive reaction to the casting of Halle Bailey as Ariel, noting her talent as a singer. Evan recounts an experience where someone expressed racist sentiments about the casting, emphasizing the absurdity of objecting to a Black actress playing a fictional mermaid. They condemn the racist backlash and highlight IMDb's efforts to combat review bombing of the movie.
Disney Live-Action Remakes [7:31]
The hosts discuss Disney's trend of live-action remakes, labeling them as cash grabs that often lack the heart of the originals. Evan expresses a preference for original content and questions Disney's creative output in recent decades. Alex mentions the upcoming Harry Potter TV show reboot and Sony's Spider-Man villain movies as examples of Hollywood's reliance on existing IP.
Personal Experiences Watching the Movie [12:03]
Alex reveals that he watched the movie with his partner, who loved it and was engrossed despite distractions in the theater. Evan shares that he saw the movie alone at a morning showing and observed children enjoying it. Both acknowledge that the movie is primarily aimed at enchanting young audiences.
Characters: Ariel and Prince Eric [15:20]
The hosts begin discussing the characters, starting with Ariel. Evan mentions a humorous tweet about the movie's title not being relevant to Ariel's size. They praise Halle Bailey's singing and discuss the underwater visuals. They also talk about Prince Eric, noting the addition of new material for his character in the remake.
Opening Scenes and Plot Issues [18:26]
Evan criticizes the unnecessary real-world logic and filler added to the movie, particularly regarding Prince Eric's backstory and trade negotiations. Alex defends some of the added context, such as Eric's adventurous nature. They also discuss Ariel's lack of acting skill when she loses her voice and the mixed messaging of Eric falling in love with her while she is voiceless.
Musical Numbers and Direction [23:31]
The hosts discuss the musical numbers, with Alex criticizing the direction and lack of a grand, celebratory feel. Evan notes that the director, Rob Marshall, has experience with musicals. They also mention Jodi Benson's cameo and praise Jonah Hauer-King's performance as Prince Eric.
Sebastian, Flounder, and Scuttle [28:11]
Alex declares Sebastian as the star of the show, praising Daveed Diggs' performance. They discuss the designs of the animal characters, with mixed opinions on Flounder and Scuttle. Evan expresses strong dislike for Aquafina's portrayal of Scuttle, citing her past controversies and the character's underwater scenes.
King Triton and Ursula [36:10]
The hosts discuss Javier Bardem's portrayal of King Triton, finding it somewhat stiff until the emotional final scene. They then praise Melissa McCarthy's performance as Ursula, noting her ability to bring an animated and expressive quality to the role.
Supporting Characters and Filler Content [43:14]
Evan and Alex discuss the supporting characters, including Grimsby and Eric's mother, speculating on a potential subplot between them. They reiterate their criticisms of the movie's excessive filler content and length, with Evan admitting to checking the time frequently during the screening.
Ranking Among Live-Action Remakes and Letterboxd Reviews [47:16]
The hosts rank The Little Mermaid among other Disney live-action remakes, with Evan placing it at the bottom and Alex ranking it above the animal-centric ones. They share humorous Letterboxd reviews, highlighting opinions on Sebastian, Lin-Manuel Miranda's contributions, and Javier Bardem's performance.
Final Thoughts and Ratings [52:57]
Evan concludes that the movie achieves its goal of capturing children's imaginations but is ultimately too long. He gives it a rating of two and a half stars. Alex agrees that it would make a good in-flight movie.
News: Tom Cruise vs. Oppenheimer and Disney Plus Write-Offs [54:56]
The hosts transition to news, discussing reports of Tom Cruise's unhappiness with Oppenheimer taking IMAX screens away from Mission Impossible. They then discuss Disney Plus taking a 1.5 billion content write-off charge after removing titles from the streaming service, linking it to the writers' strike and the changing landscape of Hollywood.
The Writers' Strike and Hollywood's Future [58:18]
The hosts express their support for the striking writers and emphasize the importance of fair compensation. They criticize the industry's race to the bottom and the increasing reliance on reality content. They mention Ryan Reynolds' support for the strike and his ownership of a soccer team.
Speculating on the Next Live-Action Remake [1:02:35]
The hosts speculate on Disney's next live-action remake, with both agreeing on Hercules. They pitch casting ideas, including Brett Goldstein as Hercules, Danny DeVito reprising his role as Phil, and Jeff Goldblum as Hades.
Outro [1:07:04]
The hosts thank their listeners and encourage them to follow their podcast on social media. They remind listeners to like, rate, review, and share the podcast with friends.