It’s pretty obvious why most direct to DVD releases have such a bad rep. The movies largely stink. But I have found one that’s actually pretty good – better than Disney Channel’s latest two flicks. It’s The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Beginning, which turned up in stores yesterday. On the off-chance your junior member hasn’t already apprised you of that fact several times over.
Yes, there has been one other direct to DVD sequel to the 1989 Disney film, and an animated TV series, as well.
The story for this third version starts with Ariel and her sisters’ early childhood and the loss of their mother to pirates. King Triton, mourning the loss of his beloved wife, decides to ban music from the ocean kingdom. Fast forward a few years and Ariel is in full adolescent rebellion when she stumbles upon a secret music club headlined by Sebastian, the crab and King Triton’s right-hand crustaceon. Lurking around the palace, looking for an excuse to depose Sebastian is Marina Del Rey, and, gee, secretly performing music against the law – what an excuse.
The music numbers are fun, but there is a real story here, and it works. Okay, Marina is no Ursula, by a long shot, and as villains go, she’s pretty lame. The upside is that you don’t have to worry as much about really young ones being frightened.
At the junket, one of the things that was constantly emphasized was the care the filmmakers took with the lore already established by the film – and I think that’s why the film ultimately works. Jodi Benson is back again, as the voice of Ariel, as is Samuel E. Wright as Sebastian. Sally Field does a terrific performance as Marina’s voice and even does her own singing.
The DVD does feature the usual games and making of flicks. I wouldn’t say they’re worth the price of the DVD, but the film is. Well, I’d rent it first, but then I’m cheap.
The Democratic Convention grinds on. Former President Bill Clinton and vice presidential nominee Joe Biden are up tonight (8/27).
Anne Louise Bannon
yourfamilyviewer.com
