At a time when the rapid advancements in artificial intelligence is a major topic of conversation, it’s good to know that sometimes it’s all about the people.
Disney’s latest live-action “reimagining” of one of its animated musical classics, “The Little Mermaid,” succeeds largely because of three folks: leads Halle Bailey and Jonah Hauer-King and director Rob Marshall.
Let’s start with the latter. Having helmed a couple of impressive musical-theater adaptations — 2002’s Academy Award-winning “Chicago” and 2014’s “Into the Woods” — and most recently delivering with the high-stakes sequel “Mary Poppins Returns” in 2018, Marshall was a safe and smart choice for “Mermaid.” There is the occasional misfire — you may have to work not to laugh out loud at a major moment late in the film — but Marshall has crafted an update that should please fans of the original and those new to the story, as well.
