Embedded Files
A Review, a hair lesson, and some things to think about
by Devisadaria Duchine-Khauli
25 May 2023
Hailey Bailey is no newcomer
Hailey Bailey is no newcomer
I was thrilled when I had an opportunity to attend an advanced screening of Disney’s remake of its 1989 version of The Little Mermaid at AMC’s Kabuki Theatre, in San Francisco on Wednesday, 24 May 2023. Disney's announcement of Halle Bailey being cast as the movie's lead prompted some to post children excitedly remarking how the movie’s lead looked like them, with the hashtags #representationmatters, #blackgirlmagic, and #itsabouttime on social media. However, dark hashtags like #NotMyAriel appeared on social media protesting Disney’s casting decision on social media.
Teen Choice Awards
11 August 2019
Getty Images
Halle Bailey is not new to show business. Bailey is half of the singing duo Halle & Chloë, with her fraternal twin sister Chloë Bailey. In addition, both sisters have starred in Grown-ish (a spin-off from Black-ish), Beyoncé’s Lemonade, Nick Cannon’s Wild ‘n Out, and The Disney Family Singalong: Volume II, just to name a few of their accomplishments. While Bailey is no stranger to show business, this is her first major role.
Meet the Cast
Meet the Cast
Melissa McCarthy was cast as Ursula the sea witch. Some questioned if Melissa McCarthy could carry the role. McCarthy proved powerful as Ursula, the sea witch. Throughout her performance, she delivered stinging slaps to the naysayers doubting her casting in the movie, especially during her performance of Poor Unfortunate Souls. I knew Melissa McCarthy could sing, but I didn’t know that she could SING! McCarthy’s screen time was short but her performance in the movie left me wanting to see more of her. However, seeing more of McCarthy could have overshadowed Bailey’s performance, so her screen time seemed just right.
McCarthy as Ursula photo by Giles Keyte
Awkwafina was cast as Scuttle. Her voice, humor, and delivery of snappy comments made her a great casting choice as the northern gannet (a water diving bird), who is Ariel’s adviser on human objects lost at sea.
Daveed Diggs was cast as the voice of Sebastian the crab, the king’s servant and advisor. His humor and banters with Scuttle remained pretty much the same as before.
Spanish actor Javier Bardem played King Triton. In the 1989 animated version, all of Triton’s daughters had names that started with an A; Adella, Alana. Andrina, Aquata, Ariel, Arista, and Atina. In this version, all of King Triton’s daughters except Ariel got name changes. King Triton is the ruler of the seven seas and has seven daughters, including Ariel, who represent those seas or oceans around the globe.
Ariel's Sisters photo by Disney
That being so, it’s fitting that this mythical being’s seven daughters representing these bodies of water would be diverse. The actresses cast as Triton’s daughters were Lorena Andrea as Perla, Simone Ashley as Indira, Karolina Conchet as Mala, Sienna King as Tamika, Kajsa Mohammar as Karina, and Nathalie Sorrell as Caspia. English actor Jonah Hauer-King was cast as Prince Eric and Black-British actress Noma Dumezweni was cast as his mother Queen Selina.
Hauer-King & Dumezweni as Queen Selina & Prince Eric photo by Giles Keyte
In the original, the relationship between King Triton and Ursula wasn’t clear. What is known is that she was banished from the kingdom. However, in the new version, it is revealed that she’s his sister. Talk about popcorn-eating family drama!
The live-action, aided by the CGI animation made for realism. It made me wish that I’d seen the production in 3D. All and all I love the changes, the reworking of the songs, and the diverse cast. Further, the writers made most of the changes make sense.
Now for the criticisms and controversies
Now for the criticisms and controversies
Ariel's locs and a hair lesson
Ariel's locs and a hair lesson
Before delving into the next section, please allow me to provide a brief educational overview about locs and the hairstyle’s history. Please notice that I didn’t use the word “dreadlocks.” That’s because I never like the word as it is a negative term. The word comes from a Eurocentric perspective that Black hair or locked hair is something to be dreaded or unappealing to look at. For that reason, many Blacks refer to the natural style simply as “locs.”
Locs are not simply a hairstyle. It was and is a rebellion for self-acceptance and against the sometimes damaging and oppressive practice of straightening one’s hair in an effort to be accepted by white society and in the job market.
Locs have gained in popularity within the last twenty years, especially amongst millennials. The movie’s 23-year-old leading actress, Halle Bailey is known for her locs. It would have reflected more positively and would have given a stronger impression that Disney is trying to be more inclusive and respectful of others’ cultures had Bailey been permitted to don her signature locs all throughout the movie, instead of locs covered with whisps of reddish blonde straight hair.
Bailey photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Image
Bailey as Ariel by Giles Keyte
What is the situation for boys of color in Disney productions?
What is the situation for boys of color in Disney productions?
Lastly, I wanted to discuss another concern involving representation.
Despite the announcement that Halle Bailey would be playing Ariel in Disney's live-action adaptation of The Little Mermaid, it isn’t lost that Disney has rarely cast Black males in romantic interest roles, even if the leads were Black. This was true for the 1997 live-action adaptation of Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella, starring Brandy Norwood in the lead role and Whitney Houston as her fairy godmother, the 2022 live-action remake of Beauty and the Beast, starring H.E.R. as Belle, and this live-action remake of the Little Mermaid.
Think about this. In the 2020 remake of Mulan, the lead and love interest were Asian. In the 2017 animated production, Coco, the love interests are Latino.
This leads me to ask, would Disney productions with Black leads be considered too Black if the romantic leads were Black, and could the general society handle that? Please, don’t get me wrong. I loved the remakes but I still wonder. All the remakes were notable for their diverse casting, but the absence of representation of Black male actors in love stories can have a negative impact on young Black males’ self-esteem and sense of belonging.
With the exception of Black Panther, Disney's representation of Black and Brown males is problematic, with most being portrayed as sidekicks, villains, or animals. Furthermore, the Black and Brown fathers seen in Disney productions are often depicted as derpy, buffoonish, and childlike. Characters such as Victor Baxter from That’s So Raven, Oscar Proud and Felix Boulevardez from The Proud Family, Randall Leibowitz-Jenkins from The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder, and James Lafayette Jr. from Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur exemplify this. Despite addressing important social issues that affect people of color in these shows, Disney must take notice of its failure to include strong Black fathers in its productions and the effects this can cause children of color down the line.
There is much to love about the movie. Despite my criticisms, it’s worth seeing for children and grownups alike. The new casting, the live-action combined with CGI realness, and the great acting made for one of Disney’s best live-action remakes. The excitement of Black and Brown children upon the announcement of the casting is priceless and makes that worth going to the movie alone. Although I’m recommending that moviegoers see the movie, I’m still calling on Disney to consider the issues I’ve mentioned concerning hair and cast more Black and Brown men as romantic interest leads and as strong, conscious fathers.
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