The Slender, but Otherwise Average-Sized Mermaid

*All pictures owned by Disney

     I promise, not all of these posts will be about Disney movies, but they seemed like a fun place to start this blog, particularly since people in general are familiar with them.  I'm thinking my next post will be about a TV show.  Doing my analysis on Beauty and the Beast got me in the mood of nostalgic times going to the theater growing up.  My family went to see this movie I'm about to discuss between Christmas and New Years Eve of 1989 (around December 28th or thereabout).  We had originally been going to see All Dogs Go To Heaven, but it was sold out, so this was our second choice.  We saw it in the theater next to the Tyler Mall in Riverside, where a Barnes and Nobel store now stands (there's still a mall theater, just not the same one).  I was a few weeks from my eighth birthday, and going to see this movie on the big screen was truly magical to me.  It ceased being magical almost a year later, in the fall of 1990, when it came out on video.  By that time, I was eight and a half, and had a lower tolerance for nonsense.  My neighbor friend wanted to watch the movie every day when I went over to her house after school.  I got really sick of it, but she never did.  I got to the point where I could quote the whole thing.  Perhaps I still can!  Not the most useful skill, but it's come in handy at a few social functions where certain party games involved guessing lines from movies.  I don't think I've actually sat through this entire film from beginning to end since 1990.  Anyway, without further ado, let's look at Disney's 1989 masterpiece, The Little Mermaid.

     Like many Disney movies, this story is based very loosely on a fairy tale of the same name.  In the original story by Hans Christian Anderson, the mermaid faces consequences for her actions, and ends up turning into sea foam.  I guess the folks at Disney thought that might be too traumatic for the wee folk, so they made a consequence-free story about a rebellious princess, a tyrannical but loving father, an adorable fish, a dumb seagull, and a poor crab caught between a rock and a hard place (FYI, I think Sebastian is the real protagonist of the story, and the one who deserves the most sympathy, as you'll see!).

     The story starts with some sailors on a ship, including a young man named Eric, who is supposedly a Prince (but he speaks with a perfect "newscaster" American accent, so I have no idea what he is prince of!  I have an unsubstantiated theory that he's really from Oregon, and was just his high school's homecoming king, and let the title go to his head).  The other sailors tell Eric about King Triton, the legendary ruler of the mer-people (who is Eric's future father-in-law, but we're getting ahead of the story).  

     The scene changes to the underwater kingdom.  It's some impressive animation, but somehow, it reminds me of the animation in that God Makers movie that teaches Evangelicals what Mormons believe.  Anyway...these mer-people are heading to the royal concert to hear the princesses sing.  The star of the show will be Ariel, the youngest princess.  Sebastian, King Triton's right hand...crab...has been practicing with them for a long time.  The song begins, and the six older sisters pop out of shells and sing this song that praises their father's greatness and ability to choose good names for them (I guess everyone has a talent, right?).  Each then proceeds to say her name, all of which begin with the letter A.  Very clever, King Triton.  You're not the only parent to go for a letter theme, but we'll pretend we're amazed.  He beams with pride as this song continues.  Then, they announce (still singing) that their youngest sister will be making her musical debut, and a shell opens up, supposedly with Ariel inside...and yet it is empty!  Everyone gasps, and King Triton shouts "Ariel!"  

      Alright, first of all, the success of any performance is based on everyone showing up.  Why didn't Sebastian check and make sure everyone was there beforehand?  I have directed a few programs in my day, and I never just assumed people would be in place.  We had everyone show up early and run through it a few times the day of.  But oh well.  It's a plot device to illustrate that Ariel has let her father down.  

     Meanwhile, Ariel has forgotten all about her commitment to be in this performance.  She and her buddy Flounder are exploring a sunken ship, looking for human things to add to her collection.     

     Flounder is a bit hesitant, in contrast to Ariel's adventurous spirit.  She calls him a guppy, which seems to offend him.  In spite of an incident with a shark that almost eats them, she finds a few items that intrigue her, a fork and a pipe.  It never shows the underwater characters eating in this movie, so I have no idea what eating utensils they have, but Ariel clearly doesn't know what a fork is.  Hasn't got a clue.  But their seagull friend Scuttle just might!

     Scuttle reminds me of what some call a "happy drunk."  I don't think he's supposed to be intoxicated, but he's not quite right.  Ariel has complete trust in him to know what human things are.  Why wouldn't she trust him?  Makes sense, after all.  Why wouldn't he know all about human things?  He's...a seagull after all.  Scuttle happily tells her that the fork is called a "Dinglehopper," and is used for hair styling.  Doesn't he just look like someone who knows exactly what he's talking about?  

     Ariel takes his explanation as pure gospel.  As for the pipe, Scuttle tells Ariel it is a musical instrument, which jogs her memory.  She realizes she was supposed to have been at the concert.  Oops.  Better go straighten it out.  She is not received with the warmest welcome by her father and Sebastian.  She makes a bunch of excuses, such as, "I forgot."  I remember being seven-and-three-quarters (more like seven and eleven-twelfths) watching that, thinking "I forgot" sounded like a lame excuse.  My baby sister (age four at the time) used that one a lot, and my parents never bought it.  Even then, my little sister was slowly growing out of that excuse.  Ariel was four times my little sister's age and hadn't come up with something better than that?  In spite of the magic of seeing this movie on a big screen, I wasn't sure this Ariel character was very bright.  She seems even less bright later on.  I was also a little distracted the whole time wondering how the mer-people go to the bathroom, but we won't even try to solve that one!

     King Triton is already on edge, but he becomes furious when Flounder lets it slip that they went above the water to see Scuttle.  Triton really is a pretty wrathful guy.  He demands, "You went up to the surface again, didn't you?  Didn't you!?!"  I don't know why, but that line always cracked me up and was probably my favorite line in the movie.  Ariel gives Flounder a dirty look and then tells her father, "Nothing happened."  That's not exactly an answer to the question, nor is it even a very clever evasion.  Ariel and Triton's real problem is that they're both really hot-headed and strong-willed.  They really do say some pretty melodramatic things to each other in this movie.  Sheesh!  They need a mediator, but I guess 19th century undersea kingdoms didn't have that kind of counseling available yet.  Really, Ariel owes her father and Sebastian an apology.  That would probably have gone a long way, much further than her lame excuses.  

     The conflict escalates, and Ariel is hurt by her father's rebuke.  She swims away, with Flounder following (Flounder is adorable, but he's kind of Ariel's yes-man with no purpose of his own.  It is really clear that their friendship is Ariel controlling him.  You'll notice she doesn't seem to have any mer-friends, or even any friends her age.  Flounder is probably the only one who is happy to let her call the shots.  I guarantee I would never have been friends with her!).  They go to her secret collection of human items she's found (but knowing Scuttle's accuracy record, she probably doesn't know the correct name or function of any of them!).  

     Meanwhile, Triton wonders if he was too hard on Ariel, but he comes up with a great idea.  He decides Sebastian can babysit Ariel and keep her out of trouble.  Great idea.  Ariel is hundreds of times bigger than him.  He is not physically able to stop her from doing anything she wants to do.  But Triton is pretty forceful with Sebastian too, basically threatening him if he doesn't do it.  So poor Sebastian is caught between a rock and a hard place.  This poor guy is going to have ulcers by the end of this!  

     Sebastian finds Ariel in her collection, singing about wanting to be part of the human world.  He is horrified, because he now realizes that the situation is even worse than he knew.  How is he going to convince her to obey her father now?  But if he doesn't....well, it won't be a good day for Sebastian.  I think Sebastian should find a new employer.  

     Ariel's song, Part of Your World, talks about how she wants to walk and run and stay all day in the sun.  When this song was really popular, my friend's older brother used to make fun of it, saying, "I don't know anybody who spends all day outside in the sun!  We go inside sometimes.  No one says [here he took on a mocking voice], 'I want to play outside all day, just like the Little Mermaid wanted to!'" and all of us would crack up at the very valid point he was making!

     After Ariel's little song, and Sebastian's horror, a shadow passes from overhead.  A ship is above them.  It happens to be the ship with Prince Eric and his comrades.  Ariel goes up to investigate (in spite of the fact that she just got in trouble for going to the surface).  She sees Eric on the ship, and falls head over fins in love.  Attraction at first side can definitely happen and can lead to falling in love, but love is a choice, made over a period of time getting to know and appreciate the person, wanting what is best for them, perhaps hoping you are part of that best for them.  Ariel is a hormonal sixteen-year-old.  Doctor Dobson wrote a book about people like her entitled, The Strong-Willed Child.  She has no idea about anything, but she believes herself to be in love.  

     We also learn that it is Eric's birthday.  He is given a statue of himself, which doesn't thrill him.  

     Just then, a storm passes over, and, in a very short amount of time, it destroys the ship and almost kills everyone.  Ariel, knowing an opportunity when she sees it, rescues a drowning Eric and brings him to shore.  She sings to him, and Eric slowly regains consciousness, getting just a glimpse of Ariel before she swims away.  But she is convinced that she will one day be part of his world!  If this were Back to the Future, we could say, "That's the power of love," but since it isn't, I'd say it's just a teenager with strong emotions really wanting something badly.  When I was sixteen, I really wanted to win a trip to New York City to see a Broadway show.  I had this "sense" that I'd get it, but I didn't.  

     Sebastian tries to convince Ariel that it's better under the sea, in what I consider the best song in the movie, Under the Sea.  This is the only really big number in the movie, with all sorts of sea animals helping Sebastian make his point.  

     Anyway, Sebastian is caught between his loyalty to Triton and his desire to just let things pass.  Triton starts noticing Ariel acting funny, and comes to realize she has a crush.  He thinks it's a merman, and tries to pry Sebastian for information.  Sebastian thinks he knows all about the incident with Eric, and lets it spill, arousing the kings fury.  

     Meanwhile, Ariel discovers that the statue of Eric has landed in her collection, and she is very excited about this.  I mean, if you can't be with the one you love, why not comfort yourself with a statue of them, right?  It's almost the same thing.  Oh, puh-leeze, Ariel!

     Triton discovers her talking to this statue (accepting an imaginary proposal) and has a colossal fit.  He uses his trident to destroy everything in her collection.  While I think Ariel has been a rebellious brat up to this point, I don't think Triton has handled her in the best way.  He has been bad-tempered and harsh, without hearing her out and talking about these things with her.  

     This is the best point at which to explain that all this time, Triton's arch-nemesis, the sea witch Ursula, has been watching Ariel, waiting for her chance to use Ariel's rebellion to gain an advantage over Triton.   She summons Ariel, and tells her that she can help her be with her true love Eric.  She sings a really disturbing song called "Poor Unfortunate Souls," about how she helps people, but if they don't pay the price, they belong to her.  Her whole garden is made of of seaweed-looking people who try to stop Ariel from going to her.  That is what Ariel will become if she takes Ursula up on her offer, but doesn't follow through on her end.  Ursula tells Ariel she can make her human for three days.  If she can get Prince Eric to kiss her in that time, she'll remain human, but if not, she'll first turn back into a mermaid, and then into one of Ursula's garden people.  And there's one more catch.  Ariel has to give Ursula her voice.  Ursula is smart.  She knows that Eric was deeply touched by Ariel's singing when she rescued him, Without Ariel's voice, it will be a much bigger challenge to get Eric to kiss her.  Ursula produces a contract, which Ariel glances at.  It is clear she can read.  She grudgingly signs it, proving she can write.  I'll return to this...

     Ariel's voice is taken out of her throat by two creepy ghost-like hands.  It always makes my throat hurt to watch that part!  She is then transformed into a human, but can no longer breathe underwater.  She almost drowns right there, but Sebastian and Flounder help her to the surface.  

     Once she's at the surface, Disney carefully avoided showing Ariel inappropriately exposed.  Scuttle helps her make some clothes out of the sail of a boat.  Just then, Eric shows up, and he seems to recognize her.  His heart leaps, thinking she is the girl who rescued him, who has haunted his dreams ever since.  You know, besides Sebastian, I feel the most sorry for Eric in this whole movie.  He is played as a pawn in this whole thing.  When it comes to light Ariel can't talk, he his disappointed, but thinks she must be in trouble, and invites her to go with him.  I'll add that Eric's dog Max is the smartest character in the movie.  He knows who Ariel is all along.  Oddly, he can't talk, but the sea animals can.  That's inconsistent.  

     It's true that Ariel can't talk, but she has demonstrated that she can write.  My second-grade self watching this in 1989 wanted to punch her for being so dumb as not to pick up a pen and write out the whole story for Eric to read, explaining everything to him.  He could have kissed her, she could have gotten her voice back, and the problem would be solved!  I know, I know, if that happened, we wouldn't have a movie, but at this point, we already have half a movie anyway.  And that is too big a plot hole to ignore.  

     Ariel makes a fool of herself at the castle, following Scuttle's advice about human objects. 

     Poor Sebastian has gone from the frying pan into the fire, almost literally!  He ends up almost being cooked by the palace's French chef.  This poor guy can't catch a break!  I'll add, this scene with the chef was my dad's favorite scene in the movie.

     Meanwhile, back under the sea, Triton has a search party looking for Ariel, and says no one will sleep until she returns.  He really is kind of over the top, isn't he?  

     Ariel and Eric spend some time together, but her lack of speaking seems to create a barrier (no fooling!).  And at the same time, Ursula is working against her.  Her two eels, Flotsam and Jetsam, knock over the rowboat Eric and Ariel are in, just before they kiss.  I need to back up.  This scene with them in the boat is really awkward!  Sebastian is trying to make it really romantic.  Scuttle is bellowing out of tune.  About halfway through the song, Eric says he feels bad not knowing Ariel's name and suggests that maybe he could guess.  He throws out a few, names and then Sebastian whispers her name in his ear.  He hears this and says, "Your name is Ariel?" to which she nods enthusiastically. Eric says her name is pretty, and the song continues, culminating in the almost-kiss and boat being knocked over.  Why doesn't Eric seem confused about who whispered Ariel's name in his ear?  He just accepts this without question!?  Maybe he regularly hears voices and has grown accustomed.  He's a little simple, which means he fits in well with everyone else in the movie...but I still feel really sorry for him.  He's a nice guy who wants to do right and be nice.    

     Ursula goes a step further then, and transforms herself into a beautiful woman named Vanessa, who looks just like a brunette version of Ariel.  She has Ariel's stolen voice, and she is able to come onto land and put Eric under her spell.  The next morning, he announces that he and Vanessa will wed that night!  Everyone around Eric is surprised by the abruptness of this, but none of them seem to notice his vacant stare and distant tone of voice.  He's under a spell and only Ursula/Vanessa knows.  Poor Eric!

     Ariel finds out and is devastated.  The wedding will be held at sunset on a ship, just out of the harbor.  Ariel and her three friends are able to get there just in time to stop the wedding!  Scuttle does his first very useful thing in the entire movie.  He snatches the seashell necklace, containing Ariel's voice.  The necklace falls on the floor, and Ariel's voice comes out of it, singing, and goes back into Ariel's throat.  Eric's eyes clear up as the spell is broken, and he is aware now.  He instantly knows Ariel was the one who rescued him all along.  They are about to kiss, but the sun sets, and, since it is the third day, Ariel turns back into a mermaid.  Awkward!

     Vanessa turns back into Ursula, and takes Ariel back to the sea.  She is confronted by King Triton, and reveals that Ariel has sold herself to her.  Triton tries to destroy the contract, but when that doesn't work, he changes his name as the signer.  He becomes one of Ursula's seaweed people in Ariel's place.  This is the only slightly good message in this movie, self-sacrifice.  I admire that aspect of it.  It also shows that our sin can hurt others.  Ursula declares herself the new ruler of the kingdom.  She takes King Triton's trident, but before she can use it, Eric stops her with a harpoon.  In trying to kill Eric, Ursula accidentally kills Flotsam and Jetsam.  Enraged, she uses the trident to make herself grow to an enormous size.  She creates a storm, causing wrecked ships from the ocean's bottom to rise up.  Eric is able to steer one of them into Ursula, killing her.  As soon as she is dead, the seaweed people from Ursula's garden (including King Triton) are restored to themselves.  

     Triton sees that Ariel really loves Eric, so he uses the trident to transform her into a human again.  She and Eric wed, and the story ends happily ever after.  Pretty decent of Eric not to hold everything against her!  She almost brought him down with everyone else!  

     Here are the morals of this movie.  When you're in charge of any sort of performance, make sure your people show up before you actually start it!  Seagulls aren't really the best ones to ask about human paraphernalia.  If you are facing too much pressure in your job, start looking for something else (hint: Sebastian!).  Apparently, fish, crabs and seagulls can speak, but dogs cannot.  Statues are not appreciated birthday gifts, but it is possible for someone else to fall in love with a statue of you.  When you save someone's life, make sure you tell them your name before you swim away.  Never make a deal with a sea witch!  Humans can't breathe underwater!  If you can read and write, use those skills!  If someone unseen whispers things in your ear, question it!  If someone you know has a distant look in their eye and is acting irrationally, question it (they just might be under a sea witch's spell!).  Sixteen-year-olds who almost destroy kingdoms are perfectly ready for marriage.  

     This movie does, in a sense, show the consequences of rebellion, but it really ultimately shows Ariel getting her own way in the end, which I think is a very poor message.  She never shows true remorse.  There is no one in this film that I admire, with the possible exception of Max the smart dog.  I feel very badly for Sebastian and Eric, but Sebastian is given to pressure, and Eric isn't real swift.  King Triton shows real, sacrificial love for his daughter, but he is kind of a vindictive guy.  As I said, I haven't intentionally sat down and watched this from beginning to end since 1990.  I've seen bits and pieces since then, and can probably still quote it from watching it so many times thirty years ago!  I feel an odd mix of nostalgia and annoyance at the thought of this movie.  I don't have a strong desire to watch it, but maybe I will one day.  

     Next time, I'm leaning toward analyzing a television show.  I have some ideas, but if you have any you'd like to hear analyzed, let me know!