Halle Bailey is currently receiving a lot of praise for her big-screen debut as Ariel in ‘The Little Mermaid’ which hit theaters on May 25. The actress had previously received a lot of backlash because, according to some people, she did not fit the character due to her skin color.
After the movie was released, Halle’s performance was met with critical acclaim and the general consensus is that she was born to play the role. According to Coleman Spilde from the Daily Beast: “Even when its pacing stumbles, The Little Mermaid remains magical, thanks largely to the brilliance of Bailey, who is destined to bring this iconic role to a new generation.”
Similarly, Peter Debruge from Variety claimed that Halle Bailey is the only reason why it is worth revisiting this Disney Classic. Maureen Lenker, from Entertainment Weekly, said something similar:
“Bailey is breathtaking as Ariel. Her rendition of “Part of Your World” (the best “I want” song ever written) transmogrifies the already classic tune into something as otherworldly as undiscovered sea life. But it’s her altogether human performance that makes it impossible not to fall in love with her. Her Ariel is less a tempestuous teenager with a crush than she is a blossoming and curious young woman.”
Even if the movie got a lot of negative press in the beginning, It is safe to say that ‘The Little Mermaid’ will be a huge success and it will be the ultimate proof that race does not matter when it comes to creating and re-telling an amazing story.
