Critics had the opportunity to enjoy an early viewing of Disney's upcoming live-action remake of The Little Mermaid, starring Halle Bailey, ahead of its global theatrical release.

Last month at CinemaCon, Disney gave audiences a glimpse of Melissa McCarthy singing “Poor Unfortunate Souls” as Ursula. The film's soundtrack, which features four original songs, is produced by Lin-Manuel Miranda and Alan Menken. In addition to Bailey and McCarthy, the cast includes Javier Bardem as King Triton, Noma Dumezweni as Queen Selina, Jonah Hauer-King as Prince Eric, Jacob Tremblay voicing Flounder, Daveed Diggs voicing Sebastian, and Awkwafina voicing Scuttle.

Initial reactions to the film are overwhelmingly positive for Bailey's portrayal of Ariel. Critics called Bailey "extraordinary" and the general consensus is that the cast's performance stood out the most. While the performances were commendable, one critic mentioned that the film felt "unnecessary" despite Bailey's great performance and the songs' effectiveness. Another critic noted that the film looked "visually rough" in maintaining the under-the-sea setting, but praised Bailey's "gorgeous singing and empathetic charm."

The Little Mermaid premieres on May 26.

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