The Little Mermaid First Reactions Are In: "Halle Bailey is Magnificent," "Absolute Joy to Watch"

In just a few weeks, we're finally going to see the long-awaited live-action remake of the Disney classic The Little Mermaid. The film follows the studio's trend for the past several years of adapting some of its animated classics into live-action.

Given the mixed-bag responses to the past Disney live-action remakes, a lot of fans are wondering whether The Little Mermaid will be as satisfying as the animated classic or if it will end up becoming one of the best live-action remakes from the studio to date.

Last night, the film had its world premiere where some of the critics, journalists, and online pundits were able to watch it in advance and were allowed to share their first reactions on social media afterward.

The responses so far have been mostly positive with universal praise towards Halle Bailey's performance as Ariel, especially in the musical numbers. Melissa McCarthy and Jonah Hauer-King are also receiving notices for their performances as Ursula and Prince Eric, respectively.

Some of the reactions have also called it one of the best Disney live-action remakes to date. However, the visual effects receive mixed responses as some called it "murky."

You can check some of the tweets here:

Based on these early reactions, it looks like the film's buzz is off to a good start even if some of the responses pointed out some of their issues or nitpicks on the movie which is normal on every film criticism.

Obviously, you may have a different opinion once you have seen the film yourself, but these early reactions should be encouraging and it's a sign that the buzz will be building up leading to the release by Memorial Day weekend this month.

The film's synopsis reads: "The Little Mermaid is the beloved story of Ariel, a beautiful and spirited young mermaid with a thirst for adventure. The youngest of King Triton’s daughters and the most defiant, Ariel longs to find out more about the world beyond the sea and, while visiting the surface, falls for the dashing Prince Eric."

"While mermaids are forbidden to interact with humans, Ariel must follow her heart. She makes a deal with the evil sea witch, Ursula, which gives her a chance to experience life on land but ultimately places her life – and her father’s crown – in jeopardy."

Also Read: Jude Law Apologizes For Scaring The Cast of Peter Pan & Wendy On Set: "I Did What Every Adult Should Do"

The Little Mermaid is set to release in theaters this May 26. You can check more details about it here.