Re-Watching The Little Mermaid on Disney+: Why the Cut of One Iconic Ursula Moment Still Makes Me Mad

"Disney's live-action remake of The Little Mermaid disappoints fans by cutting iconic Ursula moment from the original movie."

Disney's live-action adaptations of their animated classics have become a popular trend in recent years. One of the latest additions to this lineup is Rob Marshall's The Little Mermaid, featuring Halle Bailey as the titular character and Melissa McCarthy as the villainous Ursula. Having watched the film both in theaters and on Disney+, I couldn't help but feel disappointed that they omitted a significant Ursula moment from the original.

Now available for streaming on Disney+, The Little Mermaid received positive reception for its visual storytelling, courtesy of director Rob Marshall. Despite online criticism of Melissa McCarthy's makeup, I found her portrayal of Ursula to be spot-on and comedic. However, upon revisiting the film, I was even more disappointed that they chose to exclude Ursula's reprise of "Poor Unfortunate Souls," especially considering the exceptional performance by the actress who played Vanessa.

In both the original and the remake, the third act of The Little Mermaid sees Ursula disguising herself as a human named Vanessa, using Ariel's stolen voice against her. The original film features a captivating reprise of "Poor Unfortunate Souls," sung by Ursula, which showcases the sass and charm of the character. As a child, this was one of my favorite moments in the movie, as it added depth to Ursula's iconic song.

Regrettably, Rob Marshall's live-action adaptation opted to drop this reprise. Instead, they introduced a track titled "Vanessa's Trick," which lacks lyrics and features Halle Bailey's vocalizations. While Bailey's vocals are undoubtedly impressive throughout the film, I can't help but feel that the inclusion of lyrics would have made this sequence even more memorable and satisfied fans of the original. After all, who doesn't enjoy more of Ursula's signature song?

Since the release of The Little Mermaid, fans have taken to social media to express their admiration for Jessica Alexander's portrayal of Vanessa. Despite her limited screen time, Alexander effectively captured the villainous essence of Ursula. Fancams featuring her performance even went viral online, further emphasizing the missed opportunity to give her a song, even if she would be lip-syncing to Halle Bailey's voice.

Unfortunately, the exclusion of the "Poor Unfortunate Souls" reprise is not the only change made to the film's soundtrack. Other beloved tracks from the original, such as "The Daughters of Triton," were also scrapped in favor of new songs like the popular "Scuttlebutt" song. Additionally, Prince Eric and King Triton received their own songs, although King Triton's was ultimately cut from the theatrical release.

In conclusion, while I thoroughly enjoyed Rob Marshall's live-action adaptation of The Little Mermaid, I can't help but feel disappointed by the omission of Ursula's reprise of "Poor Unfortunate Souls." The inclusion of this iconic moment would have added depth and nostalgia to the film, satisfying fans of the original and showcasing the exceptional talent of the actresses involved. Nonetheless, the film still offers a visually stunning and entertaining experience for audiences to enjoy.

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