A film released this week by Disney received mixed reviews from conservatives after the initial trailers suggested that the movie would be a ‘woke-a-thon,’ as one conservative film critic suggested.
Many prominent conservatives criticized the movie for featuring a ‘drag queen’ Ursula, environmentalist themes, and a song from the 1980s movie was rewritten to include themes of ‘affirmative consent.’
The remastered version of the 1980’s movie ‘The Little Mermaid’ was officially released on Friday, May 26th.
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Conservatives speculated that the movie would be a flop after underwhelming presale numbers, where it did even worse in foreign markets such as China, where it only netted $13,000 in presales.
The Little Mermaid made just $13,000 in presale tickets in China, and yet its normal average joes like us who have to endure endless lessons about racism and wokeism from idiots. 🙄
— CAMILLE PAGLIA STAN✨ (@AgingWhiteGay) May 27, 2023
Still, box office numbers from this weekend seem to prove them wrong, as the movie is projected to net a record-setting $120-130 million on its opening weekend.
Box Office: ‘The Little Mermaid’ Sprinting to $125M-Plus Memorial Day Debut https://t.co/B2JKJkBsrt
— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) May 27, 2023
Melissa McCarthy, who plays the villain Ursula in the movie, openly said that drag queens inspire her character.
‘I just hope to do every incredible drag queen proud,’ McCarthy told Deadline.
People across the country have pushed back against attempts to normalize drag queen performances for children in pop culture and schools through events like drag queen storytime.
Iconic American companies such as Bud Light, Disney, and recently Walmart have been subjected to boycotts from conservatives over their woke turn on cultural issues.
Disney down 33% Bud 26% Target lost 8 billion in a week, Keep it up we're Winning.
Now Walmart
gets the Bud Light treatment over drag queen Pride books https://t.co/w6q2nll4xZ via @MailOnline— Daniel Thornton (@Panamadan61) May 25, 2023
Some people also mocked the new movie for changing the lyrics of a song used in the old version.
A song from the 1989 version of The Little Mermaid was rewritten to make Prince Eric ask for ‘affirmative consent’ from Ariel before kissing her.
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In the 1989 version, the crab sang: ‘Possible she wants you too/There is one way to ask her/It don’t take a word, not a single word/Go on and kiss the girl.’
The lyrics were modified in the remake to tell the Prince to ask for her consent.
‘Possible she wants you, too/Use your words, boy, and ask her,’ read the new lyrics.
One Twitter user expressed frustration at the woke modifications to the song.
Put on a random Disney playlist at work and the new little mermaid songs are on. They changed kiss the girl to involve consent. Nothing can be left alone ðŸ«
— Sabrina Cesaratto (@Sabrina_Ces) May 25, 2023
Some right-of-center critics have also defended the movie, with Christian Toto of the Hollywood in Toto saying that despite recasting certain characters, the film’s political messaging is rather subtle.
‘The run-up to the film’s release suggested another Disney woke-a-Thon, but the film doesn’t live down to that description,’ Toto told The Washington Times.
He said that Halle Bailey’s performance proved she deserved the role for reasons other than political correctness.
‘Halle Bailey’s colorblind casting drew its fair share of critics, but she boasts a lovely voice and pleasant screen presence, shushing the doubters.’
Further, he said that the film ‘never stops to lecture us about the patriarchy or other modern ills’ and that environmentalist themes in the movie are ‘woven gently into the story’s fabric.’
Despite its color-blind casting and modern adaptations, one right-leaning critic has come out praising 'The Little Mermaid.' https://t.co/jCJIiRfLBK
— Inside the Magic (@InsideTheMagic) May 27, 2023
He gave the film generally positive reviews, saying, “This live-action yarn isn’t perfect, but it doesn’t stop cold to lecture us or push the kind of strained, girl-power shtick that immediately wears thin.”
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