Great musical numbers dive beyond the surface, but “For the First Time” just reinforces what we already know. Most of what Ariel is singing is exactly what’s on screen, merely telling us everything we can see with our own eyes. The issue here is that it feels more like narration than an actual song.

It’s certainly the best of the new additions, and that’s largely thanks to Bailey, who sings it so beautifully and fills it with personality. The song explores how Ariel feels now that she’s on land. “For the First Time,” gives Bailey the chance to show off more of her vocal talents - a smart move since she’s far and away the best part of the movie. It’s hard to believe the gist of Eric’s plight - that he’s unable to live life as he wants - when he’s doing exactly what he wants while singing about his so-called restrictions. But sure enough, just a few seconds later, he’s singing on… a ship. Plus, the whole issue of Eric feeling trapped is drastically undercut by the fact that his mother, just moments before he began singing, told him he can never get on a ship again. Every one of them has stood the test of time, and that’s rarely clearer than in the stunning new rendition of “Part of Your World,” courtesy of our new Ariel, the wonderful Halle Bailey. The 1989 film is a legitimate masterpiece, and its songs, from composer Alan Menken and lyricist Howard Ashman, are perhaps the film’s greatest strength. Part of the increased runtime comes from new music there are three new songs added to the mix - “Wild Uncharted Waters,” “For the First Time,” and “Scuttlebutt.” There’s also an additional reprise for the classic “Part of Your World,” as well as lyrical changes/omissions to two of the original songs: “Poor Unfortunate Souls” and “Kiss the Girl.” Everything about this film is bigger than its predecessor. Disney’s latest live-action adaptation, The Little Mermaid, is here! As per studio standards, it is a significant expansion of the 1989 animated classic, increasing it by a whopping 52 minutes.

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