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This week's Throwback Thursday has a slight tie to this Saturday's Express Compress podcast where you may just hear me talk a bit more in depth about this and other Disney movies.
Much like how Disney has begun to turn all of its classics into live action movies -- there was a time when Disney really loved to make a sequel to movies that often didn't seem necessary and could be met with mixed reviews.
This included continued stories for Pocahontas, Aladdin, Bambi, The Lady and the Tramp and many more that didn't exactly feel necessary -- at least in this movie viewer's opinion.
However, one that I actually did enjoy to some degree was "The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea," which was released 2000 -- roughly 20 years after the first movie hit theaters. It also never graced the silver screen, only going direct to VHS. (Man, do I miss physical releases of things.)
A quick rundown for those who may not have watched the first movie: It follows Ariel (Jodi Benson), a mermaid and the youngest -- and more rebellious -- daughter of King Triton who gives up her voice to the evil witch, Ursula, in order to walk on land to meet her true love, Prince Eric.
As is the way with Disney movies, in the end Ariel manages to get her voice back and retain her ability to stay on land to be with Eric.
The second movie picks up after the couple has a daughter -- Melody (Tara Charendoff). When Ariel and Eric present their baby to King Triton and the rest of the undersea world, they're attacked by Ursula's sister Morgana (Pat Carroll -- who also voiced Ursula) who is looking to avenge her sister's death.
Triton is able to save Melody and Morgana flees, promising to get her revenge.
To save Melody, Ariel and Eric decide to keep the former mermaid's other life a secret from their daughter and keep her away from the sea until Morgana is caught.
Of course, many years go without a sighting of the sea witch, so Melody is forced to remain inside castle walls and is constantly told to stay away from the ocean.
You can imagine the daughter of a former mermaid princess isn't exactly keen on that idea.
Without giving too much away, "The Little Mermaid II" sort of flips the script on the first film, but adds in a twist.
Melody isn't interested in any merman which would lead to her interest in the ocean.
Instead she just feels a draw that she can't exactly ignore. This becomes even more apparent when she discovers a locket during one of her secret swims in the ocean that has her name on it. A locket that was gifted to her by King Triton when she was born that Ariel didn't keep.
We get to see the roles reverse for Ariel. She no longer gets to be the headstrong teenager disobeying a parent. Instead, she's in her father's shoes trying desperately to keep her stubborn child safe from harm.
And, given how Melody is just like her, you can imagine it doesn't go how she wants it.
Overall, I felt like "The Little Mermaid II" served as a decent sequel. It wasn't one I would have wanted, but I enjoyed it for the most part.
It gave you the nostalgia of old characters with some new dynamics and a familiar villain.
Overall though I thoroughly enjoyed the change in motivation for Melody. "The Little Mermaid" is a movie I enjoyed, but mostly for its animation and the singing (Poor Unfortunate Souls is a bop).
However, I never really loved Ariel's motivation for doing what she did, centering around her saving one guy from drowning and falling immediately in love. I'm a little too logical and I do feel like you should get to know a guy a bit more before you sell a part of yourself to a sea witch to go see him. But maybe that's just me.
The second movie focused more on an origin story and tossed in a bit of sisterly revenge, which made it a fun ride.
It certainly wasn't one of Disney's best sequels but it was one of the better one's in my opinion. Every now and again I get the urge to sit down and watch it. If you haven't watched it before, I'd recommend giving it a shot. You can see if maybe I'm just insane or not.
"The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea" is rated G and may be watched on Disney+.
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Laura Jameson is Managing Editor of The Express.