The Little Mermaid 2: Return To the Sea

For those who have yet to take the bait, this is the latest of Disney's produced-for-video sequels that expand the shelf life of popular characters (WARNING: Lady and the Tramp II is currently in production) while the studio's A-team ply their craft on new state-of-the-art animated features. Like Simba's Pride, this one also focuses on the next generation. Meet Melody, a child "born of sea and shore" to Ariel and Prince Eric. Like Belle, Pocahontas and Mulan before her, the misfit Melody yearns to find her place in the world. Unlike her mother, the headstrong 12-year-old thinks it is under the sea. Unaware of her merfolk heritage, she becomes an unwitting prawn--er, pawn--in a plot hatched by Morgana, Ursula's "crazy sister" (who knew?) to achieve "total domination of the sea." Not to crab, but Return to the Sea is out of its depth when compared to the 1989 classic that ushered in a new golden age of Disney animation. To its credit, Disney netted the original voice cast--including Jodi Benson as Ariel-- to reprise their signature roles, and there are fleeting moments that recapture the magic of the original (such as the rapturous look on the land-bound Ariel's face when she surreptitiously dips her feet into the sea). But this assembly-line production adheres predictably to formula, adding the requisite new sidekicks, a penguin and walrus team named Tip and Dash. Timon and Pumbaa can rest easy. Unless demand warrants purchase, toss this one back. (K. Lee Benson)[DVD Review—Jan. 20, 2009—Walt Disney, 75 min., G, $29.99—Making its second appearance on DVD, 2000's The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea (Special Edition) features a good transfer and Dolby Digital 5.1 sound. Extras include a 10-minute DVD storybook, the bonus short “Merbabies” (8 min.), the deleted song “Gonna Get My Wish” (2 min.), the “Underwater Mer-Venture Challenge Game,” two trivia games, and trailers. Bottom line: a decent extras package for a so-so sequel.]