It’s little surprise Halle Bailey is lovely in the new live-action “The Little Mermaid.” We all knew she would be – we’ve heard her sing, after all. Unless she spontaneously sprouted a second head, there was no way she wasn’t going to be a phenomenal Ariel.
What might come as a surprise to many moviegoers is just how dreamy the new Prince Eric is. Jonah Hauer-King is a dimpled, dark-haired and blue-eyed dreamboat with an impressive set of pipes, and his character has been thoughtfully updated for 21st-century audiences. He’s even given his own original song by Alan Menken and Lin-Manuel Miranda, “Wild Uncharted Waters,” a yearning ballad to stand alongside Ariel’s “Part of Your World.”
The film takes great pains to show us Prince Eric is so much more than a pretty face, but here’s the thing: He always has been. The new “Little Mermaid” and Hauer-King’s performance are reminders that Prince Eric is the best Disney prince, and it’s time we put some respect on his name.
What’s so great about Prince Eric? We’re glad you asked:
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Prince Eric is a humble hard worker in ‘The Little Mermaid’
Many Disney heroes need to be taught a lesson in humility before living happily ever after with their far superior princesses. Charismatic street rat Aladdin lies to Princess Jasmine, wooing her under false pretenses and only coming clean about his true identity when she’s in mortal peril. Hunky Prince Naveen from “The Princess and the Frog” is so full of himself, he needs to be turned into an amphibian to learn he’s not the sun at the center of the universe. Beast from “Beauty and the Beast” is such a jerk, an enchantress curses him to turn into a literal monster until he can learn to love (and even with that incentive, it takes a while).
Prince Eric, though, needs no such lesson. A dashing, eligible young bachelor, he has every excuse to gallivant about the kingdom, throwing parties and playing the field. Instead, the strapping sailor is hard at work, rolling up his sleeves and tending ship alongside his crew. In fact, he’s so humble that when he’s gifted an ostentatious statue of himself, he reacts with visceral disgust.
Unlike other Disney princes, Prince Eric doesn’t need a woman to teach him how to be a good person – he already is one.
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Prince Eric is in touch with his artistic side
A well-rounded prince is a rare thing. Lest you think Prince Eric is all brawn and no brain, what with all the hoisting of sails with rough men at sea, he’s also very sensitive and in touch with his artistic side, sharing a gift for music with his fair siren. On his day-long date with Ariel, Prince Eric helps his girl try out her new legs by taking her dancing, and in the new version gets a chance to show off impressive vocal skills on par with his paramour’s.
The biggest green flag of all? In the animated “Little Mermaid,” Prince Eric plays the flute. We love a prince secure enough in his masculinity to purse his lips and play a dainty woodwind.
Most importantly, Prince Eric loves dogs
A true test of every man’s character, real or animated, is how he treats animals and service workers, and Prince Eric passes with flying colors on both fronts (an important trait for a woman who’s half-fish). Unlike Beast, Prince Eric is friendly and personable with palace staff and has a chummy relationship with his uptight adviser, Grimsby.
But the cartoon hearts really start to fly when we see Prince Eric with his dog and loyal companion, Max. When a sudden tempest rolls in and Prince’s Eric’s ship catches fire, the crew is quick to evacuate to the lifeboat. Eric, though, refuses to leave behind his faithful furry friend, dodging flames and falling beams as he navigates the burning ship to save Max. Swoon.
“The Little Mermaid” gets a bit of a bad rap viewed through a 21st-century feminist lens: A woman literally gives up her voice in exchange for a man? But if that man is a dog-loving, flute-playing, honorable hunk, and he’s got dimples? That deal’s a bargain.
Ariel was right to fall in love with Prince Eric at first sight, and we’ve been wrong to sell him short ever since.
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