If you go into this thinking of the Disney version then yes you will hate this. It is not Disney. At best it would have made a better lifetime made for tv movie than big screen. Basically reporter man caring for and raising his sick niece after her parents death. Looking for a cure they learn of healing water. Go find a circus and learn the water was only like sugar pills makes you think your better for a while. Find mermaid who can't leave because the ring master has her soul. The little girl is kidnapped because reasons. She's special somehow. She not a mermaid but has the heart of one. Makes no sense. The reporter guy goes to save his niece and with the help of a magical gypsy and I guy you'd call his wolfman. They save the mermaid. Insert lame action scene. Ringmaster dies, mermaid gets back to sea, helps not cure just heal the girl and tells them oh a quick swim will make her better. Oh and they save Dumbo. Okay it's not really but might as well be. Why else throw in an elephant that needs saving? Would I recommend that you watch it with kids? No. Not due to anything bad just it's slow and little to no action so especially kids would get bored. If I had had to sit and watch it in theaters I'd have hated it. Its almost snooze worthy.

As an adult, I expected more. I knew this wasn't like the original story but the title little mermaid isn't right. They should have called it something else like the curse of the mermaid.. I do believe kids will like te movie and thats why I gave it 5 stars.