The Little Mermaid Review: 5 Ups & 5 Downs

3. Melissa McCarthy Kills It As Ursula

Though many rolled their eyes when Melissa McCarthy was cast as Ursula given her rather lackluster filmography in recent years, McCarthy turned out to be a sublime casting choice, because she knocks the part out of the damn park.

It's honestly tough to consider an actress who might be better suited to playing this riotously over-the-top, boorish villain. McCarthy is clearly having an absolute blast in the role, aiming for the rafters with her hilariously scenery-chewing turn, ensuring her Ursula is an antagonist you'll love to hate.

She steals every scene she's in, enough that some of the longer stretches without her on-screen are not-so-coincidentally also some of the movie's most tedious.

Ursula is a tough part to nail given how extra she was in animated form, but McCarthy makes it look effortless in the most entertaining way.