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Ariel Goes Interactive: Little Mermaid Second Screen Live Parent Review
Just like other Disney properties—errr, princesses before her, Ariel is taking a second swim around the cineplex. However, the current rerelease of The Little Mermaid has a controversial high-tech hook. Subtitled Second Screen Live, it's a two-screen moviegoing experience. You download an app to your iPad that syncs up to the flick and encourages you to engage in a variety of games and activities, from trivia to mazes to sing-alongs.
In parenting circles, the knee-jerk reaction to this concept seems to be overwhelmingly negative. And I get why. As conscientious moms and dads, we're always looking to cut down on our kids' screen time. Also, using mobile devices during movies is pretty much despised by everyone (except for all those rude people who do it! I'm sure you know one or ten). Plus, Second Screen Live is clearly another attempt by Disney to wring even more money out of its already super-lucrative franchises.
But as the mom of an eight-year-old who exclaimed, "That was awesome!" after a recent Little Mermaid Second Screen Live screening, I've got to tell you, I felt the same way. It was like Rocky Horror for families with a digital twist. (As you can see from the photo, my daughter even dressed up.) And since it's very interactive and requires kids to read directions and complete challenges, it's much more stimulating than your average cinema outing.
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Disney originally tried out its Second Screen Live technology with an interactive test screening of The Nightmare Before Christmas in Los Angeles last year. But The Little Mermaid is the first time the studio has rolled out a commercial Second Screen Live release. The film is only playing in select regions, including New York City and Los Angeles, so this is an experiment for Disney to gauge audience interest.
I admit, I was a bit skeptical walking in. I just didn't know what to expect. (I also didn't like the fact that if you don't own an iPad, you're out of luck. As of now, the app doesn't work on Android or even an iPhone.) During a brief intro, Jodi Benson (the actress who voices Ariel) tells you to adjust a few settings, and then the movie and the app begin.
In new animated bits, Flounder and Sebastian guide you through this version of the movie mostly via subtitles since Ursula steals their voices pretty early on. There are interactive activities pretty much constantly, be it trivia, mazes or simple touch-screen video games, all related to what's going on in the movie at that moment. It's a competition, too, since you amass points as you go—Disney is giving out a limited-edition Ariel lithograph to one lucky winner at each showing. Whenever a new challenge is coming, there's a reminder on the movie screen so you don't forget to look down at your iPad. It took me and my daughter a few minutes to get used to switching between screens but by the end we were pros.
As you've probably gathered by now, The Little Mermaid Second Screen Live isn't a good way to introduce your child to this classic. In fact, I think it really works best for super-fans like my daughter, who know every plot point and lyric by heart. She was thrilled to be in a room with other Ariel-obsessed kids. There was definitely a communal bonding experience going on, especially during the sing-alongs. If you're thinking about bringing little kids, be warned: There is a lot of reading involved. Children younger than seven are definitely going to need parental assistance. At the screening we attended, the mom next to me had a preschooler and she didn't even bother breaking out her iPad. It was just too complicated.
So is it worth it? I say yes if your child loves the movie and is a decent reader. I realize you could argue that these kinds of two-screen experiences are contributing to societal ADD, but with so many TV shows doing this kind of thing I think it's here to stay. And I preferred this Second Screen Live experience to just seeing an old movie rereleased in 3D.
The Little Mermaid: Second Screen Live is playing at select U.S. theaters. Visit the website for locations and to buy tickets. Before you go, be sure to download the free app for your iPad or iPad mini with iOS 5.0 or higher.
