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Photo courtesy of Disney

The biggest problem with the majority of the live-action updates to classic Disney animated films is that they haven’t been updates at all, choosing to merely regurgitate the moments audiences know and love from the original in a slightly repackaged form. That’s great for nostalgia, but if that’s all viewers wanted, they’d just go back and watch the original.

The Little Mermaid falls into much the same trap, although the filmmakers get at least a little credit for trying to offer something new. The story, of course, remains the same, as Ariel (Halle Bailey) has a fascination with everything above the surface of the ocean. Her rebellious nature, at odds with strict King Triton (Javier Bardem), leads her to spy on a ship with Prince Eric (Jonah Hauer-King) and his crew, putting her in position to save Eric when the ship crashes into rocks.

Now totally enamored of Eric, Ariel is convinced by the sea witch Ursula (Melissa McCarthy) to give up her voice for a chance to live on land and make Eric fall in love with her. Trouble is, despite the help of Sebastian the crab (Daveed Diggs), Flounder the fish (Jacob Tremblay), and Scuttle the seabird (Awkwafina), Ursula has no plans to let Ariel succeed fair and square.

Directed by Rob Marshall and written by David Magee, the film clocks in at nearly one hour longer than the original, going from 83 minutes to 135. They accomplish this feat with the addition of several songs, including ones “sung” by Ariel while she is without voice, a relatively clever way to get into her thoughts during that long stretch. There are also additional scenes that give Prince Eric more of a backstory, making him more than just a pretty face on which to hang all of Ariel’s hopes and dreams.

The new songs are hit-and-miss; Ariel’s “For the First Time” is a fanciful number that fits in nicely, but “Wild Uncharted Waters,” a solo song for Prince Eric, feels unnecessary, and the less said about “The Scuttlebutt,” a rap performed by Scuttle and written by Lin-Manuel Miranda, the better. What most people want to see are how the original songs are done, and they come off well for the most part. The actors’ voices are uniformly good and the staging is engaging.

Other changes seem half-hearted, at best. A vague environmental theme broached at the beginning is quickly dropped. The cast is very multicultural, but haphazardly so. The film is obviously set on and around a Caribbean island, making it natural for The Queen (Noma Dumezweni), Eric’s adopted mother, and other islanders to be Black. But giving Ariel “sisters from the seven seas,” allowing for mermaids of several different races and ethnicities, feels odd and forced, and a little creepy given that King Triton is supposed to be the father of all of them.

The fact that Bailey herself is Black, while great for representation, is neither here nor there in the context of the film. Bailey has a voice that is equal to everything she is asked to sing, and her silent acting is excellent in the middle portion of the film. McCarthy makes for a great Ursula, bringing both humor and pathos to the role. Hauer-King, who bears a similarity to Ryan Gosling, plays Eric in a more well-rounded manner.

The live-action version of The Little Mermaid, like almost all of the Disney remakes, never truly establishes itself as its own unique thing. Still, it’s a thoroughly pleasant watch with some nice performances, which clears the bar for success for this era of Disney history.

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The Little Mermaid opens in theaters on May 26.

Halle Bailey in The Little Mermaid

Photo courtesy of Disney

Halle Bailey in The Little Mermaid.

Photo courtesy of Freeform

Freeform presents Cruel Summer Season 2 Screening

To celebrate the season 2 premiere of Cruel Summer, Freeform will host a special screening in Austin. At the screening, fans will have a chance to see the first episode of season 2. The event will feature leading talent from the show, who will participate in Q&As, moderated by editors from BDG, and giveaways.

Courtesy of the Long Center

These 5 major arts organizations are packing Austin's summer calendar

Summer Calendar

As the days get longer and Austinites' schedules start looking a lot more fun, our premier arts organizations start kicking off their summer programs. Whether you're a regular visitor looking for something new, or completely clueless but ready to jump in, there are plenty of opportunities this summer to break the mold. Take a class or see a movie with friends; it's as involved as you want it to be.

The following five arts organizations offer year-round programming in Austin, often at little or no cost. The summer schedules generally run through the end of May to August or even September. Most require RSVPs.

ACL Radio and The Long Center: The Drop In concert series
Thursdays, May 25 to August 10
It's hard to keep track of all these events, especially a month or more out. The Drop In, a free outdoor concert series held annually by ACL Radio and the Long Center, addresses this calendar fatigue with a timed-release schedule. On Fridays, the organizers announce the artist, and members get to RSVP; on Mondays, RSVPs open up to everyone, and the concert is held that Thursday. This process happens weekly, and will include 21 artists over the course of the series, including some Austin names like Urban Heat, Moody Bank$, and Thebrosfresh.

Announcements will be made weekly by email and on social media. Sign up at thelongcenter.org.

The Contemporary Austin — Laguna Gloria: Art school classes
Starting May 27, dates vary by class
We don't all have the time or funds for an art degree, but art school at the Contemporary Austin — Laguna Gloria can make an artist out of any Austinite. Classes cover pottery, drawing, sound art, even smartphone photography, and more, for a well-rounded course list. Artists who are just starting out might consider "Intro to Art: 2-D," which invites artists to try several different media over seven classes, while some classes like "Advanced Watercolor Techniques" could be good for people who actually did go to art school. There are more than 100 in-person classes for adults and children of various ages in the summer programming, and seven adult classes are available online.

Classes are open to members only, but annual memberships ($50) can be bought at a 20 percent discount using the code ARTSCHOOL. Visit thecontemporaryaustin.org to browse classes.

Paramount Theatre: "Summer Classics"
May 27 to September 2
Summer feels like a good time to catch up on all those film classics you haven't seen, but it's not a time for planning. The Paramount Theatre is doing the work with more than 90 titles slated through the first few days of September, with creative scheduling blocks like "I’m Sure ChatGPT Will Turn Out Just Fine," featuring The Terminator and Robocop on June 11. Partner organizations are helping with curation, including Hyperreal Film Club, We Luv Video, and UMLAUF Sculpture Garden. Some of the screenings will celebrate anniversaries, Pride Month, and more, and some will invite special guests.

Visit austintheatre.org to see the full schedule of films, join the fan club, and more.

Waterloo Greenway: Free community events
June 5 to August 18
The Greenway is undergoing some changes this summer, but throughout the longterm projects, it's still offering lots of free programming for diverse audiences. The first several events for summer celebrate Pride Month, with workout classes, a discussion on identity, performances, and more. Then, the rest of the schedule through August is more varied, addressing different topics pertaining to conservation for kids and adults in different ways. There will also be two outdoor movie screenings, with more fun included like live music and themed snacks.

These free classes are open to everyone. Visit waterloogreenway.org to see the schedule.

Texas Performing Arts
June 10 to August 6
Texas Performing Arts recently announced a new season starting on September 7 with a staging of The Book of Life, but there are a few more events to fill up the summer before it kicks off. A few iconic shows including the long-awaited Hairspray and a rare joint concert by soul singers Gladys Knight & Patti LaBelle will sweep Austinites off their feet. Most of the programming would happen in any season, but two shows are made in collaboration with Summer Stock Austin, a student theater collective: The Wizard of Oz and Grease.

Check texasperformingarts.org for event listings, which vary in type, price, and venue.

Photo by Brian Lannin; courtesy of Bleecker Street

Well-acted The Starling Girl tackles controversial topics in a powerful manner

Movie Review

Religion, as it has been for millennia, can be a tricky topic to address in works of art. Anyone who uses their art to criticize the way things are done in certain groups is liable to be highly criticized themselves, if not worse. Anyone who makes such a film has to have the courage of their convictions to not only make it in the first place, but also put it out for all to see.

The Starling Girlis even more daring, taking on Christian fundamentalists and sexual grooming in one fell swoop. Jem Starling (Eliza Scanlen) is part of a very conservative religious sect in rural Kentucky, one that matches up teenagers for potential marriages and chastises girls for wearing a bra with an outline visible through their shirts.

Jem, like her family, is all-in with her church, but also shows signs of chafing at its restrictions. Her slightly rebellious nature comes to a head when she starts to have an attraction to Owen Taylor (Lewis Pullman), who’s not only the youth pastor but also a 28-year-old married man. Their budding connection slowly gets stronger, leading Jem to question both her faith and her morals.

Written and directed by Laurel Parmet, making her feature debut, the film gains its power through its discomfort. It presents the strictness of Jem’s church in relatively matter-of-fact terms, but it does seem to sit in judgment when it comes to how that harshness pushes Jem and Owen to do things that they might otherwise not ever consider. Only a few scenes don’t directly involve church or talk about religion, making it clear what a massive role it plays in all the characters’ lives.

Parmet seems to want viewers to understand the corrosive effect that a sheltered life like the one Jem leads can have on someone like her. Without any kind of regular contact with secular things (or even slightly secular things like Christian pop music), Jem and a few other characters react in outsized ways when exposed to things outside their world. Owen, who has just returned from Puerto Rico, offers a sophisticated perspective that draws Jem in.

The “relationship” between Jem and Owen echoes the one shown in the recent Palm Trees and Power Lines, although the dynamic is slightly different. While it’s clear from the get-go that the adult male in Palm Trees is a sexual predator, Owen seems to be surprised at the effect Jem is having on him. Not that his hesitancy absolves him of any wrongdoing; the longer he welcomes Jem’s attention, the more of a villain he becomes.

Scanlen plays her part extremely well, showing the naivete and stubbornness of her character while still staying likable. Pullman – looking completely different from his nerdy role in Top Gun: Maverick – walks a fine line set up by his character, and it’s to his credit that the role isn’t completely off-putting.

Eliza Scanlen in The Starling Girl

Photo by Brian Lannin; courtesy of Bleecker Street

Eliza Scanlen in The Starling Girl.

While the story of The Starling Girl is somewhat unique given its cloistered setting, the larger tale it tells is all too familiar and distressing. The well-acted film has a lot of strong points, and heralds Parmet as a filmmaker to watch in the future.

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The Starling Girl is now playing in select theaters.

Photo by Emily Aragones; courtesy of Searchlight Pictures

Cine Las Americas International Film Festival

The Cine Las Americas International Film Festival 25th Anniversary edition will feature more in-theater screenings and programs than ever before. The festival opens with Eva Longoria’s Flamin’ Hot, and will close with Claudia Sainte-Luce comedy Amor y matemáticas (Love and Mathematics).

Competition films include Marie Clements’ Bones of Crows, Clara Cullen’s Manuela, Lorena Padilla’s Martínez, Bernardo Ruiz’
El Equipo (The Team), Gisela Delgadillo’s Kenya, and Miwene: Reclaiming the Amazon, directed by Keith Heyward, Jennifer Berglund, Gange Anita Yeti Enomenga, and Obe Beatriz Nenquimo Nihua.

Screenings take place at both AFS Cinema and Galaxy Theater. For a full schedule of events, go to the festival website.

Photo by Peter Mountain / Universal Pictures

Action-packed Fast X drives home the ridiculousness of series' premise

Movie Review

Believe it or not, we are now over 20 years into the existence of the Fast & the Furious franchise, evolving from a street-racing story to one that could be compared to the Mission: Impossible and James Bond series. Like those other two franchises, Fast now exists as a never-ending globetrotting adventure where the protagonists are called into action wherever their particular set of skills is needed.

How being able to drive really fast in tight areas translates into world-saving derring-do is one of many reasons that the franchise is supremely absurd, with all logic thrown out from minute one of each subsequent film. Fast X, naturally, is no exception, although this time around they at least gift the audience with a great new villain, Dante Reyes (Jason Momoa), son of drug kingpin Hernan Reyes (Joaquim de Almeida), who met his demise in Fast Five.

In his pursuit of revenge, Dante lures/blackmails the core group – Dom (Vin Diesel), Letty (Michelle Rodriguez), Roman (Tyrese Gibson), Tej (Ludacris), Han (Sung Kang), and Ramsey (Nathalie Emmanuel) – into traveling to different places around the world where he has set a series of traps. Along the way, old and new allies and foes like Jakob (John Cena), Deckard (Jason Statham), Tess (Brie Larson), Cipher (Charlize Theron), and more help or hinder the heroes’ efforts.

Directed by Louis Leterrier and written by Dan Mazeau and Fast veteran Justin Lin, the film has the characters almost constantly on the move, which gives the illusion of action. There are, of course, plenty of car chases, explosions, fist fights, and shootouts, although the excitement they generate will likely depend on how hardcore a Fast fan you are. What’s undeniable is that the filmmakers do their best to make the film as over-the-top as any of the previous films, if not more so.

This results in cars, usually driven by Dom, doing things that they are clearly unable to do in the real world, like stop a massive rolling bomb, careen down a dam, and more. As in at least the previous two films, the filmmakers are in on the joke, having characters make fun of certain situations or engage in stunts that are so preposterous that the only natural reaction is to laugh at the sheer gall of putting them on screen in the first place.

The most enjoyable aspect of the film by far is the performance of Momoa, who has a ball making Dante into a cackling, monstrous bad guy who, despite Momoa’s beard and burliness, also comes off as androgynous in style and demeanor. For a series where the stakes are often ephemeral and death is rarely a true threat for the main characters, Dante feels like a breath of fresh air, offering something unique amid elements that often feel repetitive.

On the flip side, great acting is not the first thing that springs to mind for the rest of the cast. Almost all of their characters are set in stone, so none of their performances offers anything surprising. The only fun to be had on this end is the various pairings that crop up due to plot machinations, most notably when Jakob winds up as the caretaker of Dom and Letty’s son, Little Brian (Leo Abelo Perry).

It makes little difference whether Fast X is a truly good movie or not (spoiler: it’s not), as its legion of fans will show up no matter what’s put up on screen. The ridiculousness of the series is the point, and the first part of the two- (or three?) part finale more than delivers on that promise.

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Fast X opens in theaters on May 19.

Vin Diesel and Daniela Melchior in Fast X

Photo by Peter Mountain / Universal Pictures

Vin Diesel and Daniela Melchior in Fast X.

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Breathtaking Hill Country hideaway is one of Vrbo's top 10 vacation homes in the country

RIVERFRONT OASIS

A magnificently hidden home located just an hour away from Austin has been chosen as one of Vrbo's "Vacation Homes of the Year" for 2023. It was the only Texas home chosen out hundreds of thousands of private residences on the vacation rental site.

The Vacation Homes of the Year showcases several popular homes throughout the country (with the occasional international spot) that range from "idyllic lakeside escapes to cozy mountain retreats and desert paradises." In all, two homes are based in California, and one each in Arizona, North Carolina, Oregon, New York, Florida, South Carolina, Idaho, Colorado, and Mexico.

Texas' Hill Country Riverfront Hideaway is tucked away on five acres of land bordering the Pedernales River in Dripping Springs. The home spans 2,150 square feet with an open-concept living area, three spacious bedrooms, two lavish bathrooms, a modern chef's kitchen, fireplace, and a breathtaking wrap-around terrace.

Floor-to-ceiling windows complete the space, allowing guests to take in all of the tranquility the Hill Country has to offer. With the home's 430 feet of river access, visitors can enjoy escaping the city and relax into the views of the vast canyon below.

Dripping Springs Riverfront HideawayImagine a getaway to this Hill Country paradise. Photo courtesy of Vrbo

The property is within a half hour drive to many of the finest wineries, breweries, and must-see outdoor recreation spots in nearby Dripping Springs. Fredericksburg is only an hour's drive west for those wanting to put a greater distance between them and downtown Austin.

The average nightly cost for the riverfront oasis is $475, making it an ideal destination for small groups, a family trip, or a couple's getaway.

Dripping Springs Riverfront Hideaway

Photo courtesy of Vrbo

The Hill Country Riverfront Hideaway was the only Texas home chosen on Vrbo's list.

Expedia Brands president Jon Gieselman shared in a press release that there were plenty of eye-catching homes to wade through for the report.

"This year’s Vacation Homes of the Year range from an urban oasis and a cozy ranch home under $400 a night to a beachfront estate that can sleep the whole family and more," said Gieselman. "Every single Vacation Home of the Year has a beautiful view, and combined boast seven private pools and fire pits, eight hot tubs and even five putting greens."

The full list of Vrbo's 2023 Vacation Homes of the Year are:

  • No. 1 – The Oasis Estate in Palm Springs, California
  • No. 2 – The Happy Roadrunner in Phoenix, Arizona
  • No. 3 – The Chasestone in Lake Norman, North Carolina
  • No. 4 – The Contemporary Gem in Manzanita, Oregon
  • No. 5 – Ocean View Oasis in Montauk, New York
  • No. 6 – The Riverfront Hideaway in Dripping Springs, Texas
  • No. 7 – 30A My Way in Rosemary Beach, Florida
  • No. 8 – Port of Call in Isle of Palms, South Carolina
  • No. 9 – Salmonfly Lodge in Victor, Idaho
  • No. 10 – Trestle House in Winter Park, Colorado
  • No. 11 – Villa Luna Nueva in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
More information about Vrbo's 2023 Vacation Homes of the Year can be found on their website.

Whataburger weighs in as healthiest cheeseburger in the nation

THEMS EATIN' WORDS

With its love of greasy enchiladas, gluttonous fried steaks, and fat-speckled brisket, Texas isn’t always known as a healthy eating mecca. But it turns out that one locally beloved dish isn’t as unhealthy as one might think.

Inspired by February’s American Heart Month (albeit belatedly), Gambling.com decided to dig deep into which fast-food burger was best for the ticker and the body overall. What that has to do with online slots is anyone’s guess, but perhaps open-heart surgeries are not conducive to risk-taking.

Surprise, surprise, surprise! Local favorite/ food cult Whataburger took the top slot, earning honors with its standby cheeseburger. Assumably, the gambling site considered the mustard-slathered original, eschewing calorie bombs like bacon slices and creamy pepper sauce. Where’s the fun of Whataburger if you can’t get it just like you like it?

To arrive at the rankings, Gambling.com analyzed each burger for sugar, fat, salt, and calorie content per ounce. Each metric was given a one to ten score that factored into the final report card shared with content-hungry food journalists everywhere.

Coming in a close second was In-N-Out’s cheeseburger, a comforting fact for Texans who enjoy complaining about Californians. Rounding out the top five were Checker’s Checkerburger with Cheese, Culver’s ButterBurger Cheese, and Del Taco’s del Cheese Burger.

For those trying to make better eating choices, that list should give some pause. Yes, Whataburger beats out other fast-food faves, but it was competing against a chain that literally toasts all their buns in churned cream. Health is a relative concept.

Elsewhere on the list was another Texas darling, the No. 6 ranked Dairy Queen. Apparently, all that “hungr” is being busted by a hefty dose of sodium. Yes, we will take fries with that.

Texas ranks No. 2 best state to start a small business in new report

SUPPORT SMALL BIZ

Texas regularly ranks highly among business-friendly states, earning the No. 1 spot in Chief Executive magazine's recent annual report and the No. 5 spot in a February study of the best states for female entrepreneurs. Now, new research shows the Lone Star State stands out as one of the best places to start a small business, specifically.

Business credit card experts Capital on Tap determined Texas is the second best state to start a small business, right after Florida. They retrieved their data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics based on several factors, including new firm survival rates, corporate tax rates, the number of entrepreneurs per state, and more.

Texas has very friendly tax frameworks when it comes to small businesses; it is one of five total states that don’t impose any income tax. Furthermore, all Texas businesses that make less than $1.08 million in revenue don’t owe any franchise tax. That also includes all businesses that have less than $1,000 in tax liability.

If a small business owner in Texas needed to take out a loan, they’d be able to secure $4,811 per employee, which is the fifth-highest average loan amount in a calculation of all 50 states.

Capital on Tap COO Damian Brychcy says in a release that the decision to start a small business involves assessing several factors and risks, but he hopes his team’s research can provide future guidance for businesses and entrepreneurs no matter where they reside.

“Entrepreneurship is driven by the desire for independence,” he says. “This includes the freedom to pursue your passion, choose your workplace and working hours, and foster personal growth.”

Florida earned its top spot in the report due to its strong support of local economies with the highest number of jobs created by start-ups per 1,000 residents in the state. However, unlike Texas, Florida small businesses have to pay a 5.5 percent corporate tax rate.

The top states that are the best places to start a small business include:

  • No. 1 – Florida
  • No. 2 – Texas
  • No. 3 – Idaho
  • No. 4 – Nevada
  • No. 5 – North Carolina
  • No. 6 – Colorado
  • No. 7 – Washington
  • No. 8 – Georgia
  • No. 9 – California and Montana (tied)
  • No. 10 – Utah