Barbie in A Mermaid Tale

Right now you can watch Barbie in A Mermaid Tale in Australia on Stan — and it goes further with its ideas than most genre entertainment bothers to. It knows exactly what kind of film it is from the opening scene, and never loses that thread. A 7/10 rating says what the writing already makes obvious: this one works. Watch it for Kelly Sheridan — the performance elevates material that could easily tip into self-seriousness. Available now on Stan — press play and find out why people keep recommending it.

Whatever else is competing for your attention this week, Barbie in A Mermaid Tale is worth clearing space for. Barbie in A Mermaid Tale treats its concept seriously enough to follow it all the way through. Barbie stars as Merliah, a surfer who learns a shocking secret: she's a mermaid! She and her dolphin friend set out for an undersea adventure to rescue her mother, the queen of Oceana. Kelly Sheridan and Kathleen Barr lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was released in 2010. What separates Barbie in A Mermaid Tale from lesser genre entertainment is a willingness to let the concept cost the characters something. It knows exactly what it is, and does not try to be anything else.

Barbie in A Mermaid Tale is satisfying on multiple levels — something to watch and something to think about after. It rewards viewers regardless of what else is in their watch history. It is a manageable watch, easy to fit into a single evening. Kelly Sheridan grounds the bigger ideas in something human. Once you are in, you will want to talk about it.