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Because of the Hulu integration , it ’s now even strong to find a movie on Disney+ ( outside of the major Disney brands ) that you could actually watch with the original subscription that you pay for . That ’s something Disney+ indorser should be very disordered about . But even with these ill-conceived content decisions , if you have to look on one Disney+ movie this May , then the film to stream is a 2006 romantic comedy / fantasy calledAquamarine , which is based on the book by Alice Hoffman . It ’s not really a Disney film , but sports fan ofThe Little Mermaidmay recognize certain aspect of the plot . If you ’re look for reason to watchAquamarine , we ’ve got a few to share .

Sara Paxton is charming as the title character

Aquamarine is the name of both the moving picture and the title character , as played by Sara Paxton . And if you suppose Aquamarine is a eldritch name for a mermaid , have you heard aboutthe comic book holy person call Avengelyne ? Paxton ’s Aquamarine may remind you of Daryl Hannah ’s quality fromSplash , or even Margot Robbie fromBarbie .

Aquamarine is much a literal Pisces out of water , and Paxton gives her a theatrical role that ’s both charming and a piddling goofy . Paxton also embraces some of the plastic film ’s physical body fluid , and she does n’t seem to heed when the joke is at her expense .

It subverts the tropes of The Little Mermaid

Early in the film , Aquamarine reveals that she ’s derive to the control surface cosmos to escape an ordered marriage . She also says that she only has three Clarence Shepard Day Jr. to prove to her father that dead on target erotic love be before she has to return to the ocean . That ’s not too unalike from Ariel ’s story inThe minuscule Mermaid .

The gunpoint of departure from that figure of speech is that the object of Aquamarine ’s affections , Raymond ( Jake McDorman ) , is very repellent to the idea of true love . He distinctly likes her , but Raymond is also in no rush to fall in love or make a long - term commitment to someone he scarce knows . This story may be a fantasy , but Raymond ’s response to Aquamarine ’s declaration of love feel more naturalistic because he does n’t directly sense the same agency .

Emma Roberts and JoJo have a believable bond

The tangible heart of this picture show belong to Emma Roberts and Joanna “ JoJo ” Levesque ’s various character , Claire Brown and Hailey Rogers . They are the two young girls who befriend Aquamarine and attempt to help her win over Raymond . But Claire and Hailey are also facing the prognosis of being separated because Hailey has to move with her female parent to Australia .

Their share fear of fall back each other drive Claire and Hailey through the history , specially since Aquamarine promises to give them a regard if they help her find genuine love . Roberts and JoJo seem credibly anguished at the prospect of Claire and Hailey being deplume apart , and that goes a prospicient way toward make the audience believe that they really are tight friends .

It’s not a typical true love story

Raymond is not a spoiled guy in this narrative — he ’s just not what Aquamarine really demand . And the picture makes a spot of demonstrate Aquamarine and the audience that her actual chronicle of true love is n’t with the guy she just meet . It ’s with Claire and Hailey , the two girls who are willing to put their own lives on the line to help Aquamarine achieve her heart ’s desire .

By the oddment , the lady friend are n’t just helping Aquamarine because they require a reward . They ’re doing it because they have it off her as a admirer . It ’s not the romantic love that Aquamarine was hoping to find out , but it is a form of lawful love that will last a lifetime .

WatchAquamarineonDisney+ .

A mermaid sits in a bathtub in Aquamarine.

20th Century Studios