New Showbiz

You are here:
Mermaids

Mermaids

1990

PG-13

Director

Richard Benjamin

Runtime

110 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

Synopsis

Fifteen-year-old Charlotte Flax is tired of her wacky mom moving their family to a different town any time she feels it is necessary. When they move to a small Massachusetts town and Mrs. Flax begins dating a shopkeeper, Charlotte and her 9-year-old sister, Kate, hope that they can finally settle down. But when Charlotte's attraction to an older man gets in the way, the family must learn to accept each other for who they truly are.

Where to Watch

Diversity & Representation

Overall Score

3.1/10

Limited


Category Breakdown

LGBTQ+ Representation

Minimal

The film operates within traditional heteronormative frameworks. There is no discernible presence of non-cisnormative identities or narratives that critique established social structures.

Gender Representation

Good

The story disrupts patriarchal hierarchies by centering on a female-led household. The widow protagonist exercises significant agency while navigating her emotional landscape and motherhood.

Racial & Ethnic Diversity

Limited

The cast is relatively homogeneous, focusing on a white, middle-class family. The narrative lacks diverse racial perspectives or color-blind casting within its central plot.

Religious & Cultural Diversity

Fair

Themes of domesticity and family instability are explored against the backdrop of the Cuban Missile Crisis. It depicts the fragility of traditional institutions under systemic anxiety.

Disability Representation

Minimal

There is no meaningful portrayal of physical or neurodivergent disabilities. The narrative does not utilize disability to drive character agency or thematic depth.

Strengths

  • The film centers female agency and autonomy, disrupting traditional patriarchal hierarchies.
  • It provides a nuanced portrayal of female-led emotional labor and motherhood.

Areas for Improvement

  • The cast lacks racial and ethnic diversity, remaining focused on a homogeneous demographic.
  • There is a lack of representation for LGBTQ+ identities and neurodivergent or physical disabilities.

AI Analysis

Mermaids is a character study focused on female resilience and the emotional labor of a transitioning family. It succeeds in subverting traditional gender hierarchies by prioritizing the autonomy of its female protagonists over male authority. However, the film lacks intersectional breadth. The narrative remains rooted in a conventional demographic focus, offering little representation of diverse racial, cultural, or LGBTQ+ identities. Ultimately, while the film provides a nuanced look at female-led domesticity, it does not disrupt broader systemic or racial power dynamics.

How are these scores produced? →

Similar Movies

Movie poster for Baby Boom

Baby Boom

1987

No user ratings available yet
Diversity score: 4.8 out of 10

Rate this Movie

No rating selected
Use arrow keys to select a rating from 1 to 5 stars
Optional text review, maximum 2000 characters
Tip: Wrap spoilers with ||double pipes|| to hide them
0/2000 characters
You must be signed in to submit a rating

Reviews

No reviews yet. Be the first to share your thoughts on this movie!

Use the rating form above to leave a star rating and optional review.