Look, this is a 2006 direct-to-video Barbie sequel, so let's manage expectations. It's perfectly safe, has sweet messages about friendship and cooperation, and will keep a preschooler entertained for 75 minutes without rotting their brain.

But it's also...not good? The animation looks like a early-2000s computer screensaver, the story is paint-by-numbers, and the dialogue is wooden even for a kids' movie. The 6.4 IMDb rating tells you everything—it's fine, but nobody's writing home about it.

If you have a 4-6 year old in their mermaid phase who's already burned through every other option, sure, throw this on. They'll probably enjoy it. But if you're looking for something that'll engage YOU while they watch, or something with genuine storytelling craft, keep scrolling. This is babysitter-tier Barbie, functional but forgettable.