Former TOWIE star Jessica Wright hobnobs with A-list star Halle Bailey

She attended the UK premiere of The Little Mermaid at Odeon Luxe, in London’s Leicester Square, on Monday.

And Jessica Wright continued the party well into the night, attending the cast and filmmaker’s post-premiere reception at Soho House.

The former TOWIE star, 37, was pictured chatting with the Disney film’s lead actress, Halle Bailey, at the exclusive after party.

Jessica looked glamorous in a shimmering champagne dress with exaggerated sleeves.

Meanwhile, Halle, 24, switched from her premiere look and into a chic black mini dress and long black coat combo with knee-high boots.

Thanks to her dress’s daring thigh-high slit, Jess showed off her bronzed pins and increased her height with the help of a pair of barely-there heels.

The mother of one child drew attention as she played with the excess material as she posed on the blue carpet, her raven black locks tied up in a chic wavy ponytail.

The Little Mermaid remake received mixed reviews from critics, following its world premiere in Los Angeles earlier this month.

Disney’s latest film, a live-action recreation of the 1989 animation, is expected to make a big splash when it debuts over Memorial Day weekend in the US.

The blockbuster is currently projected to rake in $110 million (£87 million) over its four-day opening weekend. deadline.

And while some pundits claimed it was close to “the best live-action Disney movie,” while praising Halle Bailey’s performance as Ariel, others argued it “can’t” escape its animated legacy.

Felicia Wade of DiscussingFilm wrote on Twitter: “#TheLittleMermaid almost makes it the best live-action Disney movie, but it still struggles in the villain department.

“Halle Bailey IS Ariel and I literally had chills during her performance. This is a retelling of the Little Mermaid like you’ve never seen before.”

Erik Davis of Fandango and Rotten Tomatoes agreed, ‘Disney’s #TheLittleMermaid is definitely one of the better live-action adaptations.

“Halle Bailey pours incredible emotion into Ariel and I got chills watching her as Melissa McCarthy’s Ursula and Daveed Diggs’ Sebastian steal scenes all day.”

Zoë Rose Bryant, writer at Loud And Clear Reviews, wrote, “#TheLittleMermaid is a live-action remake that preserves the heart and soul of the story we know and love, and it’s elevated even further by a note -perfect performance of stars. by Halle Bailey – she was born to be on the big screen, which is why this new version is worth watching.”

But Insider’s Kirsten Acuna wasn’t too impressed, tweeting: “#TheLittleMermaid is filled with some great performances from Halle Bailey and Melissa McCarthy, but it’s a largely paint-by-numbers remake that’s not quite as good as the animated masterpiece. .’

Simon Thompson, who writes for publications such as Forbes and Variety, said: ‘Endearing but uneven, #TheLittleMermaid doesn’t deliver the magic of the animated classic, but there are enough creative touches from Rob Marshall to keep the audience’s boats afloat.

Halle Bailey and Melissa McCarthy are amazing. Daveed Diggs and Awkwafina provide solid comic relief.”

Courtney Howard, of Variety The AV Club and Fresh Fiction concluded, ‘#TheLittleMermaid: Charming, but incredibly blotchy. Halle Bailey, Jonah Hauer-King, Melissa McCarthy & Javier Bardem put their hearts and souls into a film that cannot escape its animated legacy.

“Best when it leans into campy bonkers, but limits fantasy elements for no reason.”

The film stars Halle as Ariel, Melissa McCarthy as Ursula, Javier Bardem as King Triton, Daveed Diggs as Sebastian and Jonah Hauer-King as Prince Eric and is directed by Rob Marshall.

According to the official synopsis, The Little Mermaid tells the story of Ariel, the youngest of King Triton’s many daughters.

The “smart and feisty young mermaid with a thirst for adventure” – who longs to “learn more about the world beyond the sea” – takes a journey to the surface and meets Prince Eric.

“She follows her heart and makes a deal with the evil sea witch Ursula to experience life on land,” the synopsis read.

The lyrics to iconic songs from The Little Mermaid soundtrack have been changed to allow for the upcoming live action remake of the 1989 Disney film.

Composer Alan Menken told Vanity Fair last month: “There are some lyrical changes to Kiss the Girl because people have become very sensitive to the idea of ​​that [Prince Eric] would in any case arise [Ariel].

The original song’s lyrics—which encourages Prince Eric to kiss Ariel before it’s too late and without asking her permission—contains the chorus lines, “Yeah, you want her.” Look at her, you know you do. She may want you too. There is a way to ask her. It doesn’t take a word. Not a single word. Go ahead and kiss the girl.’

Menken added, “We have some revisions in Poor Unfortunate Souls regarding rules that can somehow make young girls feel like they shouldn’t talk out of turn.

“Even though Ursula is clearly manipulating Ariel into giving up her vote.”

In the original song, Ursula sings, “The men up there don’t like much chatter. They think a girl who gossips is boring!. But on land, ladies are much preferred not to say a word

“And finally dear, what is vain chatter for? Come on, they’re not that impressed with conversation. Real gentlemen avoid it when they can.

“But they adore and swoon and fawn. About a withdrawn lady. She who keeps her mouth shut gets a man.’

The lyrics for the songs on the 1989 soundtrack were written by the late Howard Ashman and composed by Menken.

Menken has joined producer Lin-Manuel Miranda to write new music for the remake and rework the original songs.