Yes, I am an adult male college student and I went to see “The Little Mermaid.” And guess what? I loved it.

A lot of you are probably saying to yourselves, “Why would I pay money to go see a cartoon?” Like “cartoon” is some kind of dirty word.

Do you know what I’d like to do to those of you who asked that question? Knock some sense into your head, that’s what.

Because if you miss the chance to see this classic on the big screen, just because it’s animated, you’re making a huge mistake.

I had seen the movie a few times on video. OK, a few dozen times. But even if you have seen it on video, the theater experience is a must. Do try to avoid weekend matinees, though, unless you really love kids.

“The Little Mermaid” is the movie that started Disney’s new golden age. In my opinion, it is second only to “Beauty and the Beast” as Disney’s all-time best work. (Yes, even better than “The Lion King.”)

Not to overdo the praise, but this movie is perfect. It has all the right elements.

Take the heroine of the story, Ariel, for example. Hers is a problem we can all relate to on some level. She dreams of a different life, but her father has other plans.

Ariel wants to experience life as a human and she has a huge collection of items she’s found in shipwrecks. Something as simple as a pipe or a fork holds almost magical importance to her.

When her father, Triton the sea king, discovers her treasure trove and destroys it, he’s also destroyed a part of Ariel. The pain she feels is a pain everyone has felt at one time or another.

As per any Disney film, the main character is surrounded by cute, talking animals. Here we have Sebastian the crab, Flounder the fish and Scuttle the sea gull.

Each one is a distinct and very amusing character. Sebastian especially gets big laughs as he tries to keep Ariel out of trouble. The scene where the chef attempts to capture and serve Sebastian as dinner is hysterical, full of wonderful physical comedy.

Now, when talking about a Disney movie, you can’t forget the songs. The reason you can’t forget the songs is because they’re so damn catchy. Can you complete the following song snippet? “Under the sea, under the sea. Darling it’s better…” Of course you can.

The “Under the Sea” production is really the centerpiece of “The Little Mermaid.” It’s a complete delight to watch, as hundreds of undersea creatures come together in a big, lively song and dance number.

The most important element of a movie like this is the villain. This movie has the all-time best Disney villain ever in Ursula the sea witch. She could make Cruella DeVille cringe.

Ursula plots to take over King Triton’s rule of the oceans by using Ariel. The character is so deliciously evil, but with a great sarcastic edge. She slinks around on octopus legs and mixes up her evil potions.

Ursula is great because she has a sense of humor. She’s got some of the best lines in the movie.

Overall, “The Little Mermaid” is an absolute joy to watch. “The Little Mermaid” is only out for a two-week limited engagement, so get going.

5 stars out of five.

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Mike Milik is a senior in advertising from West Des Moines.