'Beauty and the Beast' is the live action adaptation of the 1991 Best Picture nominated animated film from Walt Disney Pictures. It stars Emma Watson, Dan Stevens, Ewan McGregor, Ian McKellan, Kevin Kline, Josh Gad, and Luke Evans. The film had a lot to live up for and did it? For the most part, yes absolutely but with some little struggles along the way.
The film retains the animated film's musical scenes, but doesn't overly rely upon the original's structure. Rather, it keeps the best moments of the animated film and adds onto it with some extra songs, and changes to the storyline itself. We also get some slight background changes and more character development for many more characters than I thought possible in such a short running time. However, I believe that large cast getting each of their own little story lines causes some of the biggest issues with 'Beauty and the Beast'. Particularly with the Beast himself, who we get to see some flashbacks to his childhood but it really goes nowhere.
If it was to show how he became a selfish arrogant man, then it failed. Belle's additions fare much better but some still rather unnecessary. We learn of Belle's mother, but I ask why do we need to know about her mother? It goes nowhere and really adds nothing to her character whatsoever. I'm sorry, but sometimes the simpler way is the better way to go folks. How does the rest of the film hold up? It's very well done that's for sure, with beautiful set pieces and some wonderful special effects throughout. Despite the character issues, I think that the cast themselves do an excellent job and each fit their roles perfectly. I honestly did not know much about Dan Stevens before this film, but watching him as the Beast really gets me looking into his IMDB page.
The music was done by the same composer and songwriter as the original film, with some added songs to help stretch out the film a little. The only real song I disliked from this newer composition was sung by the Beast himself towards the end. Think of the most cliche song about never leaving your personal prison and how you long for more...and you'll think of the lyrics for this song. And one other thing I'd like to address is the so-called 'controversy' surrounding Josh Gad's character. Does it really surprise anyone when I say it was totally blown out of proportion and you barely noticed it? No? Well, that's how it is the scene(s) in question are little more than a two-second joke that added to a visual gag already in the animated film (which you can see below):
If we're going to talk about this controversy let's instead address how Disney portrayed the 'gay' character in question completely wrong. He's stereotypical, as is the other man involved in the scenes to the point where I was more offended at that more than the fact he was in the film. It's the similar problem with the upcoming 'Ghost in the Shell' film where those feel that somehow the character being Asian will allow her to identify with her fans more as if her personality or any other human characteristics rather than her skin the same with this. He could have been subtle but it borders the 'gay best friend' from the 90's sitcoms. That bothered me more so than a small joke at the end of the film.
Even after all that though, don't get me wrong the film is still worth seeing. Besides these little tweaks, I don't believe it hurts the film overall and it's still an excellent production with great casting, wonderfully cheerful music and characters that reminds you of why you loved the original in the first place. Just be warned going in that you may not be getting the movie you want.
Beauty & The Beast:
(B+)
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