Beauty and the Beast Review

     It's a tale as old as time but this is Disney's newest live adaptation of Beauty and the Beast. Disney has kind of been all over the place with their live adaptations from previous animated films. Some not so good while others such as Cinderella and The Jungle Book have really stuck well with the fans. So when Disney announced they would be adapting the 1991 Best Picture nom, Beauty and the Beast, audiences were eager to see how the studio would go about this classic. Fortunately not only is the live adaptation of Beauty and the Beast a great retelling of the original, animated film but also expands upon the story in a truly magical way.
     This is a star studded cast and they definitely deliver. The standout is Luke Evans who plays the handsome, egocentric villain, Gaston. Every time he is on screen, audiences are sure to get in a good laugh. He is not the only comedic superstar though. Josh Gad stars as his clingy sidekick LeFou and is quite the delight.

     The most credit for their performances though should go to Emma Watson and Dan Stevens for their performances of Belle and the Beast. If audiences do not buy into their performances and their love dynamic then this movie does not work at all. They are two of the most famous Disney characters of all time and Disney definitely delivered on the casting. The look of the Beast was something that kind of concerned me going into the movie and while it takes sometime for audiences to adjust to it, Stevens helps to add life to this CGI beast. The visual effects artists definitely could of tinkered with the character a lot more but it is serviceable.

     This is a musical and all the actors do very well on beloved classic songs such as Belle, Be Our Guest, and Beauty and the Beast. But they also add some new songs that don't quite resonate as well as the original songs but definitely help to serve to the story. The supporting cast includes Kevin Kline, Ewan McGregor, Ian McKellen, Emma Thompson, and many more that help add phenomenal performances for the film.
     The story is very beat for beat with the original, animated film with a few new additions. Without getting into spoilers, there's a certain aspect explored in Belle's story that helps the story and gives audiences a much better understanding of the character.
     I am not sure if this is the adaptation that should have been at the top of Disney's list but it is definitely one that will leave audiences smiling upon exiting the theater. This formula of retelling the originals while expanding upon them at the same time is something that hardcore Disney fans will greatly appreciate. This film is going to be a Box Office juggernaut that fans will probably go to multiple viewings.

Rating: 8.7 out of 10